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Climate Justice and Healing for Nepal
After the deadly floods in Nepal this August, researchers from the World Weather Attribution group rapidly assessed the event and concluded that climate change played a “very strong” role in the catastrophic glacial collapse. Nepal climate justice activist and lawyer Tanuja Pandey joins us to discuss the human toll of the floods and the moral duty of the world to slow the climate crisis and help Nepal adapt.
12 Trillion Tons of Melted Ice
A recent study in the journal Scientific Data shows that since 1979, around 12.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica -- enough to cover the entire US in 5 feet of ice. And the melting has been speeding up in the last two decades. We discuss the implications for future melting and global sea level rise.
Tiny Microbes in Tree Bark
In addition to storing carbon through photosynthesis, trees have another carbon cycle trick up their sleeve, or rather, bark, and it's been hiding in plain sight. Scientists recently discovered that tree bark hosts millions of microbes involved in consuming and producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Alarming Global Temperature Rise
2026 was recorded as one of the hottest summers globally, with deadly heatwaves in Europe and catastrophic floods in Nepal. Ahead of a September meeting, the United Nations put out a report warning that current climate policies will lead to at least 1.8°C of global warming, well beyond the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. We discuss the recent UN report and where we stand in the climate emergency.
Batteries Kicking Out Natural Gas
California is reducing its natural gas consumption by increasing its solar energy battery energy storage and utility scale solar systems. Compared to the rest of the nation, in 2014 the state was producing 10 percent of the country’s total gas-fired electricity, but by 2025 it was down to just 4 percent. We discuss how battery systems are helping the sunny state curb natural gas consumption.
In Trees
Trees provide us with shade, food, beauty and of course, oxygen to breathe. They often outlive humans, and can teach us about life, aging, and how to be better stewards of the earth. We talk about Robert Moor’s book “ In Trees: An Exploration”.
Glaciers Crumble as Earth Warms
The devastating August 2026 flash floods in Nepal and Tibet were triggered in part by a glacial collapse, a phenomenon likely to become more frequent as the Earth continues to rapidly warm due to human caused climate change. We discuss why climate change is making mountains and glaciers more unstable, and how early warning systems and less development in floodplains could prevent future loss of life.
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Leaders Meet Amid Climate Warnings
The 2026 United Nations Climate Summit and Climate Week, which just wrapped up in New York City, took place in the wake of a summer marked by deadly extreme heat, the Nepal flood disaster and a UN report on the inevitable “overshoot” of the 1.5 degree C warming goal. We talk about the disjoint between urgent warnings and pleas for help from vulnerable nations, while countries like the US continue boosting fossil fuels -- amid the rapid growth and cost savings of renewable energy.
Climate Justice and Healing for Nepal
After the deadly floods in Nepal this August, researchers from the World Weather Attribution group rapidly assessed the event and concluded that climate change played a “very strong” role in the catastrophic glacial collapse. Nepal climate justice activist and lawyer Tanuja Pandey joins us to discuss the human toll of the floods and the moral duty of the world to slow the climate crisis and help Nepal adapt.
12 Trillion Tons of Melted Ice
A recent study in the journal Scientific Data shows that since 1979, around 12.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica -- enough to cover the entire US in 5 feet of ice. And the melting has been speeding up in the last two decades. We discuss the implications for future melting and global sea level rise.
This Week’s Show
September 25, 2026
listen / download
Leaders Meet Amid Climate Warnings
listen / download
The 2026 United Nations Climate Summit and Climate Week, which just wrapped up in New York City, took place in the wake of a summer marked by deadly extreme heat, the Nepal flood disaster and a UN report on the inevitable “overshoot” of the 1.5 degree C warming goal. We talk about the disjoint between urgent warnings and pleas for help from vulnerable nations, while countries like the US continue boosting fossil fuels -- amid the rapid growth and cost savings of renewable energy.
Climate Justice and Healing for Nepal
listen / download
After the deadly floods in Nepal this August, researchers from the World Weather Attribution group rapidly assessed the event and concluded that climate change played a “very strong” role in the catastrophic glacial collapse. Nepal climate justice activist and lawyer Tanuja Pandey joins us to discuss the human toll of the floods and the moral duty of the world to slow the climate crisis and help Nepal adapt.
12 Trillion Tons of Melted Ice
listen / download
A recent study in the journal Scientific Data shows that since 1979, around 12.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica -- enough to cover the entire US in 5 feet of ice. And the melting has been speeding up in the last two decades. We discuss the implications for future melting and global sea level rise.
Tiny Microbes in Tree Bark
listen / download
In addition to storing carbon through photosynthesis, trees have another carbon cycle trick up their sleeve, or rather, bark, and it's been hiding in plain sight. Scientists recently discovered that tree bark hosts millions of microbes involved in consuming and producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Special Features
Field Note: "After the Storm"
Living on Earth's Explorer-in-Residence, Mark Seth Lender, ruminates on the storm as it meets the shore.
Blog Series: Mark Seth Lender Field Notes
Field Note: "Countermeasures"
Living on Earth's Explorer-in-Residence, Mark Seth Lender, shares observations about shorebirds in flight.
Blog Series: Mark Seth Lender Field Notes
...Ultimately, if we are going prevent large parts of this Earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, we are going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground rather than burn them...
-- President Barack Obama, November 6, 2015 on why he declined to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.
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