Living on Earth

PFAS “forever chemicals,” linked to cancer, liver problems and more, are leaching into cosmetics, household cleaners, and even food stored in plastic containers treated with fluorination. EPA is now going after a company that uses the fluorination process, but some advocates say the agency isn’t doing enough to protect the public. Also, Shell’s massive new ethane cracker plant in western Pennsylvania is sending polluted air and strange smells into the surrounding community. But a $10 million fine pales in comparison to the roughly $100 million a day that the company made in profits in the first quarter of 2023. And only a few dozen species have ever recovered enough to make it off the endangered species list, due to a lack of funding and political controversy. -- We offer a full transcript for each show along with photos and links to learn more. Check it out at loe.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The European Union’s new deforestation-free regulation blocks certain products made from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, and wood, from entering the European market if they have been produced on land deforested after 2020. In honor of pride month we look into the academic discipline known as “queer ecology” which looks at environmental politics through a queer lens, rejecting heterosexual and cisgender identities as the only norms. Also, author Kate Beacon shares her story of austerity and trauma when working in Canada’s oil sands in her 2022 graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Generations of Black Americans have faced racism, redlining and environmental injustices, such as breathing 40 percent dirtier air and being twice as likely as white Americans to be hospitalized or die from climate-related health problems. So the quest for racial justice now must include addressing the climate emergency, writes Heather McTeer Toney in her book Before the Streetlights Come On: Black America’s Urgent Call for Climate Solutions. Also, the incredible story of Robert Smalls, who commandeered a Confederate ship called The Planter in Charleston, South Carolina in 1862 and liberated himself and his family from enslavement. How his courage relates to the courageous action and leadership that is now urgently needed to deal with the climate emergency. -- And thanks to our sponsor: “Nuclear Now”, a new documentary from award-winning director Oliver Stone. Visit NuclearNowFilm.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New research is showing that antimicrobial chemicals called quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), which are widely used in disinfectants, pesticides and personal care products, are linked to numerous health concerns like asthma and infertility. But there are major gaps in regulation of these chemicals. Also, over seven years poet Camille Dungy gradually transformed her sterile Fort Collins, Colorado lawn into a pollinator haven teeming with native plants and the wildlife they attract. Her book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden” recounts that journey alongside a world in turmoil amid the coronavirus pandemic, police violence and wildfires. Camille talks about how all her hard work amending hard clay soil has yielded gifts of joy as well as metaphors. And 2,000 people from across the globe recently gathered in Paris to work towards a UN treaty to eliminate plastic pollution. We paint a picture of a world with far less plastic and how we can get there. -- And 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a decision reversing five decades of legal precedent, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively stripped environmental protections from nearly half of the wetlands in the nation. Also, the new White House Office of Environmental Justice will coordinate EJ efforts across all federal agencies. EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman discusses how the office can help address the disproportionate pollution and climate-related damages that environmental justice communities in the Southeast U.S. often suffer. And thirty years ago, a neighborhood group in Tucson started harvesting local rainwater by directing runoff into street-side basins filled with native, food-bearing plants. How “planting the rain” improves neighborhoods, builds climate resilience, and helps the desert bloom. -- 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

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

New York state has adopted a new law aimed at using federal funds to boost public power from renewables and shut down six polluting “peaker” gas power plants. Advocates say this will lower electricity rates and boost public health, environmental justice, and energy access. Also, peat that’s burned for energy is a major emissions source in Finland, which aims to become net zero by 2035. Peat mining is also a leading cause of habitat loss in the country. The winner of the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize for Europe joins us to share how life is flourishing in the peatlands he’s helped restore. And as many as 13 percent of American households now keep chickens as pets and a cruelty-free source of fresh eggs. The author of the new book Under the Henfluence: Inside the World of Backyard Chickens and the People Who Love Them joins us to share the joys of raising chickens. -- And thanks to our sponsor: Oregon State University. Find out more about how Oregon State is making a difference at leadership.oregonstate.edu/cic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Mother’s Day we’re celebrating the incredible tenacity and tenderness of animal mothers, from crocodiles to leopards to whales. Our guest shares why observing mother orangutans inspired her own journey to becoming a mother. Also, an intricate web of roots and fungi connects life in an old growth forest, allowing ancient “Mother trees” to nourish and protect their kin. A forest ecologist shares her research findings and reflects on how these trees helped her through the challenges of motherhood and a cancer diagnosis. And the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize winner from North America went toe-to-toe with one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world, Formosa Plastics, and won a $50 million settlement over its illegal dumping of toxic plastic waste. Diane Wilson shares her story of dogged truth-seeking and holding a major polluter accountable for spoiling the biodiverse landscape of the Texas Gulf Coast. -- And thanks to our sponsor: Hold On Bags, with plant-based, non-toxic, 100% home-compostable trash and kitchen bags. Go to holdonbags.com/Earth or enter EARTH at checkout to save 20% on your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world’s ocean surfaces are rapidly warming and recently hit an all-time temperature high. At the same time, the La Niña weather pattern is now shifting to an El Niño cycle, warming the oceans more still. Also, because of its unique geography, the United States is particularly vulnerable to nearly every kind of natural disaster: tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and more. These natural disasters are getting an unnatural boost with climate change. And waste incineration facilities don’t have to report the dioxins and other toxic chemicals they’re emitting from burning plastic to a key database. We examine the gap in publicly accessible pollution data. -- And thanks to our sponsors: Oregon State University. Find out more about how Oregon State is making a difference at leadership.oregonstate.edu/cic. Hold On Bags, with plant-based, non-toxic, 100% home-compostable trash and kitchen bags. Go to holdonbags.com/Earth or enter EARTH at checkout to save 20% on your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The EPA is trying again with power plant rules to fight climate change, but this time, the agency is backed up by statutes in the Inflation Reduction Act. It’s using these to carefully craft new rules designed to survive legal challenges. Also, the Africa recipient of this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize joins us to share how he organized a community and brought a UK based mining company to justice for polluting a river in Zambia with waste from an open pit copper mine that sickened locals and killed fish. And in nature, some animals live far longer than humans, and some don’t appear to age at all. One species of jellyfish can continually revert back to a juvenile stage, making it essentially immortal. Unlocking nature’s secrets to longevity and how humans can live longer. -- And thanks to our sponsors: Oregon State University. Find out more about how Oregon State is making a difference at leadership.oregonstate.edu/cic. “Nuclear Now”, a new documentary from award-winning director Oliver Stone. Visit NuclearNowFilm.com to learn more. Hold On Bags, with plant-based, non-toxic, 100% home-compostable trash and kitchen bags. Go to holdonbags.com/Earth or enter EARTH at checkout to save 20% on your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating our planet with poetry, storytelling, and music, featuring an orchestral and choral work called “Lament of the Earth” that evokes the beauty and wonder of our planet as it speaks directly to the question, ‘where are all the people who care?’ Major Jackson, Catherine Pierce, Sy Montgomery, Jay O’Callahan, Lynne Cherry and more share their poetry and stories in this Earth Day special. -- Join us for our next free Living on Earth Book Club event! “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden” with Camille T. Dungy, online on April 26th at 7 p.m. ET. Learn more and sign up at loe.org/events. -- And 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. Aligned Play, with safe, beautiful, imaginative play sets and toys. Plant a tree with your purchase this Earth Month at Alignedplay.com and use promo code EARTH10 for 10% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The EPA is proposing to cut the amount of toxic air pollutants industrial sources are allowed to emit. The targeted chemicals include known carcinogens that have long contaminated communities in Appalachia and Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.” Also, there are many sources of hidden plastic in the waste that wealthy countries send to the developing world, in clothing, tires, and electronics. How all that extra plastic waste is affecting the environment and health of people in the Global South. And the government offers a $7,500 tax credit to new car buyers to help meet a goal that 50% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. should be electric by 2030. But to qualify, cars must now meet a new set of requirements. -- Join us for our next free Living on Earth Book Club event! “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden” with Camille T. Dungy, online on April 26th at 7 p.m. ET. Learn more and sign up at loe.org/events. -- And 