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Climate Break

Climate change is upon us. Fires, droughts, hurricanes, sea level rise, and melting ice caps are all part of our new normal. But something else is happening as well. Scientists, innovators, organizations, cities, companies, and citizens are taking action, making progress, and finding solutions. Climate Break brings you stories of climate progress and interviews with climate innovators from California and around the world, in under 2 minutes. Our solution-oriented, radio-ready shows are produced by

science nature

All Episodes

00:01:45

How Curbside Charging Increases EV Accessibility,...

Climate Break ·

2025/05/06

The Rise in EV AdoptionThe US electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to reach a revenue of $95.9 billion this year, with a projected annual growth rate of 12.61% over the course of the next four years. By 2035, California and twelve other states are planning to achieve 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales, calling upon local governments to assist in the EV transition to ensure equitable access to this new technology. For homeowners who have the ability to power up in their own garage, making the

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00:01:45

Rerun: Making Electric Heating Accessible and...

Climate Break ·

2025/04/30

Electric Heat: A Hot Topic in ChicagoIn cold winter months, many people have to rely on fossil gas to heat their homes and power cookstoves. Yet all-electric appliances, including heat pumps to heat homes, are quickly becoming a cheaper alternative over the long term, though they often entail higher upfront costs compared to gas appliances.In Chicago, the switch from natural gas to electricity is moving forward, but it is also revealing unintended challenges for low-income residents that are

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00:01:45

Water Batteries, with Erik Steimle

Climate Break ·

2025/04/22

Pumped Storage Hydropower as a Climate SolutionPumped storage hydropower, also known as water batteries, are often used as a means to store excess renewable energy. For example, solar and wind may generate more energy than is needed during certain times of the day and less than what is needed at other times. As a result, water batteries are extremely useful as a way to store and release energy during peak demand periods or when renewable sources are unavailable (i.e, when the sun is down). This

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00:01:45

How Public Universities are Helping to Fight Climate...

Climate Break ·

2025/04/15

The Role of Public Universities in the Fight Against Climate ChangePublic universities like UC Berkeley have played a major role in developing climate solutions, from innovation in labs to policy initiatives. In order to create positive change in the climate space, science requires funding, which universities can provide. Further, universities, of course, educate, train, and interact firsthand with people who, in the future, will work in the climate space, putting them in an essential position in

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00:01:45

Rerun: Energy as a Service, with Bob Hinkle

Climate Break ·

2025/04/09

What is Energy-as-a-Service?Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy as a Service (EaaS) is a pay-for-performance model in which customers benefit from sustainable-energy solutions without having to pay for energy efficiency upgrades or own the

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00:01:45

Rerun: Including Marginalized Communities in Policy...

Climate Break ·

2025/04/02

Climate change and household financial well-being The increase in climate-related disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves, has created serious financial burdens on households across the country. Since 1980, the world has seen a fivefold increase in the number of billion-dollar natural disasters. 2018 to 2022 alone saw an estimated $617 billion in damages from climate and weather related events. Beyond the public health and safety concerns, these disasters have hit Americans in the

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00:01:45

Transforming Coffee Grounds into a Biodegradable...

Climate Break ·

2025/03/25

Brewing a Greener FutureEver wonder where your used coffee grounds go after they’ve been completed? Probably not. But at South Dakota State University, researchers are turning them into something entirely unexpected: plastic. Not just any plastic, but a biodegradable alternative to oil and gas-based plastics that dominate the industry today. This innovative approach not only tackles the issueof food and other biomass waste but also addresses the plastic industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and the

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00:01:45

Climate Action through Community-Driven Philanthropy,...

Climate Break ·

2025/03/19

What is the Waverley Street Foundation?The Waverley Street Foundation, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs in 2016, aims to attack climate related issues through funding community-led programs, leading to community action against climate change. The Waverley Street Foundation specifically funds programs related to renewable energy and regenerative agriculture, as these sectors have an immense impact on the environment and vulnerable communities. The Foundation’s approach to achieving climate-related

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00:01:45

Rerun: Disability-Inclusive Climate Solutions, with...

Climate Break ·

2025/03/12

IntroductionPeople with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change; however, they have been traditionally excluded from conversations about national plans and responses to climate change. Including the disabled community in decision making is key to addressing potential harms and designing effective, inclusive solutions. Disabled Community Disproportionately AffectedMany studies provide empirical evidence that climate change poses a particularly great risk for the disabled

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00:01:45

Out with Classic Refrigerants and In with Ionocaloric...

