Living on Earth

World Media Foundation

As the planet we call home faces a climate emergency, Living on Earth is your go-to source for the latest coverage of climate change, ecology, and human health. Hosted by Steve Curwood and brought to you by PRX. read less

ExxonMobil Sued in Guyana, Less Water for the Dry West, The Great Displacement and more
26-05-2023
ExxonMobil Sued in Guyana, Less Water for the Dry West, The Great Displacement and more
Guyana has one of the fastest growing economies on the planet as an offshore oil boom gets underway. But a potential spill could wipe out its fishing and ecotourism economy. So a trial judge recently ruled that a major ExxonMobil crude oil project needs an “unlimited guarantee” to cover the costs of such a spill.  Also, the states that rely on the Colorado River for water are facing a supply crisis as climate change reduces the river’s flow. Now, after months of tense debates and delay, California, Arizona, and Nevada have finally agreed to substantially reduce their Colorado River water use, at least for now. In return, they’ll receive some federal help to ease some of the economic pain of cutting water use. And climate change is already making some places across the country unlivable and seems likely to uproot millions of Americans in the coming decades. The author of “The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration” collected the stories of people across the U.S. who have been driven out by fires, floods, droughts, and extreme heat. Plus -- when a whale dies, it eventually sinks to the ocean floor. And although that whale’s life is over, that’s when a whole new circle of life kicks off, with thousands of organisms including hagfish, zombie worms, and octopuses feeding off this “whale fall” for 50 or more years. -- And thanks to our sponsor: Oregon State University. Find out more about how Oregon State is making a difference at oregonstate.edu/believe-it.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Green Energy Gridlock, Righting Racial Wrongs, Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future and more
07-04-2023
Green Energy Gridlock, Righting Racial Wrongs, Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future and more
America can’t meet its goals of reducing carbon pollution from power plants unless power grids get major upgrades and rules to bring clean energy online are detangled. We’ll explore the challenges and opportunities facing implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.  Also, the Black residents of “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana have filed a civil rights and religious liberty lawsuit against the parish council that has given a green light to these polluting facilities for decades. Learn the history of environmental racism and resistance in “Cancer Alley.” And koalas begin life naked and tiny as a jellybean with none of the fur that makes them look so darn cuddly. As the little joeys grow inside their mothers’ pouch, she feeds them a special, messy microbial “soup” to help them digest toxic eucalyptus leaves – and they lap it up!  -- Thanks to our sponsors: “Nuclear Now”, a new documentary from award-winning director Oliver Stone. Visit NuclearNowFilm.com to learn more. Oregon State University. Find out more about how Oregon State is making a difference at oregonstate.edu/believe-it. -- Also, announcing our next Living on Earth Book Club event! “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden” with Camille T. Dungy, on April 26th at 7 p.m. ET. Learn more and sign up at loe.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Great Salt Lake Going Dry, Red Tape for Green Buses, Black History: George Washington Carver and more
10-02-2023
Great Salt Lake Going Dry, Red Tape for Green Buses, Black History: George Washington Carver and more
Some scientists predict that without emergency conservation measures, Great Salt Lake will dry up completely in the next five years, devastating migratory bird populations and creating a public health crisis linked to toxic dust in the lakebed. Also, the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Biden in 2021 allots $5 billion over five years for low-income communities to replace diesel school buses with clean electric ones. But an unintended consequence of the measure’s terms prevents some of the neediest communities from benefiting from the program. And George Washington Carver was born into slavery but went on to become a famous agronomist and helped poor people in the South improve their lives and soils by planting peanuts and other legumes. This week, he comes back from the past in the form of actor and playwright Paxton Williams to talk about intersections between racial dynamics and agricultural development. -- Announcing our next Living on Earth Book Club event! KOALA: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future on March 2nd. Sign up for this free, virtual event at loe.org/events. Thanks to our sponsor, Four Sigmatic: Don’t miss our special offer to get 30% off your monthly order of premium organic coffee blended with superfood mushrooms. Visit go.foursigmatic.com/earth and use code EARTH at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices