Nuclear energy divides atoms, and it divides people: its supporters and detractors hold passionate views. Still, many think we need ALL forms of carbon-free energy to slow the climate disaster. Will “advanced nuclear” reactors prove to be significantly cheaper and safer than old models?

Since the industrial revolution, the global north has seen massive economic growth. Yet that growth has been tied to increased emissions. That’s why some people are starting to rethink the goal of perpetual economic growth. But what would an economy focused on metrics other than growth look like?

What’s more likely to drive climate action: Dark tales of a scary climate future or positive versions of a greener, more just world? Fiction writers explore both while writing through the climate disruptions we’re experiencing every day.

As the build out of infrastructure for electric passenger vehicles gets underway, another segment of transportation is just starting down the road to electrification: heavy duty trucks. Some state mandates are speeding up the transition. What does the road to zero emissions trucking look like?

Scientists are expected to be rational and not bring their feelings into their work, even as they struggle to process their climate emotions. This week, two science communicators explore the complicated terrain of finding hope amidst climate chaos.

Can you imagine if everything you needed in your everyday life was a 15-minute walk or bike ride away? That’s the goal of the 15-minute City, a new name for an old idea. But what will it take to make the idea a reality in our car-centric culture?

Activists who spend their youth fighting for climate action often feel burdened by unrealistic expectations. Some succumb to depression and burnout. We hear from former youth activists on how they view the work of their younger selves and their advice for the next generation.

From electric vehicles to grid scale storage for wind and solar, demand for batteries is expected to grow 500% by 2030. In order to meet that demand, we’re going to need a lot more batteries. How do we build a battery supply chain that meets demand and reduces harm?

In his book, “The Persuaders,” Anand Giridharadas explores how the tactics of persuasion can help strengthen democracy and foster positive societal change. Can you stand strong in your own convictions while at the same time connecting with those who disagree with you?

Despite billions of investment dollars flowing from the Inflation Reduction Act, some Republican politicians aren’t fans of the green energy companies that are bringing money into their districts. How do we advance the clean energy transition when it’s seen as a partisan issue?

Local governments are suing oil majors for their role in the climate crisis, seeking damages to pay for climate adaptation. State and national governments are themselves being sued for not fulfilling emissions reductions targets and putting future generations at risk. And new attribution science is helping identify who bears specific responsibility for climate disruption. How much of a difference can these lawsuits make?

In an era defined by climate disruption, our relationship with water will determine our ability to survive and thrive. Water expert Peter Gleick says we’re not managing this relationship well at all. How can we ensure a future where clean water exists for all who need it and navigate the challenges of too little or too much?

Our food and agricultural systems are helping fuel the climate emergency. Senator Cory Booker says they also impact local economies, human dignity, and animal welfare. Yet our partisan divide makes the root causes almost impossible to address. How do we heal these broken systems?

As human-driven global warming amplifies the frequency and potency of natural disasters, we are increasingly dependent on one group of workers who live in the shadows: the migrant workforce that arrives to clean up and rebuild.

Extreme heat is a silent killer. And in many places, women and girls are particularly vulnerable. Rising temperatures caused by burning fossil fuels also present non-lethal health and job risks. From Freetown to Athens, cities around the world are incorporating ancient methods into modern design to mitigate heat.

Land use, pollution and the climate crisis are driving what may be the largest mass extinction event since the dinosaurs. Over 190 countries around the world recently committed to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030, a huge environmental win – if we can achieve it. Can we bring biodiversity back from the breaking point?

Market fundamentalists argue that loosely regulated markets allow for the best economic outcomes. But Naomi Oreskes says that idea is built on a lie: “It's based on asking us to trust that these corporations will behave themselves, when in reality we have abundant evidence that they don't.” For decades, American industry, especially fossil fuel companies, have fought regulation to serve their short-term financial interests at the expense of our climate and environment.

After discovering that an oil well next to her apartment was making her sick, nine-year-old Nalleli Cobo led the charge to shut it down. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Marjan Minnesma brought a historic lawsuit that could change the legal landscape the world over. What motivates activists to devote their lives to local and systemic change?

Investigative journalist Amy Westervelt uncovers big oil’s methods of shaping public opinion and legal rulings in its favor. Through true-crime storytelling, her podcasts shine a light on the oil industry's climate and environmental harms and on those individuals who try to hold them accountable.

From the Boston Tea Party to the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter, activists have long sought to bring pressing issues into the public consciousness. Climate activism is no different. But what kind of actions really move the needle?

Climate disruption is a bigger and bigger part of our lives, and yet there’s one place it still doesn’t show up much: our television and movie screens. Apple TV+ just released the series Extrapolations, a star-studded exploration of our hot and messy climate future. But why doesn’t climate get more play in Hollywood?

Thousands of renewable energy projects are ready to be built and start producing fossil-free power, but they’re stuck in a long limbo for one essential piece of the puzzle: getting connected to the grid. What will it take to modernize our multiple grids?

Bitcoin mining uses as much energy as mid-sized countries like Sweden. It’s designed that way to be super secure, but all that digital mining contributes megatons of carbon emissions to the atmosphere at a time when we need to be slashing them. And even when bitcoin mining uses renewable power, it’s drawing that power away from our energy transition.

As the effects of the climate crisis become more apparent, we need leaders from all political and industrial perspectives to work together. How can common ground be found between environmentalists on the left and Republicans on the right? What does an EV-driving member of the ConocoPhillips board have to say about reducing emissions?

White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi plays a leading role in coordinating the implementation of the biggest investments in clean energy the U.S. has ever made. This week he joins us to discuss the complicated maze of industrial policy intended to create a more just economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.