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Microplastics are everywhere scientists have looked for them, from the deepest ocean trenches to mountain peaks; in our air, water, and food, even our own bodies. We’ll take a deep dive into the world of these tiny pollutants laden with thousands of different chemicals and discuss potential solutions. Also, the world has no time to waste in cutting carbon emissions if we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, according to the latest major climate report from the IPCC science agency of the United Nations. What’s at stake for the planet and what’s necessary to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. And the namesake of the National Audubon Society was an enslaver, racist and white supremacist, so several local chapters are changing their names in an effort to build a more inclusive birding community. But the leadership of the national group is refusing to change. -- 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

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strict new limits for PFAS “forever” chemicals in drinking water. PFAS are associated with health concerns including cancers and reproductive issues, so the move is being called a huge win for public health. Also, so-called “chemical recycling” is a greenwashing term used for incinerating plastic according to critics, who say it’s contributing to climate change and poor air quality for many marginalized communities. And the topography of the coastal seafloor has a lot to do with how much flooding coastal areas will experience during hurricanes. A team of scientists is working on a new technology to create more accurate seafloor maps in the Gulf of Mexico. Want more Living on Earth? Sign up for our newsletter! https://loe.org/newsletter/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jane Goodall is on a mission to protect habitat worldwide by empowering local communities to develop sustainably. And it all started when she was just ten years old and dreamed of studying wild animals in Africa. Also, a massive new oil drilling project in the Arctic just got the green light from President Biden despite his promises for no new drilling on federal lands. And the Congo Basin in Central Africa is a critical biodiversity hotspot and linchpin in the fight against climate disruption. But will the world make good on its promise to protect biodiversity in the Congo and around the world? -- You’re invited to the next Living on Earth Book Club event! We’ll talk with “The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration” author Jake Bittle on March 23rd at 3 p.m. Eastern. Learn more and sign up at loe.org/events! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A study finds the decline of pollinators is contributing to an estimated half a million deaths a year worldwide. That’s because yields of nutritious foods that keep us healthy, like most fruits, vegetables, and nuts, are falling as the pollinators they depend on disappear. Also, what’s the worth of a whale, or a tree, or a wetland? The White House wants to know and has announced moves to start officially accounting for natural capital, the economic value of services provided by nature, when making economic decisions. And Indonesia has one of the world’s largest tropical forests and touts itself as a global leader in conservation. But outside researchers say the government is blocking data to assess conservation progress and local scientists fear reprisals if they publish data that doesn’t fit the government’s optimistic narrative. -- You’re invited to the next Living on Earth Book Club event! We’ll talk with “The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration” author Jake Bittle on March 23rd at 3 p.m. Eastern. Learn more and sign up at loe.org/events! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The train derailment in Ohio last month led to a controlled release and burn of vinyl chloride, which can produce dioxin. Locals are concerned that the soot that fell on their homes in the wake of the disaster may contain this potent neurotoxin. Also, carbon capture and storage involves a network of pipelines that transport carbon dioxide from source to sink so that it can’t warm the planet. But these pipelines carry high-pressure CO2 that can be dangerous, even lethal. And showy traits like dark pigmentation on a dragonfly’s wings or a lion’s big, dark mane play a key role in how some animals choose a mate. New research suggests that climate change is making some classically attractive traits more difficult to pull off. -- 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

Eleven of the 38 train cars that came off the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio contained hazardous materials including the carcinogen vinyl chloride. Crews intentionally released and burned vinyl chloride to avoid a potential explosion, and residents have lingering concerns about the long-term effects of the chemicals in their community. Also, Safety Data Sheets are supposed to provide key information about the risks of workplace chemicals but they often downplay the risks of known carcinogens. And the burial of a nine-year-old enslaved girl on a plantation in Louisiana may halt construction of a new petrochemical plant on that land in the state’s “Cancer Alley.” Many descendants of enslaved people in the region already live with health problems from exposure to industry and are looking to their ancestors to stop further expansion. -- You’re invited! Join us for our next free, online Living on Earth Book Club event: KOALA: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future on March 2nd. Sign up 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

