Kate Raworth: living in a safe and just operating space

Stockholm Resilience Centre TV

Published on Feb 16, 2016

Talk during the “Earth’s Safe Operating Space for Humanity: From concept to action” seminar in Stockholm January 2016.

Global Climate Change
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Johan Rockström presents the narrative of the Anthropocene

Stockholm Resilience Centre TV

Published on Dec 4, 2015

Stockholm Resilience Centre director Johan Rockström presents the narrative of the Anthropocene.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

A Rockefeller explains: Why I lost faith in Exxon Mobil, and donated my shares – LA Times

Gas prices are displayed at an Exxon gas station in Woodbridge, Va. on Jan. 5. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images)

Neva Rockefeller Goodwin

My great-grandfather, John D. Rockefeller Sr., created the Standard Oil Company and I inherited shares in the companies it spun off, including Exxon Mobil. But this year I donated those shares to the nonprofit Rockefeller Family Fund’s Environmental program, which sold them and is using the $400,000 proceeds to fight global warming.

I lost faith in Exxon Mobil’s future value. A prime reason is that Exxon’s valuation is based largely on the immense untapped reserves of oil and gas it owns. And yet if future generations are to inherit a livable world, most of those reserves must stay in the ground.

After it was revealed that tobacco companies knew smoking caused cancer even as they funded hack scientists to deny it, they had to pay billions in fines and damages. –

Cynics may say that foreknowledge of the dire consequences won’t stop humanity from using this fossil fuel. I would answer that Exxon Mobil may not have any choice in the matter. The company bases its growth and stability projections on increasing its sale of fossil fuels to developing countries. And yet those are the places that will be hurt first and worst by climate change — indeed, many are already suffering the effects. As those nations confront ecological harm and consequent economic damage — in some cases even possible economic collapse — will they really provide Exxon Mobil with the growth it forecasts?

In shareholder resolutions and meetings with company representatives over the last 15 years, I and other members of my family have argued that it is shortsighted for Exxon to insist on remaining “an oil and gas company” — rather than evolving into an energy company prepared to transition to a post-carbon economy. I thought the company was being foolish. But we now know it was worse: it was being deceitful, in a way that is almost unimaginably heartless to future generations.

…(read more).

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Divestment

Johan Rockström presents the narrative of the Anthropocene

Stockholm Resilience Centre TV

Published on Dec 4, 2015

Stockholm Resilience Centre director Johan Rockström presents the narrative of the Anthropocene.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Johan Rockström: reflections on planetary boundaries

Stockholm Resilience Centre TV

Published on Feb 16, 2016

Talk during the “Earth’s Safe Operating Space for Humanity: From concept to action” seminar in Stockholm January 2016.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Confusion Abounds About Zika Virus

VOA News

Published on Feb 16, 2016

The World Health Organization is scrambling to address the Zika virus that’s spreading rapidly through Latin America and the Caribbean. The virus has been linked to birth defects and, in adults, to a type of paralysis. Experts have lots of unanswered questions, as do ordinary citizens who spoke to VOA. More from health reporter Carol Pearson.
Originally published at – http://www.voanews.com/media/video/31…

Global Climate Change
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Public Health

Living on Earth: December 18, 2015 – Hope and Concern Sparked By Paris Climate Deal / Helen Palmer

December 18, 2015

In Paris, nearly 200 countries ratified an agreement outlining climate action commitments aimed at restricting global temperature rise to 2 degrees or less. Host Steve Curwood analyzes final remarks from Secretary of State John Kerry on the power of American business, former UNFCCC critic Claudia Salerno of Venezuela’s preamble, and a “technical error” which could have derailed everything. Also, Living on Earth’s Helen Palmer polls delegates from developed and developing nations on the outcome, including Edna Molewa of South Africa, Miguel Arias Canete of the European Union, Paul Oquist Kelley of Nicaragua, Peter Hans Emberson of Fiji. (13:10)

…(read more).

Global Climate Change
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Living on Earth: December 4, 2015 – Climate Summit Boosted By Optimism at the Start

December 4, 2015

As the UN climate talks opened in Paris, negotiators were optimistic about reaching an agreement by the end of the December 11th deadline, but questions remain about how strong and ambitious the proposed limits and measures will be. The Prince of Wales, President Obama, and President Christopher Loeak of the Marshall Islands were among the many dignitaries who stressed the urgency of acting swiftly to limit greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. Host Steve Curwood reports. (5:15)

…(read more).

Global Climate Change
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Living on Earth: Historic Climate Agreement Reached in Paris

Air Date: Week of December 11, 2015

After working arduously for two weeks, COP21 delegates have adopted the ambitious Paris Agreement. Secretary of State John Kerry, White House Science Advisor John Holdren and Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo weigh in on the importance of these climate commitments and of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, rather than the earlier target of 2 degrees. Host Steve Curwood speaks with World Resources Institute Global Climate Director Jennifer Morgan about the contents of the final Paris Agreement.

Transcript

[THEME]

CURWOOD: From the climate summit in Paris, France and PRI, this is Living on Earth.

CURWOOD: Now that delegates here have accepted the Paris Agreement it’s clear that we are in a new era for international climate diplomacy. The logjams that bedeviled international cooperation on global warming for decades have been broken. China and other major greenhouse gas emitters in the developing world will now stand alongside rich developed countries to lower emissions. And the United States is no longer opposing UN climate action. And while the pledges to cut emissions are voluntary, countries will be legally bound to verify the progress that they do make. Secretary of State John Kerry explained why this is so important for the US.

…(read more).

Global Climate Change
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Is Monsanto Responsible for Microcephaly in Brazilian Babies?

thomhartmann

Published on Feb 16, 2016

Thom Hartmann comments on a story that questions whether a larvicide, made by a Japanese subsidiary of Monsanto is really to blame for microcephaly in Brazilian babies.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice