KQED e-Newsletters
Get regular updates on great programs and events
More from KQED
Climate Watch Radio Archive
An archive of Climate Watch radio reports and related coverage from across KQED
The California Report | Thursday, May 02, 2013, 8:50 AM
Bill to Overhaul Environmental Law Passes First Hurdle
A bill that would overhaul California's landmark environmental protection law, known as CEQA, made it past its first committee vote in Sacramento on Wednesday. That progress comes despite Governor Jerry Brown's having all but given up on the effort for the year.
Forum | Thursday, Apr 18, 2013, 10:00 AM
Bill McDonough: 'Upcycling' and Sustainable Design
A decade ago, William McDonough co-wrote "Cradle to Cradle," a manifesto advocating the design of products with many lifecycles, such as bottles made solely from biodegradable materials. His new book "The Upcycle" expands on these ideas by applying design solutions to global environmental challenges like food scarcity, clean water and climate change. McDonough urges us to think beyond simply minimizing our impact and to envision a world in which everything we do actually improves the environment.
The California Report | Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013, 8:50 AM
Lawsuit: Calif. Cap-and-Trade is Unconstitutional
California's cap-and-trade program is the first of its size and scale in the country. As such, it has attracted attention and lawsuits from environmentalists on one side and business groups on the other. Now, the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation alleges that the program's charge for carbon emissions violates California law because it constitutes a tax -- and taxes in California require approval by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the state Legislature.
Forum | Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013, 10:00 AM
Tom Steyer: Billionaire Investor Turned Climate Activist
San Francisco billionaire, investor, philanthropist and environmentalist Tom Steyer has emerged as a political force in California in recent years, backing two successful environmental ballot measures. Now the former hedge fund manager is taking a greater role on the national stage, particularly in the fight against climate change. He was even in the running to become President Obama's next energy secretary.
Forum | Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013, 10:00 AM
Al Gore: Past, Present and 'Future'
"There is no prior period of change that remotely resembles what humanity is about to experience," writes Al Gore in his new book "The Future." And he's not just talking about climate change. Gore explores the six forces he says will reshape our world in the years to come. The former vice president, Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist and entrepreneur joins us in the studio. We'll talk about the book as well as the controversial recent sale of his cable network Current TV to Al Jazeera, for which he reportedly earned $100 million.
The California Report | Friday, Jan 25, 2013, 4:30 PM
Regulators Overlook Climate Threat to Dams
The implications for California posed by climate change are huge. Much of the state's electricity comes from hydro-power projects, taking advantage of steep terrain and gushing mountain rivers to churn out cheap, clean power. But climate change threatens that dependence on heavy snow in the winter and heavy runoff in the spring -- and it's a problem federal regulators have chosen to ignore.
The California Report | Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012, 8:50 AM
First Round of 'Cap-and-Trade' Auctions Called Successful
The centerpiece of California's climate strategy is now in place, with the launch of its long-awaited market for greenhouse gas emissions. Officials certifying the auction of carbon pollution permits pronounced it an early success.
The California Report | Monday, Nov 19, 2012, 8:50 AM
China's 'Gridlock' May Slow Clean Energy Conversion
As the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy shows, the grid that provides our electricity can be a fragile thing. Building a modern, more resilient version will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. But most agree it's essential to a cleaner, more energy-efficient future. It's a challenge confronting California and the nation, as well as other nations -- notably China, where the aging grid is already proving to be an obstacle to "greening" that nation's energy production.
Forum | Thursday, Nov 15, 2012, 10:00 AM
Barbara Kingsolver
Every winter, millions of Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico. But what if climate change altered their course and redirected them to a small town in Tennessee? That's the story of Barbara Kingsolver's latest book, "Flight Behavior." The author of "The Poisonwood Bible" joins us to talk about her background as a scientist, and to share her thoughts on climate change.
Forum | Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012, 9:00 AM
Calif. Carbon Market Set to Open
California is taking a closely watched step to cut greenhouse gas emissions through a new cap-and-trade program. On Wednesday, the state will open a carbon market that forces its biggest polluters to buy and sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. Some say cap-and-trade here could become either a model or a cautionary tale for others.
Get the Climate Watch Podcast
Subscribe to the Climate Watch podcast and have every radio feature delivered to you.
