Best MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative Podcasts (2024)

1
Making A Difference Where You Are – Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative 54:08

16d ago54:08

54:08

“There are those individual actions that we can take. But if I can work with my community or work inside of my company, or if I can work inside of my house of worship and we can build some community and some action that way, it will have a much bigger impact than anything that I can do as an individual… The communities that they're already a part o…

1
Unusual Career Advice – Powerful Insights From 5 Renowned Electric Ladies Guests 35:14

8d ago35:14

35:14

“Women often have far more skills than their resumes translate into. And actually we're going into a good period now where I think employers and organizations are looking for the skillset that you have more than the job titles that you have. And that's good for women because we have a lot of skills that we will have acquired in different arenas. Br…

1
2°C: the story of the global climate goal 16:06

14d ago16:06

16:06

The landmark Paris Agreement of 2015 gave the world a shared target for halting climate change: that global warming should stop well short of 2 degrees Celsius. But how did that target come about, and what exactly does it mean? Prof. Maria Ivanova, a specialist in international environmental policy, shares with us the history and diplomacy behind t…

1
Slow carbon, fast carbon 9:43

23d ago9:43

9:43

The Earth naturally absorbs some of our climate pollution from burning fossil fuels. But how much, and how fast? Geophysicist Prof. Daniel Rothman joins the podcast to explain the nature and scale of the natural carbon cycle, and how our appetite for fossil fuels has pushed it out of balance. For a deeper dive and additional resources related to th…

1
Is it safe to store CO2 underground? 12:34

28d ago12:34

12:34

Today, companies are storing millions of tons of carbon dioxide underground every year to prevent this climate pollution from warming the planet. In the future it might be billions of tons. But is it dangerous to pump so much liquefied carbon below our feet? Geologist and carbon storage expert Prof. Bradford Hager joins the podcast to explain the r…

1
Accessing Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits – Rachel McLeery, Senior Advisor, Dept. of Treasury 43:05

29d ago43:05

43:05

“We like to break (the tax credits) down by industries and audiences...On the industry side, we have energy efficiency, energy generation, manufacturing, vehicles, fuels, and carbon capture. Now, overlaying all of those are a handful of cross crosscutting bonuses and requirements that can greatly affect, in many cases, increase the amount of the un…

1
An introduction to carbon capture (re-air) 13:03

1M ago13:03

13:03

What if there was a way to continue using fossil fuels for energy without emitting CO2 into the atmosphere? To prepare for a new listener question about carbon capture, we're re-airing this season two episode in which Dr. Howard Herzog and Professor Brad Hager talk about capturing, using, and storing carbon emissions, and how it fits into a clean e…

1
How clean is green hydrogen? 14:10

1M ago14:10

14:10

Is hydrogen fuel a climate solution? That depends on how you produce it. Dr. Emre Gençer of the MIT Energy Initiative takes us on a tour of the hydrogen spectrum, from climate-polluting “gray” hydrogen made from natural gas to the much more promising “green” hydrogen made with renewable electricity. For a deeper dive and additional resources relate…

1
Energy Transition Is In Full Swing - Lisa Jacobson, BCSE & Tara Narayanan, Bloomberg New Energy Finance 54:13

2M ago54:13

54:13

“The economic information on clean energy is amazing…We're decades deep in it now, where you're seeing the cost competitiveness of renewable technologies on an unsubsidized basis…We can do this. We can grow the economy and we can use more clean energy.” Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast The facts in the new Sustainable Energy 2024 Factbook, …

1
Why are EVs more popular than hydrogen cars? 10:42

2M ago10:42

10:42

Just 20 years ago, hydrogen cars and battery electric cars were pretty evenly matched as clean alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. But today, batteries are way ahead: the big car companies are rapidly electrifying their lineups, while only a few hydrogen cars are available. What happened? Sergey Paltsev, senior research scientist at the MIT Energ…

1
Wave Energy & Second Chances – Inna Braverman, Eco Wave Power 46:12

2M ago46:12

46:12

"I went for wave energy just because I saw a field that has huge demand, that has huge potential for positive impact on the world, and that nobody's succeeding in. So, that kind of was for me, I don't know, maybe a feeling of destiny here. I got a second chance in life and maybe I can make something for the first time in the world, so maybe my seco…

1
An introduction to hydrogen energy (re-air) 14:51

2M ago14:51

14:51

Hydrogen gas acts like a fossil fuel, but with no carbon emissions. Is it the silver bullet we’ve been waiting for? To prepare for some new listener questions about hydrogen energy, we're re-airing this season four episode in which Prof. Svetlana Ikonnikova of the Technical University of Munich explains how hydrogen works and its potential in the e…

