How Politics and Misinformation Impact Climate Change Action
Release Date: 04/03/2024
Who Decides Offshore Drilling, And Why Coastal Communities Pay the Price
How To Protect The Ocean
Who Decides Offshore Drilling is the central question behind decisions that shape coastlines for decades, yet are often made by people who never have to live with the consequences. This episode breaks down how offshore drilling decisions are made far from the coast, why public input often feels symbolic, and how risk quietly shifts from decision-makers to coastal communities. Offshore oil and gas leasing sounds like a technical process, but the impact is deeply human. Through firsthand voices from across the US, this episode reveals a surprising truth: once an area is leased, the future of...
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Cook Inlet Offshore Oil Drilling: Why Alaskans Are Questioning Another Generation of Fossil Fuels
How To Protect The Ocean
Cook Inlet offshore oil drilling is being pushed forward through new federal lease plans, but the people who live closest to these waters are asking a hard question: who really benefits, and who takes the risk. In this episode, we unpack why Cook Inlet matters so deeply for salmon, beluga whales, and coastal communities, and why offshore drilling decisions made far from Alaska can have permanent local consequences. Alaska offshore oil and gas leasing has shaped the state’s economy, politics, and identity for decades, and that history still influences how people talk about jobs, revenue, and...
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Distant water fishing fleets are stripping the ocean bare and the new high seas treaty may be our last chance
How To Protect The Ocean
Distant water fishing fleets are operating just beyond national borders, pulling massive amounts of squid from the ocean with almost no rules, and this episode asks a simple but urgent question: can the new high seas treaty stop ecological collapse before it is too late? Off the coast of Argentina, hundreds of vessels gather in international waters to exploit a regulatory loophole, threatening a keystone species that supports whales, seabirds, and entire food webs. What happens here does not stay here, it affects global fisheries, biodiversity, and the seafood on our plates. High seas squid...
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Hidden costs of seafood: Why “Sustainable” Tuna Is Being Paid for by Taxpayers
How To Protect The Ocean
Hidden costs of seafood are shaping the global tuna industry in ways most people never see, and this episode asks why it matters for the ocean, workers, and anyone who buys seafood. Hidden costs of seafood raise a simple but uncomfortable question: if an industry cannot survive without public money, can it truly be sustainable, and who is paying the price behind the scenes? Tuna fishing subsidies are at the center of this story. Drawing from new peer-reviewed research, this episode breaks down how fuel tax exemptions and government support keep European tuna fleets operating, even when they...
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This ocean place will help protect the planet, but we need to do something to help it
How To Protect The Ocean
This ocean place will help protect the planet but it is disappearing faster than scientists can track it, and that puts climate goals, food security, and coastal protection at risk. In this episode, we explore why seagrass meadows are one of the most powerful and overlooked ecosystems on Earth, and why failing to measure them properly could undermine global conservation and climate efforts. Seagrass conservation and climate solutions are deeply connected, yet monitoring these underwater meadows has been inconsistent and fragmented around the world. We break down why scientists have struggled...
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Ocean carbon sequestration: The climate solution hiding in seaweed forests
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean carbon sequestration is failing because we are ignoring one of the ocean’s most powerful climate allies, seaweed forests, and that blind spot could cost us precious time in the fight against climate change. This episode asks a simple but urgent question: how can one of the fastest-growing, most productive ecosystems on Earth still be missing from climate policy? Seaweed blue carbon challenges everything we think we know about how the ocean stores carbon, because kelp forests do not lock carbon in place, they move it. Scientists are now tracking how seaweed captures carbon near the...
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How Scientists Detect Ocean Life From a Single Bottle of Seawater and Why It Could Change Ocean Protection Forever
How To Protect The Ocean
How Scientists Detect Ocean Life is one of the biggest challenges in ocean conservation, because we cannot protect what we cannot see, measure, or even prove exists. How Scientists Detect Ocean Life using environmental DNA asks a powerful question: what if a simple bottle of seawater could reveal more species than divers, cameras, and nets combined, and what does that mean for how we protect the ocean? Environmental DNA ocean monitoring is changing how scientists understand marine biodiversity, especially for rare, shy, or hard-to-detect species. In this episode, you will learn how tiny...
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Human Relationship with the Ocean: Why Losing This Connection Could Cost Us Everything
How To Protect The Ocean
Human Relationship with the Ocean begins with a simple but uncomfortable question: how did humanity become so disconnected from the very system that makes life on Earth possible, and why does that disconnection matter right now? This episode explores how the ocean is treated as a distant resource rather than a living, planetary force, and how that mindset shapes policy, economics, and everyday decisions that quietly accelerate ocean decline. Ocean Literacy is more than knowing facts about marine life, it is about understanding how deeply human survival, culture, and identity are tied to the...
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Gulf Coast communities and oil drilling: Who really pays the price for new offshore leases?
How To Protect The Ocean
Gulf Coast communities and oil drilling are once again at the center of a national decision, and the stakes could not be higher. A new US offshore oil drilling plan proposes expanded lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, including areas close to Florida that many thought were protected. This episode asks a simple but urgent question: who benefits from these decisions, and who bears the long-term cost when something goes wrong? Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling has a long history of environmental damage, economic disruption, and broken promises. Scott Eustis from Healthy Gulf explains how drilling...