A plan by oil giant ConocoPhillips to drill in Alaska on federal land is poised to move ahead if it can secure President Biden’s final consent. The Willow project would dump millions of tons of climate disrupting carbon into the atmosphere over its lifetime and pose risks to the health of nearby Alaska Native communities and biological diversity. Also, PFAS “forever” chemicals have widespread health impacts from cancers to reproductive disorders. A recent study revealed high levels of PFAS in wild-caught, American freshwater fish commonly eaten by people. And Black women often use hair relaxers and leave-in conditioners to straighten and smooth their textured hair. But many of these products contain hormone-disrupting chemicals, which are associated with such health problems as early menarche, preterm birth, diabetes, and cancer. -- Join us for 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

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

The births of at least 11 North Atlantic Right Whales this season is a bright spot for a species on the brink of extinction. And safer lobstering gear is being designed to prevent human-caused whale deaths. Also, despite inflation automakers including Tesla, Ford and General Motors are now in a price war for electric vehicles. The lowered stickers also bring some models under the $55,000 price cap required to qualify for federal tax credits. And examining the dark history of the nutmeg trade reveals the origins of our current climate crisis in the violent extractive economies pioneered by colonial powers centuries ago. -- Get a sneak peek at every episode by signing up for our newsletter at loe.org/newsletter. Thanks to our sponsor, Four Sigmatic: Don’t miss our special offer to get 30% off your 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

Municipalities in Puerto Rico sue the biggest fossil fuel companies for damages from category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The cities and towns allege the fossil fuel companies knew their products would change the climate and intensify storms and colluded to lie about it to the public. And following the devastation of Hurricane Maria many communities in Puerto Rico were isolated for months so they looked to each other for solace and sustenance. Also, Coquí frogs were heavily affected by Hurricane Maria, but within months of the storm, they could once again be heard making their iconic calls across the island. -- Thanks to our sponsor, Four Sigmatic: Don’t miss our special offer to get 30% off your 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

Activists are outraged by the United Arab Emirates’ decision to appoint a high-ranking oil executive to lead the 2023 UN climate treaty negotiations in Dubai. It’s the latest example of how fossil fuel interests are deflecting progress in the treaty process. Also, some Florida sugarcane growers near the Everglades still burn their fields to make harvesting easier, and people of color downwind claim adverse health effects from the smoke and ash. And in addition to the devastating human toll of Russia’s war on Ukraine, marine scientists have documented recent mass strandings of dolphins and porpoises in the Black Sea. A key suspect is military sonar, which can disorient cetaceans that use sound to navigate. -- Thanks to our sponsor, Four Sigmatic: Don’t miss our special offer to get 30% off your 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

Pink snow, also known as “watermelon snow” or “glacier blood,” is the result of a late summer bloom of pink colored algae that flourish in melting snow. And although snow algae are still very understudied, scientists are worried that darker snow will absorb more of the sun’s heat than white snow and cause the snowpack to melt more quickly, amplifying climate change. Also, weather records are routinely being shattered across the United States, with recent severe rainstorms in California, freezing temperatures in Texas, and a warm January thaw for the northeast. A climate scientist explains why a climate change-disrupted jet stream is behind much of this extreme weather. And in Texas, the wild weather delivered an unusual cold snap that some wildlife just couldn’t deal with. So local wildlife rehabilitators sprang into action to save around 1600 tiny Mexican free-tailed bats from hypothermic shock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cases like West Virginia v. EPA and legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act made 2022 a landmark year for environmental law, and now as 2023 gets underway there are even more legal actions and decisions on the horizon including on clean water, environmental justice, and climate racketeering. Also, to learn what alligators in Florida’s Everglades eat, a team of scientists ventures out in the dead of night to catch them and pump their stomachs. And many non-human animals call cities home or take advantage of their abundant resources, creating an “accidental ecosystem.” Being more intentional about how we design and use our cities in the future may bring benefits for both humans and the wildlife we share these spaces with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From