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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

23:44

The cost to jobs and public health from the EPA...

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/03/31

The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a major deregulation of greenhouse gas emissions, effectively repealing 25-year-old emission standards for all light, medium, and heavy vehicles and engines of model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond. Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Jason Walsh (BlueGreen Alliance) to analyze the basis of the new Trump administration regulation, which rescinds the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and subsequent federal GHG emission standards, and how

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17:39

How the war on Iran exposes global economic...

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/03/24

The war against Iran by the United States and Israel has spread turmoil through oil and natural gas markets, spiking prices and threatening the world economy. How will the war impact the global economy, climate, and the determination of many countries to pursue energy from renewable sources? Adnan Mazarei (PIIE) joins host Monica de Bolle to explore the ramifications of another war in Iran; what it means for oil, natural gas, and other critical input markets; and how it might affect environmental

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22:33

How New England fights climate change with help from...

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/03/17

As the cause of climate change mitigation loses favor in the White House, reducing risks from global warming has fallen to local communities. In New England, organizations like the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) are taking matters into their own hands. Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Glenn Prickett (GMRI), who describes how his organization helps lobster farmers, coastal communities, and the city of Portland develop tools to reduce the damage from overfishing, higher sea temperatures, and

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23:13

Are data centers driving up utility costs? (Episode 27)

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/03/03

As Americans face rising utility costs, much of the blame is being directed at the construction of new energy-intensive data centers. But are data centers actually the main culprit? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Douglas Giuffre (S&P Global Energy) to discuss the multiple factors at play in soaring electricity charges. These range from supply chain disruptions to lack of investment in generating capacity, and changes in energy policy at the federal and state level. Data centers, he explains,

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21:50

Can local policies relieve climate activism fatigue?...

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/02/10

Climate advocates face many barriers to progress: activism fatigue, misinformation, and a growing skepticism about global cooperation. Can countries get the public more engaged? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Clemens Helbach (German Embassy, Washington) to discuss how Germany is pursuing local community actions, such as wetland protection and drone-assisted forest rehabilitation. The goal? To reawaken public interest by improving health, safety, and lives across the country. This podcast is

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25:07

The geopolitics behind critical minerals (Episode 25)

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/01/20

The US drive for critical minerals is now fueled by national security concerns instead of climate mitigation. Policymakers speak of shoring up global supply chains for these minerals to protect US defenses, an objective that has stoked geopolitical tensions. The old goal of promoting batteries and renewable energy has fallen by the wayside. Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Cullen S. Hendrix (PIIE) to discuss why the Trump administration adjusted its stance on critical minerals, how the globe

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30:05

Europe's fight against mosquito-borne viruses...

Policy for the Planet ·

2026/01/06

Europe faces a new challenge: Mosquito-borne viruses, such as chikungunya, zika, and dengue, are now prevalent throughout the region, driven by warmer temperatures. Europe must combat these potentially debilitating diseases through education and prevention. Diana Rojas Alvarez (World Health Organization) joins host Monica de Bolle to explain why mosquitoes have moved so far north and the steps Europe has taken. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Music by

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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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