Climate Break ·

2025/03/05

Modern HVAC Systems' Reliance on Refrigerant In 2020, nearly 90% of homes used air conditioning systems in the United States. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are used by both homeowners and businesses alike, with their usage only expected to rise as climate change increases global temperatures. Refrigerant, a chemical compound that is capable of transitioning from liquid to gas and back again, has been an important part of indoor cooling systems since modern AC systems were

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00:01:45

Clean Trucks, with Ruben Aronin

Climate Break ·

2025/02/26

What does a zero-emission vehicle really mean?Clean transportation policies promoting sustainability have progressed over the years and have become even more important, both because transportation represents the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions and because climate change has been accelerating at unprecedented rates. The public is likely more familiar with zero-emission cars, but zero-emission trucks are also becoming an integral part of mitigating climate and other environmental

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00:01:45

Breeding Heat Resilient Coral to Restore At-Risk...

Climate Break ·

2025/02/18

How Can Coral IVF Fight Coral Bleaching?As ocean temperatures increase due to climate change, an emergent crisis known as coral bleaching is on the rise. Coral bleaching poses the largest threat to coral reefs, which are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral reef habitats occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor, but constitute more than 25% of all marine life, providing habitats for a vast array of species from small organisms to large fish and sharks. Additionally,

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00:01:45

Removing Dams on Rivers to Ensure Climate Resilience...

Climate Break ·

2025/02/12

The Benefits of Restoring Aquatic EcosystemsFor over a century, native salmon populations in California have been adversely impacted by human activities such as mining, dam building, and overfishing practices, often leading to the loss of critical habitat and decreased genetic diversity. With additional environmental stress from climate change, such as rising surface temperatures and changes in freshwater temperature and flow, salmon populations have been quickly declining. In addition, dams trap

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00:01:45

Rerun: Increasing Efficiency Through Power Line...

Climate Break ·

2025/02/05

Reconductoring power grids to boost energy efficiencyThe expansion of renewable energy has resulted in a heightened need for greater transmission capacity of the electrical grid. Unfortunately, permitting and cost allocation have been large hurdles to the potential of rapid expansion to meet future demand. As an alternative, large-scale reconductoring of advanced conductor systems has been proposed as a solution. Such an alternative can double transmission capacity cost-effectively, without the need

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00:01:45

Public Utilities Commissions, with EarthJustice’s...

Climate Break ·

2025/01/29

What are public utility commissions (PUCs)? In the transition to clean energy, state public utility commissions (PUCs), which regulate electric, gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater utilities, play an increasingly important role in achieving energy efficiency, enabling renewable energy, and implementing policies for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. PUCs play a pivotal role in determining the energy mix, setting rates, and deciding on investments in infrastructure, such as electric

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00:01:45

Sustainable Wood from Mass Timber, with Dr. Paul...

Climate Break ·

2025/01/22

How Sustainable Wood Helps Mitigate the Impact of Climate ChangeSustainable wood refers to the use of mass timber, which involves smaller pieces of wood that are dried and glued together in a perpendicular, crosswise pattern to form large slabs. This process can incorporate a closed-loop system that repurposes wood, promoting a circular practice that minimizes wood waste and reduces landfill usage, transportation needs, and carbon emissions. Additionally, the wood retains the carbon absorbed by

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00:01:45

How Fungi is Enhancing Soil Carbon Sequestration...

Climate Break ·

2025/01/15

How Climate Change Puts the Agriculture Industry at RiskSince the Industrial Revolution, our soils have lost between twenty and sixty percent of their carbon levels as a result of agricultural practice exacerbated by more common and more extreme droughts and floods resulting from climate change. Farmers have witnessed their crops endure mass devastation as a result of these unprecedented environmental disasters. Hence, the loss of carbon in soil threatens the stability of both the agriculture

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00:01:45

COF 999 Carbon Capture, with Dr. Omar Yaghi

Climate Break ·

2025/01/09

What is COF 999?UC Berkeley chemistry professor Dr. Omar Yaghi recently led a study which has the potential to be revolutionary in reducing the quantity of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, is a yellow, powder-like material that has billions of tiny holes. Inside of these holes, researchers in Dr. Yaghi’s lab have installed molecular units that can seek out carbon dioxide, enabling the substance to suck in and capture the carbon dioxide

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00:01:44

Rerun: Local Textile Recycling with Material Return's...

Climate Break ·

2024/12/31

What is mechanical textile recycling?Mechanical textile recycling is a process by which used textiles, particularly those made with natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and linen, are broken down into their individual fibers and then spun into yarn or fabric for reuse in the production of new textiles. Textile recycling has the potential to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with textile production. Mechanical textile recycling involves a series of steps: It typically begins

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00:01:46

Rerun: Municipal Investment in Clean Energy Tech...

Climate Break ·

2024/12/25

What is Community Choice Aggregation?Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a system that allows local governments to purchase power directly from an energy supplier other than the existing utility. This means that while the existing utility continues to deliver the power, the CCA buys and generates the power itself, potentially from renewable sources. CCAs continue to pay fees to the existing utility for energy transmission and backup power. While not required, CCAs can set ambitious climate

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