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PODCAST

Policy for the Planet

Peterson Institute for International Economics

Climate change is challenging countries in different ways, raising new economic, health, and geopolitical concerns. Policy for the Planet is a biweekly podcast that explores how communities and nations are responding and balancing tradeoffs while building a more sustainable future. Join best-selling author and PIIE scholar Monica de Bolle as she chats with experts to understand the fascinating experiences and policy choices that will shape the future of the planet. From the Peterson Institute for

science social sciences

All Episodes

30:39

Can Brazil's fiscal policy address environmental...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/12/16

Brazil has made many attempts to reform its fiscal problems, while never adequately addressing its increasingly burdensome government debt. At the same time, the country is home to the Amazon rainforest and is one of the world's biggest food producers, making its role vital in global climate efforts. Could Brazil be a global test case for green fiscal policies, delivering both fiscal and climate sustainability? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Cornelius Fleischhaker (World Bank) to discuss

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23:54

How China expanded its electrical grid with low...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/12/02

China's population, a little over four times as large as the United States, and its economic ambitions are driving a gargantuan need for electricity. But China has been able to meet that need by expanding its electrical grid well beyond what any other country has achieved. How? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by David Fishman (Lantau Group) to discuss how China has used renewables and low-carbon energy to bolster its grid and what the United States and other countries can learn from its expansion

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28:18

The imperiled future of the Panama Canal (Episode 21)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/11/18

The Panama Canal suffered severe droughts in 2023 and 2024. Lower water levels disrupted vital US commercial trade routes for liquefied natural gas and other products. The canal's disabled state opens an opportunity for China, which is investing in infrastructure throughout Latin America, causing concern in Washington. With weather patterns changing, is the canal doomed? In this episode, host Monica de Bolle asks David A. Gantz (Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University) whether anything

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28:30

Can climate efforts create jobs? (Episode 20)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/10/07

Is it possible to pursue climate efforts, create jobs, and achieve social justice at the same time? That was the challenge that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was designed to meet. Ben Beachy (Global Fund for a New Economy), an architect of the Act, joins Monica de Bolle (PIIE) to explain the accomplishments and disappointments experienced by the Biden administration over one of its signature efforts, and policy strategies for the future in the wake of legislative rollbacks. This podcast is

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22:28

How Ukraine’s critical minerals could help rebuild...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/09/23

Ukraine has been defending itself from Russia’s attack for more than three years, forcing it to struggle with a wartime economy. Negotiations to end the fighting have gone nowhere, but it is not too early to think about a resolution at some point. How will Ukraine rebuild if the countries reach a ceasefire? Elina Ribakova (PIIE) joins to discuss how Ukraine could pivot to a reconstruction with a green transition, taking advantage of its critical minerals while aiding Europe’s efforts on defense

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31:28

How to combat disinformation on climate science...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/09/09

In the age of the Internet, artificial intelligence, social media, and instant access to knowledge, disinformation has become a challenge in public discourse on climate change. Naomi Oreskes (Harvard University) joins to discuss how attacks on climate science contribute to polarization, the demonization of science, and how to combat these trends. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Download the

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30:24

The looming water security crisis (Episode 17)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/08/26

Access to water, a vital necessity for every walk of life, is increasingly jeopardized by the malign effects of climate change, from pollution to melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, and droughts. Finding science-based solutions is only a first step to protect humanity from water scarcity. Aaron Salzberg (consultant, formerly at the US Department of State) joins to talk about how declining water supplies are disrupting livelihoods–from displacing populations to interrupting trade routes–and how

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29:05

India must pursue its own climate change course...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/08/12

India’s poverty and tropical heat pose extraordinary challenges as its population faces rising temperatures, less rainfall, and torrid weather. But India is also uniquely positioned to deal with global warming internally, providing lessons for countries around the world. Arvind Subramanian (PIIE) joins to discuss the steps that India can take to tackle climate change and provide lessons for the world. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by

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31:17

Climate storytelling faces a crisis (Episode 15)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/07/29

Telling stories about the challenges of climate change has never been harder. The world is beset by other problems as the newscycle churns from crisis to crisis. Communicating the urgency of dealing with climate needs fresh approaches. Dan McDougall (Documentarian) joins to tell us about the climate storytelling crisis, how to engage audiences, and how to better frame stories for policymakers. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by Baegel/When I

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31:47

Higher temperatures are fueling the rise in bird flu...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/07/15