one woman’s dream of swimming with marine iguanas, to uncommon encounters with common rabbits, to a Native American tale of how the dog came to be our loyal companion, and much more, this Living on Earth holiday storytelling special features stories of how other species on this Earth touch human lives. “Wildly Magical: Stories of Animal Encounters”, a storytelling special from PRX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Power Of Stories / Native American Tales / Stories of the Night Sky and an English Wassail Native American myths and tales help us endure or even enjoy the short days and long nights of winter. Living on Earth's annual celebration of stories helps connect people with the natural world, and includes an Iroquois explanation of why the constellation Pleiades twinkles overhead and an Abenaki custom that asks forgiveness for any wrongs of the previous year. Seasonal stories and more, in this holiday special from Living on Earth from PRX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To try to address the biodiversity crisis that threatens as many as 1 million species with extinction, thousands of delegates from around the world are meeting in Montreal with a goal of updating the United Nations treaty on biological diversity. The stakes are high for places like Palawan in the Philippines, which is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and has been protected by the Indigenous Batak people for thousands of years. Also, cloud forest ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots but they’re quickly becoming warmer and drier with the climate crisis. So each fall researchers in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica conduct a bird census to see what migrant and resident birds are using the forest and how that’s changing with time. And Living on Earth’s gardening guru, Michael Weishan, joins us to share some tips on how to craft festive holiday wreaths, garlands, and Christmas trees with natural materials from your own backyard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations is working towards creating a treaty to tackle the plastic crisis all the way from production to disposal – its full “life cycle”. Also, as the Biden Administration moves forward with plans for offshore wind, in Congress there is a bipartisan effort called the Breeze Act that would update offshore revenue sharing rules dating back to the early days of oil and gas production. And the seas are rising because of climate change, but this isn’t the first global sea level rise humans have lived through. In fact, some Indigenous peoples have stories of sea level rise that they’ve passed down over thousands of years. How oral traditions reflect the environmental changes our ancestors lived through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entanglement in lobster fishing gear is one of the biggest threats to endangered whales, so the Marine Stewardship Council has suspended its sustainability certificate for the lobster fishery in the Gulf of Maine prompting Whole Foods to halt sales of Maine lobsters. Also, shallow water linked to years of drought has severely limited navigation on the Mississippi River, making it harder for farmers to get their corn, soybeans and wheat to market. We discuss the climate connections with the midwestern drought and how it’s affecting food commodities. And the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea is interwoven with the physical and spiritual lives of indigenous forest communities. But a plan to build a copper and gold mine threatens the river and its people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations climate talks in Egypt produced an unprecedented agreement for rich nations to pay for loss and damage from climate disasters in poor countries. But no money has been provided yet to stricken nations and many details still need to be worked out. And COP27 added no new brakes to keep the Earth from hurtling past the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming target of the Paris Agreement. Also, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin typically involve massive amounts of computation needing lots of energy that’s mostly sourced from burning fossil fuels. But now there’s a far more efficient way to earn new coins if cryptocurrency managers decide to adopt it. -- Join the next Living on Earth Book Club event on November 28th at 4:00 p.m. ET! We'll be speaking with acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh about his book 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Peril,' which uses the haunting history of how nutmeg became a staple of the spice rack to reveal how colonialism and the commodification of the Earth’s resources has led us to the climatic tipping points and global crises we face today. Register at loe.org/events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Americans prepare to gather to give thanks over a feast, a look at how embracing the plant world in our diets connects to climate, health, and democracy. Also, in some Native cultures four more crops join the “Three Sisters” of corn, beans, and squash. The “Seven Sisters” and the importance of saving Native seeds. And “The Reign of Wolf 21” is the true love story of an alpha pair who lead their Yellowstone pack with grace, courage, and an unbreakable bond. What these wolves can teach us about love, loyalty, and leadership. -- Join the next Living on Earth Book Club event on November 28th at 