Play the episode 

In this selected episode, host and CNN climate change analyst John Sutter interviews Daniel Schrag, the director of Harvard University’s Center for the Environment, about the role of technology in combatting climate change. 

Solar and wind are now cheaper than natural gas for electricity in many parts of the world, but not as flexible, Dr. Schrag says. 30% renewables is attainable and should be done fast. 

The Climate Investment Fund backs projects that others won’t, and one of those is a concentrating solar power project in Morocco. CSP is a technology I covered back in 2004 when it was little more than a science project, but it advanced quickly because it made then-inefficient photovoltaics more cost effective. 

In the second half of this epi, Reporter Sebastian Bouknight takes listeners to Morocco and the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex for the story.

The other 11 episodes cover topics ranging from activism to investments and food to urban design. 

Please share your thoughts with us and your friends by posting this on your favorite social media network. We’ve provided sharing buttons to make it easy. Mention  @Cleantech. You can also send comments to me by email.

https://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/93415/56915808

Climate One is a project of The Commonwealth Club of California, produced in association with NPR affiliate station KQED Public Radio in San Francisco. Thanks to podcasting, we can enjoy the show everywhere.

The sample episode I have chosen, “Climate Silence: Why Aren’t There More Votes,”  is from back before the 2018 midterms. Most epi’s are not so centered on politics. New York Times reporter Trip Gabriel tells how climate and energy issues were (or were not) playing in the elections.

Sam Arons, whom I met five years ago when he was still buying wind power for Google data centers, explains how he encouraged his Lyft coworkers and customers to get out and vote. And Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, described what his organization was doing to mobilize the more than 10 million Americans who cite environmental protection as a core value but who don’t vote regularly. And we all know how that turned out (I’m looking at you, WA).

Host Greg Dalton founded Climate One in 2007, but you may remember his name from his 12 years covering news for the Associated Press, “McNeil-Lehrer News Hour,” and Industry Standard magazine. His broadcast experience is reflected in the overall quality and professionalism of Climate One.

Please share your thoughts with us and your friends by posting this on your favorite social media network. We’ve provided sharing buttons to make it easy. Mention @ClimateOne and @Cleantech. You can also send comments to me by email.