An outbreak of bird flu in the United States and Canada is ravaging chicken flocks and driving up egg prices. What’s causing the spread? Dr. Shayan Sharif (University of Guelph) joins to explain how climate change is affecting migratory birds and leading to more cases of bird flu globally. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Download the episode transcript [PDF] Learn more about Shayan Sharif. Learn

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29:22

How frozen seeds in an Arctic mountain could avert a...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/07/01

Climate change is jeopardizing the future survival of millions of different kinds of seeds needed by growers to meet global food demands. Cary Fowler (Svalbard Global Seed Vault; former Department of State), a founder of the little-known Svalbard Global Seed Vault, where millions of seeds are conserved inside a mountain in Norway, explains why drastic steps are needed to preserve biodiversity and meet future food security challenges. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for

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45:11

Is the US renewable energy push dead? (Episode 12)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/06/17

The current political establishment’s opposition to climate change incentives makes it easy to assume businesses are going along. But that’s far from the case. Kristina Costa (formerly at the White House and Department of State) joins to discuss the status of the Inflation Reduction Act enacted under President Biden, renewable energy, and how IRA’s new incentives that pushed the renewable agenda are not dead. Learn more about Kristina Costa. Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

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23:52

Tariffs won’t stop the EU’s climate agenda (Episode 11)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/06/03

We spoke last year on this podcast about the European Union’s ambitious climate agenda. The world has changed since then! A new US president determined to impose tariffs on Europe poses tough new challenges for Europe’s goals. Joining is Cecilia Malmström (PIIE), who will help us understand the changes in Europe since October and update us on the EU’s climate agenda, industrial policies, and the desperate need for climate-focused collaboration. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for

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26:51

Can liquefied natural gas actually help climate...

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/02/18

The United States has become the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a trend certain to continue under President Donald Trump, but will this surge hurt or help the cause of climate change? Renowned energy expert and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel Yergin (S&P Global) joins to discuss the future of LNG exports and how LNG could play a useful role in the green transition. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by

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39:50

Where climate change meets war (Episode 9)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/02/04

How does climate change exacerbate armed conflicts—and how do conflicts get in the way of climate efforts? Cullen S. Hendrix (Peterson Institute for International Economics) joins to examine the economic and security implications of climate change, with examples from the war in Ukraine, Syria, and other regions. He also discusses research on how weather patterns affect political risk and securing supply chains of critical minerals in conflict-heavy areas, and why there’s room for optimism. This

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29:49

Climate efforts hinge on carbon taxes (Episode 8)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/01/21

As the world grapples with climate change, carbon pricing has emerged as a proven policy tool for discouraging the use of fossil fuels. But raising the price of fuel, gasoline, and other fossil-based energy remains politically tough. Kimberly Clausing (Peterson Institute for International Economics; UCLA) joins to discuss how carbon pricing works, what makes it effective, why the US lags behind other nations in adoption, and how carbon taxes could bring us closer to the green transition. Music by

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40:39

What sparked Europe's green transition? (Episode 7)

Policy for the Planet ·

2025/01/07

Europe has emerged as a global leader in climate action, but what makes Europe's approach so effective? And how did the Russia-Ukraine war unexpectedly become a catalyst for a faster green transition? Jacob Funk Kirkegaard (Peterson Institute for International Economics; Bruegel) joins to discuss carbon pricing, Europe’s adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, and whether Europeans are on board with these efforts. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International

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34:26

Measuring AI’s damage to climate and health (Episode 6)

Policy for the Planet ·

2024/12/17

There has been much hype over AI and its potential benefits to work and society, but what about the vast computing power necessary to develop and train deep learning models? Shaolei Ren (University of California Riverside) joins to discuss the effects of the AI supply chain on the environment and public health, and what regulatory actions are being taken to mitigate its negative impacts. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Our theme is “When I Hop” by

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37:57

How the changing climate is eroding public health...

Policy for the Planet ·

2024/12/10

The warming of Planet Earth poses an array of public health challenges beyond excessive heat. The rising threat of prevalent vector-borne diseases is the subject of this conversation with Mary Hayden (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), with a particular focus on the perils for developing countries, and whether the globe is ready for another public health crisis. Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound Show Links Learn more about Mary Hayden. Learn more about Monica de

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40:45

What is China’s role in climate action? (Episode 4)

Policy for the Planet ·

2024/11/26

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the country faced new records for extreme temperatures in 2023. Its domestic response has prioritized measures to adapt to climate change rather than reduce emissions, but what other steps is it taking? Joanna Lewis (Georgetown University) joins to discuss China’s green innovation, how to foster cooperation on climate , and the impact of decoupling policies on China’s efforts.   This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for

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