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Should We Be Mining the Ocean Floor, The Hidden Costs No One Is Talking About
How To Protect The Ocean
Should We Be Mining the Ocean Floor is a question that sounds futuristic, but the decisions are being made right now, quietly, and with consequences that could last for centuries. Governments and corporations are moving closer to extracting minerals from the deepest parts of the ocean, even though we barely understand the ecosystems that exist there or how damage might ripple through the planet. Deep-sea mining risks go far beyond technology and minerals. This episode breaks down what deep-sea mining actually is, who is pushing it forward, and why international and US processes are advancing...
info_outlineToday's episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast delves into the controversial topic of the carbon tax increase in Canada. The host discusses the misinformation surrounding the tax and the importance of effective communication.
Tune in to learn how misinformation can impact public perception and how to navigate through it for a better understanding of the issue.
A great video on the Carbon Tax: https://youtu.be/3vj2ANPyOHE?si=4YZ58KKmeN7WXrOQ
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Misinformation surrounding the carbon tax in Canada has led to a skewed perception of its purpose and impact. In a recent podcast episode, it was highlighted how misinformation and poor communication have fueled misconceptions about the carbon tax. The opposition leader, Pierre Poliev, has consistently blamed the carbon tax for various issues in Canada, such as increased costs of living, housing, and food. Despite studies showing that the carbon tax contributes minimally to inflation, the narrative of the tax being a burden on citizens persists.
This misinformation has even extended to conspiracy theories, with some individuals attributing wildfires and declining air quality in Canada to climate activists, labeling them as "climate communists." Such misinformation has created a negative perception of climate change initiatives, with some viewing them as government schemes for financial gain rather than efforts to combat environmental issues.
Furthermore, the episode discussed how the misinformation campaign has affected public opinion and political discourse. The constant negativity and false claims from the opposition have eroded trust in the media and environmentalists. By focusing on the carbon tax as a scapegoat for various economic challenges, attention has been diverted from the urgent need to address climate change.
The episode also raised concerns about the potential consequences of this misinformation campaign. With an upcoming election in 2025, the future of climate change policies in Canada remains uncertain. A change in government leadership could impact the continuation of the carbon tax and other environmental initiatives.
Overall, the episode emphasized the detrimental effects of misinformation on public perception and policy decisions regarding the carbon tax in Canada. It underscored the importance of accurate communication and informed discussions to effectively address climate change.
The carbon tax in Canada is designed to incentivize companies to transition to cleaner and more efficient technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The tax is imposed on activities that produce greenhouse gases, such as the use of fossil fuels in industries like warehouses, mining companies, factories, and other high-emission sectors. By taxing these activities, the government aims to encourage companies to adopt greener practices and technologies that are less harmful to the environment.
The purpose of the carbon tax is not just to generate revenue for the government but to drive a shift towards sustainable practices. Companies that emit high levels of greenhouse gases are taxed, providing them with a financial incentive to invest in cleaner technologies. This approach aligns with the recommendations of Nobel Prize winners who have emphasized the importance of carbon pricing as an effective and least impactful way to combat climate change.
The implementation of the carbon tax is part of a broader strategy to address climate change and protect the environment. By penalizing high-emission activities, the tax encourages businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in renewable energy sources. While the tax may lead to increased costs for consumers, it serves as a crucial tool in promoting environmental responsibility and driving the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Overall, the carbon tax serves as a mechanism to incentivize companies to prioritize sustainability and reduce their impact on the environment. Through this initiative, the government aims to create a more sustainable future by encouraging businesses to adopt cleaner technologies and practices that will ultimately benefit the planet and future generations.
The opposition in Canada, led by Pierre Poliev, has been utilizing misinformation about the carbon tax to fuel negativity and criticism, potentially hindering progress on climate change initiatives. Poliev has been on a tirade, blaming the carbon tax for various issues such as increases in food prices, gas prices, and the general cost of living. This constant negative rhetoric has led to a significant amount of misinformation being spread among the public, creating a skewed perception of the carbon tax and its purpose.
The misinformation campaign has resulted in people viewing climate change initiatives, such as the carbon tax, as a government conspiracy to extract more money from the public. This narrative has been perpetuated by the opposition, leading to a lack of support for efforts to combat climate change. The constant criticism and false claims about the carbon tax have created a sense of distrust in the government and media, further exacerbating the issue.
The opposition's focus on attacking the carbon tax and spreading misinformation has diverted attention away from the real issue at hand - the urgent need to address climate change. By fueling negativity and criticism, the opposition is hindering progress on climate change initiatives and potentially jeopardizing the future of environmental conservation efforts in Canada.
The use of misinformation to discredit the carbon tax is not only detrimental to the environment but also to the overall discourse on climate change. It is essential for the public to be accurately informed about the purpose and benefits of the carbon tax to ensure that meaningful action is taken to combat climate change effectively.