1
Financial Support For Exporting, Trade – Judith Pryor, Export Import Bank of U.S. 1:08:02

2M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Financial Support For Exporting, Trade – Judith Pryor, Export Import Bank of U.S. “We help anyone in the United States who wants to sell their good or service overseas through short, medium, and long-term financing tools for international buyers. It's usually medium term and long term. We provide foreign buyers with the ability to purchase U.S. goo…

1
Do wind turbines kill birds? 7:24

2M ago7:24

7:24

Wind power is the largest source of clean, renewable energy in the United States. But the large turbines that create that power can endanger wildlife. MIT Professor Michael Howland returns to the podcast to answer a listener's question about the risks of wind energy to birds—and explain how wind turbines compare to coal plants, power lines, office …

1
Do wind turbines freeze up in the cold? 7:46

3M ago7:46

7:46

You might have heard how wind turbines failed in Texas during a terrible cold front in 2021. Does this mean we can’t rely on this clean, renewable source of energy when the weather turns extreme? MIT Professor Michael Howland joins the podcast to explain how wind turbine operators prepare for frigid conditions, and why some turbines failed in Texas…

1
SEC Climate Rules Unlock Business Value – Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit, Sustainability 50:08

3M ago50:08

50:08

“Regulation can really be a catalyst for transformation, for business transformation, because this is so much more than a disclosure and compliance exercise. “When you think about the mechanisms, the infrastructure, the data that will emerge from instituting more discipline and rigor around these disclosure objectives, (it) is absolutely critical t…

1
Won’t more CO2 help plants grow? 8:50

3M ago8:50

8:50

Plants take in CO2 from the air to grow—and today’s atmosphere has about 50% more CO2 than it did before we started burning massive amounts of fossil fuels. So, is that great news for plants? Prof. David Des Marais, a plant ecologist at MIT, helps answer this listener question. For a deeper dive and additional resources related to this episode, vis…

1
Transforming America’s Transportation System – Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary, US DOT 45:57

3M ago45:57

45:57

“We have on our website what's called the DOT Navigator. Sounds wonky, but go take a look. It is a wealth of information about all our grant programs, and you can answer a series of questions and it can help point you in the right direction. We also have a team of folks here who are dedicated to technical assistance and capacity building. So, if yo…

1
Season 6 Preview: Something a Little Different 1:49

3M ago1:49

1:49

The sixth season of Today I Learned: Climate is coming in two weeks, and this time we’re doing something a little different. People all around the world write into our team with questions about climate change. So this season, we’re working with scientists and experts at MIT and beyond, to answer those questions in language we can all understand.…

1
Women Voters, Climate & This Critical 2024 Election 33:11

3M ago33:11

33:11

“Women are very worried about these (extreme weather) events, and they're the ones that really worry about the impact on communities.…They want to leave a better country for their children...They will say that climate change is something that really is on my agenda more because my children talk to me about it and they listen to their children and g…

1
Reducing IT’s Carbon Footprint – Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer, HPE 43:41

4M ago43:41

43:41

“During the pandemic, a lot of companies underwent digital transformations…At the same time that that was happening, sustainability was really catching wind, particularly in places like Europe.… (I)f you are a non-manufacturing company, your largest source of operational emissions is probably your IT. So…CIOs now have these mandates trickling down …

1
Music, Public Health & Climate Action – Emma O’Brien, Global Scrub Choir 51:08

4M ago51:08

51:08

“The link for us with (the WHO) is about universal health coverage and the sustainable development goal number three, which obviously the WHO places in the middle of the wheel of all the sustainable development goals. But on top and behind and with each other is climate action. We cannot have one without the other. And our role is to remind a lot o…

1
The Future of Sustainability & ESG – Joan on “Doing Sustainability” Podcast With Gary Baker 35:36

4M ago35:36

35:36

“Corporate America has a very important role to play in this transition. They have the resources, they have the talent, and they are being nudged by their customers, their employees, even their suppliers, their investors, and obviously regulators to do this work. They know it's the right thing to do…Just as a quick thing to think about is it used t…

1
The Power Of Buildings – Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer 43:54

4M ago43:54

43:54

“The march that we have seen in businesses taking on climate commitments has been one of those forcing functions to bring the data related to buildings front and center (because buildings account for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions) ….There is a whole heck of a lot of inefficiency to cut out of those buildings. And so, as we think of the enormity o…

1
Advanced Technology Improving Transportation – Michele Mueller, Michigan DOT 1:02:29

5M ago1:02:29

1:02:29

“We start to look at the advantages of the technology, and we start to really focus in on where can we go forward? What are the things we're doing and how do we get there collectively so that it is the industry, and the infrastructure side actually coming together and making those choices and implementing these safety features or implementing these…

1
Mobilize, Measure, Manage ESG - Evelyne Saelens, UL Solutions ESG Advisory Lead 41:53

5M ago41:53

41:53

Mobilize, Measure, Manage ESG – Evelyn Saelens, ESG Advisory at UL Solutions “These climate events, they're impacting our everyday lives. They're making the world unsafe…Sometimes it might feel that it's hard to get to solid, tangible information. It's hard to know that what you're doing is meaningful, that it really has an impact. So the, what mad…