4:00 p.m. ET! We'll be speaking with acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh about his book 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Peril,' which uses the haunting history of how nutmeg became a staple of the spice rack to reveal how colonialism and the commodification of the Earth’s resources has led us to the climatic tipping points and global crises we face today. Register at loe.org/events Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom handily won re-election and now has 4 more years to work towards his goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the state by 2045. Mr. Newsom and other Governors have billions of dollars in climate funding at their disposal that was allocated by the U.S. Congress this summer. These state governments will play a crucial role in helping cities, universities, and the private sector make the most of it. Also, emissions of chemicals that tear holes in the protective atmospheric ozone layer have fallen dramatically, thanks to the Vienna Convention launched in 1985 and its related Montreal and Kigali protocols. NOAA recently reported that midlatitude atmospheric concentrations of ozone depleting chemicals have declined about 50% compared to peak historic levels. And wildlife populations have declined by nearly 70% since 1970 due to habitat loss, over harvest, and pollution. The climate crisis will put even more pressure on wildlife, but there are also signs of improvement and hope. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before they’ve even taken their first breath, most babies are exposed to air pollution that passes from their mother’s blood stream through the placenta and has now been found in fetal tissues. Also, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a.k.a. “Lula,” is headed back to the Brazilian Presidency. In sharp contrast to defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, Lula has pledged to protect the Brazilian Amazon and indigenous communities from illegal mining, agriculture and land grabbing. And every animal species experiences the world in a totally unique way. Mantis shrimp can filter polarized light, and star-nosed moles can smell under water. Sensory marvels and more, this week on Living on Earth. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. And from <a href=“ https://www.bio.org/podcast”>the I Am Bio podcast</a>, with powerful stories of biotech breakthroughs, the people they help, and the global problems they solve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By some estimates there could be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the oceans in less than 30 years. A UN “Young Champion of the Earth” is helping Greek fishermen be part of the solution by collecting plastic along with their fishing haul. Also, the rich nations of the global north are primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. But some of the poorest nations are being crippled by debt related to loss and damage from storms, fires, droughts, and more. And for gardeners based in the northern hemisphere, fall is the time to clean up garden beds and prepare for the winter snow. But the joys of gardening don’t have to hibernate until spring. Tips for extending the growing season, including forcing bulbs indoors. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government is leasing sites for innovative floating offshore wind farms in the deep waters along the California coast, and the oil and gas industry has expertise that can be put to good use for this untapped resource. Also, Fat Bear Week celebrates the bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska who stock up on plenty of fat reserves to get them through the long frigid Alaskan winter, and salmon are the unsung heroes. And protecting “megaforests,” the remaining intact big forests on Earth, offers a low-cost and highly beneficial way to mitigate the climate crisis. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, the first significant federal regulation to protect the waters of the United States, or “WOTUS.” The rules that define WOTUS, however, have often been contested over the years. Now, WOTUS is back with the Supreme Court case Sackett v. EPA. Also, some homes in the direct path of powerful Hurricane Ian were left intact and mostly unharmed thanks to strong doors, windows, and roofs mandated by newer building codes. We’ll hear about how to build more hurricane-resistant homes and communities. And coral reefs are a key line of defense against waves and storm surge that hurricane force winds can bring. And while corals get most of the attention, just as important are the marine sponges that actually hold corals together. Ecologist “Sponge Bobbie” joins us for more! -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Puerto Rico’s antiquated power grid has repeatedly failed catastrophically after hurricanes. Rooftop solar offers a more reliable way to power the island. Also, as extreme heat, wildfires, and severe storms intensify, the already hazardous work of farmworkers is likely to become even more dangerous. But these essential workers continue to be excluded from crucial safety protections. And young Puerto Ricans are working to improve the sustainability of farming on the island by applying ecological concepts to mimic the way nature works while growing food. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. Support also comes from <a href=“ https://www.bio.org/podcast”>the I Am Bio podcast</a>, with powerful stories of biotech breakthroughs, the people they help, and the global problems they solve. And you’re invited! Join the Living on Earth Book Club and the New England Aquarium on October 13th for an online chat with bestselling science writer Ed Yong about his fascinating new book, “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.” Learn about beetles that are drawn to fire, fish that “talk” to each other with electricity, and more! Register for this free event at loe.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years solar and wind power have had on again, off again financial support from the US government, limiting renewable energy development to fight the growing climate crisis. A utility scale solar CEO explains how the Inflation Reduction Act gives solar and wind a new day. Also, as many as 1 in 6 U.S. tree species are at risk of extinction, largely due to pests, disease, and climate change. Even well-known species could face extinction: oaks, ash trees, and the Frasier fir, a common Christmas tree. How seed banking and conservation groves can help. And set sail southeast of New York City, and about 100 miles out you’ll be coasting above an underwater chasm far deeper than the Grand Canyon. Descending ten thousand feet into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, Hudson Canyon is a vast gorge and ecological hotspot that’s being considered for national marine sanctuary status. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. And you’re invited! Join the Living on Earth Book Club and the New England Aquarium on October 13th for an online chat with bestselling science writer Ed Yong’s fascinating new book, “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.” Learn about beetles that are drawn to fire, fish that “talk” to each other with electricity, and more! Register for this free event at loe.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Environmental justice advocates are declaring victory after a Louisiana judge canceled permits for a plastic factory in the region known as ‘cancer alley’ for the high rate of the disease linked to emissions from some 150 petrochemical plants. Also, the new climate law contains billions of dollars aimed directly at addressing environmental and climate injustice. What it will take to ensure low-income communities and people of color can access those funds. And Puerto Rico was still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and a swarm of earthquakes that started in 2019 when Hurricane Fiona recently struck with extreme rainfall and flooding that triggered landslides in areas destabilized by the quakes. Plus, scientists are sounding the alarm about a recent uptick in methane emissions. Methane is roughly 85 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas when it’s first emitted and reducing methane releases now may be one of the fastest ways to slow down climate change. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“https://getmaude.com/livingearth”>maude</a>. Get 15% off your first order using the code LIVINGEARTH. And you’re invited! Join LOE and ProPublica online on October 4 for a live discussion about the climate debt crisis, which makes it hard for the most vulnerable countries to prepare for climate disasters and recover when they hit. Register for this free event at loe.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King Charles III, the former Prince of Wales, has acceded to the throne and brings with him a lifelong passion for nature and environmental causes. As His Majesty takes on a new role as sovereign, the environment and climate torch now passes to his son William, the new Prince of Wales. Also, California has been a national leader on tackling climate change and recently announced two changes to further green the golden state. First, California will ban the sale of most new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Second, and more controversially, Governor Newsom approved an extension for the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power station, which is carbon-free but not without risk. And PFAS chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they hardly break down in the environment -- and they’re just about everywhere. How these chemicals are affecting us and what we can do about it. -- Join us online for a conversation with renowned conservationist Jane Goodall on Friday, September 23rd at 5:30 p.m. Eastern! Register for this free event at loe.org/events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists have understood for decades how global warming would put more moisture in the atmosphere, promoting climate disruption and extremes such as floods, wildfires and record-breaking heat. But there may be more impacts to come as climate models haven’t captured all the complex interactions of a warming world. Also, as climate change brings higher temperatures and extreme weather to American cities, our rental and affordable housing stock remains largely under-equipped to deal with these new challenges. What renters and landlords can do to fortify homes against a changing climate while transitioning to cleaner energy. And polls of environment-first registered voters showed that in July, as many as a third were planning to sit out the 2022 midterm elections, with most citing frustration with the lack of Congressional action on climate. Now the passage of the landmark climate legislation in the Inflation Reduction Act may be stirring