All Episodes
Why do so many renewable projects stall?
Larry Susskind, a professor of urban and environmental planning at MIT, often finds himself in the role of mediator between renewable energy project developers and the communities affected. And he says there is one big thing stopping these projects in their tracks: a lack of representation of local interest. Susskind helps us understand the challenges during this last mile to renewable energy implementation, how bringing communities to the table earlier can speed success, and how universities can help mediate this process.
December 30, 2024 - 47 min 18 sec
Putting a price on carbon
While the carbon tax has received a lot of negative publicity in the United States over the decades, more and more countries have been implementing carbon pricing schemes of their own. It raises the question, could carbon pricing be the cost of decarbonization? Economist Catherine Wolfram delves into economic policy and the many creative economic incentives to reduce carbon emissions, gives us a look at where things currently stand in the United States and abroad, and explores whether American carbon pricing might soon be feasible.
December 18, 2024 - 43 min 54 sec
The next four years of U.S. energy
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal key climate and energy legislation enacted under the Biden administration. What should we expect over the next four years and what will this mean for climate and energy policy beyond those? As the rest of the world continues to move forward in the energy transition, where does that leave the United States? MIT professor and economist Chris Knittel explains the potential short- and long-term climate and energy impacts of a Trump presidency.
December 4, 2024 - 41 min 29 sec
Rising to the climate challenge
Susan Solomon is a scientist known for her pioneering work explaining the hole in the ozone layer. And she believes that just as we solved that crucial environmental problem, we can also solve the great challenge of global temperature rise. She shares her three Ps for achieving success—when a problem becomes personal and perceivable, steering practical solutions—and reveals the tremendous power that you as the consumer really have.
November 20, 2024 - 44 min 33 sec
How to speed up the energy transition
The energy transition is happening—but why is it taking so long? We need to replace fossil fuels, but there is no one silver bullet. MIT Energy Initiative Director William Green explains why shifting to cleaner energy sources has been happening so slowly and how this process can move faster, and shares what university researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers are doing to accelerate the transition.
November 6, 2024 - 33 min 32 sec
Decarbonizing energy: The government’s role
What is the role of government and policy in decarbonizing our energy systems? As the former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz helps us understand what its role has been so far and what the government’s role can and should be in the future.
October 23, 2024 - 49 min 16 sec
Making the case for climate optimism
Climate anxiety is real—and if you are feeling it, you aren’t alone. Hosts Rob Stoner and Kara Miller are demystifying our current energy landscape, sharing what can be done and what solutions are already underway as we combat the climate crisis and eliminate the harmful emissions stemming from our global energy systems.
October 21, 2024 - 47 min 7 sec
Introducing What if it works?
Join us for a new podcast from the MIT Energy Initiative that talks with energy experts about the science, technology, and policies that can transform our energy systems and give us a more sustainable future. Coming October 23rd.
October 21, 2024 - 1 min 33 sec