1
What Is 'Brave Thinking'? - Mary Morrissey, Renowned Speaker & Advisor, Author of "Brave Thinking: The Art and Science Of Creating A Life You Love" 59:15

5M ago59:15

59:15

What Is 'Brave Thinking'? - Mary Morrissey, Renowned Speaker & Advisor, Author of "Brave Thinking: The Art and Science Of Creating A Life You Love" ”Brave thinkers on the other hand, developed the courage to think and live from a vision…They're not going to let circumstances win. They don't deny the circumstances or situations, but they don't let t…

1
Career Advice Collage Time! Powerful Insights From 5 Extraordinary Women Changemakers in 2023 37:14

6M ago37:14

37:14

“Really think about why are you doing what you're doing, what motivates you?…(and) be extremely opportunistic and don't be afraid to take risks….(M)ost of my opportunities that I've had have come from me putting my hand up, taking a chance, doing something that feels scary and terrifying, but that is aligned to my core goal and mission of working o…

1
Climate Philanthropy - Heather Grady, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors 46:43

6M ago46:43

46:43

“Philanthropy generally, we consider, contributing private money for public good or community good. And climate philanthropy is simply, when we are making those private contributions in ways that are going to address the climate crisis that our country and that the world is facing today. I would expand that slightly by saying that one of the trends…

1
Why does it take five years to build a wind farm? 15:49

7M ago15:49

15:49

The United States has a goal to power the country with 100% clean electricity by 2035. Unfortunately, our energy regulations are not set up to make this much change this quickly. Energy economist John Parsons of MIT joins the show to explain how much clean energy infrastructure we need to build, the obstacles to building it, and reform ideas to tra…

1
Transforming Our Energy System – Vanessa Chan, U.S. Dept of Energy 58:00

7M ago58:00

58:00

“The theme across all of this, this clean energy transition, it is private sector led, but government enabled. So, we as a government are trying to enable the private sector to move faster so we can meet our very ambitious goal, which includes a 50% reduction from 2005 levels of greenhouse gas pollution by 2030… There's a lot of clean energy techno…

1
Energy storage: keeping the lights on with a clean electric grid 14:43

7M ago14:43

14:43

The large majority of new energy we’re building today comes from clean, renewable wind and solar projects. But to keep building wind and solar at this pace, we need energy storage: technologies that save energy when the weather is favorable, and use it when wind and sun are scarce. Prof. Asegun Henry joins TILclimate to explain how energy storage w…

1
Career Advice From 5 Extraordinary ‘Electric Ladies’ Of 2023 – By Listener Demand! 29:42

7M ago29:42

29:42

“For me, the key to my career was being clear on what my mission is….I feel so enormously fortunate that I found a president to be able to work for who shares that goal….So I think the lesson in that is either be the leader that you want to believe in, or find that leader and attach yourself to them and see what amazing things you can do together. …

1
A public health expert’s guide to climate change 12:12

7M ago12:12

12:12

We all want to live full, healthy lives. But climate change is threatening a growing number of people’s lives and well-being. Amruta Nori-Sarma, assistant professor of environmental health at Boston University School of Public Health, joins the show to help us see climate change not in tons of carbon dioxide, but as a matter of health. For a deeper…

1
Good Corporate Citizenship In A Crisis – Susan McPherson, McPherson Strategies 39:33

7M ago39:33

39:33

“Companies are not just being more strategic about corporate social impact, but are taking on the role of activists themselves. Consumers and employees now expect companies to be vocal and to protect the rights of our people and our planet. CEOs are the voices of companies and can no longer remain neutral and silent as our world grapples with serio…

1
TILclimate presents: What the heck is El Niño, anyway? (from Outside/In) 21:28

8M ago21:28

21:28

We were going to produce an episode on El Niño, and its relationship to climate change. And then we found out that Outside/In, from New Hampshire Public Radio, already did that. And they did a really good job. So please enjoy this episode of Outside/In, where you'll learn what El Niño is, how to tell if extreme weather events are caused by climate …

1
Wildfires and how we're changing them 13:38

8M ago13:38

13:38

If you live in the U.S. Mountain West, the Pacific Coast of the Americas, or large parts of Australia or southern Europe, there’s a good chance a major wildfire has passed near you in the last five or six years—maybe one more intense than anything you’ve ever heard of in your area. But why exactly are wildfires getting worse? Is climate change enti…

1
Changing Your Leadership Style - With Maggie Bienaiszewska, Auto Sector Entrepreneur, Women Automotive Network 44:48

8M ago44:48

44:48

“The first lesson was do not pretend somebody here know that that was the one when I was trying to dress up like a business woman. But the second one was, which was a really hard one for me, was to understand that we communicate, we have different communication styles, which is, it seems very easy and simple, like everybody communicates somehow, an…

1
The Tipping Point Business Is At Now – Isabelle Grosmaitre, Goodness & Co (from France) 42:08

8M ago42:08

42:08

“We are at a tipping point when businesses need to reinvent themselves for a better future. In fact, I believe that they need to reinvent the model and even demonstrate the contribution to society. I believe. in fact, that only companies with a positive impact will thrive. Why? Because they will be chosen by people, by employees, as you said, by in…

1
Can desalination solve water scarcity? 14:24

8M ago14:24

14:24

Today we’re talking about desalination: turning saltwater into freshwater, so we can drink it or use it to grow crops. And we’re talking about this because, in many parts of the world, freshwater is getting harder to come by. So… is converting saltwater a good solution? Our guest Prof. John Leinhard has devoted his whole career to this question—and…

1
Don’t throw away your refrigerator 14:45

8M ago14:45

14:45

Refrigerants are in every refrigerator, freezer and air conditioner, and the world is on track to make a lot more of them in the years to come. They’re also powerful greenhouse gases: often thousands of times more warming than carbon dioxide. Prof. Ronald Prinn, an expert in the physics and chemistry of our climate system, joins TILclimate to discu…

1
A Biography of Carbon! - Daniella Ortega, Direector of "Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography" 57:18

8M ago57:18

57:18

“What surprised me was actually how profound, how deep I managed to have this relationship with carbon. Like, because in the end, I found, through the writing and embodying carbon for so long, I found the connections, the entanglement of carbon across so many aspects of all our lives so illuminating, so surprising. Sometimes I just felt so moved by…

1
War & The Hidden Power of ESG - Natalie Jaresko, fmr Finance Minister of Ukraine 1:09:36

8M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

War & The Hidden Power of ESG - Natalie Jaresko, fmr Finance Minister of Ukraine “The global business community must understand that nurturing, upholding and protecting freedom and democracy is part of their ESG responsibility. It's not only in their best interest, but also in, in those of their increasingly noisy and numerous stakeholders…Since th…

1
How tackling methane cools the planet fast 12:30

8M ago12:30

12:30

Carbon dioxide—CO2—is the greenhouse gas you’ve probably heard most about, on this podcast and elsewhere. But it turns out, methane is an incredibly important greenhouse gas too. Stopping methane emissions today is a powerful way to dampen climate change in the very near term—to keep the Earth cooler in the next 10 or 20 years. So today, Prof. Desi…

1
Wait, how do greenhouse gases actually warm the planet? 14:35

9M ago14:35

14:35

You probably know that today’s climate change is caused by certain gases—what scientists call greenhouse gases—that human activity has been adding to our atmosphere. But—how do these gases actually keep heat from escaping into space? And why these gases in particular? To help answer these questions, we invited Desiree Plata, an associate professor …

1
Coming Soon: TILclimate Season 5 2:14

9M ago2:14

2:14

This is MIT’s climate change podcast, Today I Learned: Climate. If you're looking to get smart quick on climate change – without the jargon and without the politicking – this podcast is for you! In each episode, we work with experts at MIT and beyond to explain climate change science and solutions in fifteen minutes or less. On October 5, TILclimat…

1
How Do We Talk About The Climate? – Jill Tidman, The Redford Center 48:06

9M ago48:06

48:06

“When we're searching for projects to invest in and support, we're really trying to make sure that it's a story that has kind of a balanced narrative. It's not about just talking about what we can do and how we're, how we're winning. It's really making sure that we understand what's at stake and what the impacts are and who the impacts are hitting,…

1
The Economy, Climate Change & Federal Funding Opportunities – Heather Boushey, White House Council of Economic Advisors & Chief Economist of Invest in America Cabinet 44:31

9M ago44:31

44:31

“Much of our infrastructure isn't built to withstand certain kinds of flooding or certain levels of heat. And yet, as the climate changes, so many of the things… that we did know in a world with a stable climate, those are now being upended. And all of that affects costs fundamentally… So, we need to transition to net zero…The three pieces of (fede…

1
Career Advice From 3 Women Innovators - By Listener Demand! 27:23

10M ago27:23

27:23

This is our next in the series – requested by our loyal Electric Ladies Podcast listeners – for a collection of career advice from a handful of our various guests. The last question I ask in every interview is for career advice for midcareer women who want to make a difference. Is that you? If you want to make a difference with your career, and esp…

1
America’s Big Year of Climate Action 16:02

10M ago16:02

16:02

On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It was the largest of three bills signed over the course of 10 months that together make up the United States’ largest investment in addressing climate change… well, ever. Dr. Liz Reynolds, lecturer in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning and former…

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MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative Podcasts

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