up some voter turnout among climate conscious voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whistleblowers at the EPA say they have been forced to delete cancer warnings about new chemicals. Also, flaws in the way EPA calculates cancer risk. And a discussion about keeping people healthy by keeping the planet healthy, with a healthcare clinic in Indonesian Borneo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production in the United States are on track to outpace domestic coal emissions. Also, until recently landfills in America were often sited in coastal wetlands. Now rising seas are threatening to unleash their trash, toxics, and even nuclear waste into coastal areas. And a conversation with Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate about how the climate crisis is impacting Africa and the discrimination she’s faced in speaking up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Extraction of minerals on U.S. public lands is based on a 150-year-old law that doesn’t require royalty payments or adequate protection for the environment and local people. We talk about a proposed lithium mine in Nevada and efforts to reform the antiquated mining law. Also, a study found that three-quarters of young people surveyed believe the future is frightening because of climate change. What young people are expressing about their eco-anxiety and how parents can safely talk to their kids about climate. And a conversation about how the Zen Buddhist practice of mindfulness can provide an antidote to burnout and help us break out of a destructive cycle of consumption to live in harmony with the planet. --- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“ https://www.bio.org/podcast”>the I Am Bio podcast</a>, with powerful stories of biotech breakthroughs, the people they help, and the global problems they solve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress has passed a historic climate bill with the enactment of the 2022 budget reconciliation measure called the Inflation Reduction Act. This first serious federal climate legislation includes about $400 billion to address climate and clean energy over the next decade, as well as major tax reforms and mandated consumer cost cuts for health care. We analyze the new law and take a closer look at its expanded electric vehicle incentives. Also, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, and endocrine disrupting chemicals are partly to blame. One such chemical is DEHP, a phthalate chemical commonly used in plastic hospital intravenous bags and medical tubing, and studies have shown that it’s interfering with breast cancer treatment and augmenting the odds of relapse. And “The Reign of Wolf 21” is the true love story of an alpha pair who lead their Yellowstone pack with grace, courage, and an unbreakable bond. What these wolves can teach us about love, loyalty, and leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Underwater explorer Craig Foster dives nearly every day in the near-shore waters of South Africa and it’s here that he befriended an octopus, a relationship captured in the documentary “My Octopus Teacher.” He’s coauthor of the 2021 book “Underwater Wild” and joined us for a memorable Living on Earth Book Club event to talk about his encounters with cuttlefish, sharks, and Cape clawless otters, and the power of connecting with wild nature. Also, as the autism rate continues to rise among children, scientists and clinicians are connecting the dots between autism, genetics, folic acid deficiency, and chemicals like the endocrine disrupting plastic additives called phthalates. And bald eagles were nearly driven to extinction in the 20th century but are now making a big comeback. These majestic creatures are becoming so common that people are spotting them in the most unexpected places, even the heart of Manhattan. -- Support for Living on Earth comes from <a href=“ https://www.bio.org/podcast”>the I Am Bio podcast</a>, with powerful stories of biotech breakthroughs, the people they help, and the global problems they solve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A punishing drought in the Horn of Africa linked to climate change has led to mass famine, and some 19 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya don’t have enough to eat. Also, there are about 700 active oil and gas wells in the city of Los Angeles, mostly located in minority communities like the one where young activist Nalleli Cobo grew up, just 30 feet from a well. She and her neighbors have suffered for years from headaches, asthma, and cancer -- illnesses linked to the proximity of oil well sites. For her work fighting the oil companies operating those wells Nalleli was awarded the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize. And a baby giraffe at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park named Msituni, which means “in the forest” in Swahili, was born with a disability that gave her trouble walking. So her veterinary team found a creative way to help her heal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden responds to a lack of Congressional action on climate change with new executive orders but stops short of declaring a national climate emergency, disappointing some. Also, painting tree trunks bright blue to raise awareness about deforestation. And, The James Webb Space Telescope has sent back the first images of deep space and distant time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices