DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, Justin Gillis, an award-winning journalist and author of the upcoming book 'The Big Fix,' discusses practical steps individuals and communities can take to address climate change and lower greenhouse gas emissions. He outlines seven key areas that need to be addressed, including cleaning up the electric grid, transportation system, buildings, industry, urban planning, food system, and supporting the development of new clean technologies.
Gillis emphasizes that many of these decisions are heavily influenced by governments and regulatory bodies, contrary to the perception of a free market. He highlights the role of public utility commissions in determining energy sources and the influence of fossil fuel interests through lobbying and campaign contributions. Gillis encourages citizens to become active in local and state-level decision-making processes, voting, and engaging with elected officials to counterbalance these interests.
While acknowledging the challenges and slow progress, Gillis remains optimistic due to the rise of a youth movement demanding action on climate change. He emphasizes the need for sustained, long-term engagement and collective action to drive systemic change, highlighting examples of community-level activism that have achieved tangible results.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Understand the political economy of energy decisions, as many key decisions are heavily influenced by governments and regulatory bodies, not solely market forces.
- Recognize the influence of fossil fuel interests through lobbying, campaign contributions, and regulatory capture, and the need for public engagement to counterbalance this influence.
- Engage in sustained, collective action at the local and state levels, attending public utility commission hearings, engaging with elected officials, and advocating for clean energy solutions.
- Support youth movements and activism demanding action on climate change, as they represent a growing force for change.
- Adopt a long-term perspective and commitment, as addressing climate change will be a multi-decade effort requiring sustained engagement.
- Embrace practical steps individuals and communities can take, such as advocating for electric vehicle adoption, transitioning to clean energy sources, and supporting sustainable urban planning and food systems.
- Remain optimistic about the potential for change, as public awareness and demand for action on climate change continues to grow.
- Recognize the convergence of interests between addressing climate change and addressing other issues such as air pollution and public health.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I don't understand why every parent in America who's sending a kid to school on a bus doesn't wake up and realize my kid is riding to school on a dirty diesel bus with, you know, in the summer when the windows are open, fumes blowing into the kids faces, right? Why is that still happening? And why aren't parents going down the school board saying, excuse me, when are you going to have a plan? So this is the kind of thing that needs to happen. And decisions are being made every day in cities and counties across this country to perpetuate the fossil fuel economy. We need to get in their faces, in the faces of those politicians and tell them, stop. Do it a different way.“ by Justin Gillis
- “I guess the thing that makes me optimistic is that this has become a sort of youth movement, right? We now have. I mean, I was in despair, you know, 15 years ago when I kind of started on this subject, because in the United States, there was almost no real political movement over, over climate. As time has gone on, I think people have begun to see with their own eyes.“ by Justin Gillis
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Episode Information
Climate Changers
Ryan Flahive
9/28/22