Sparkling Water Without Plastic Bottles (from your taps)
How To Protect The Ocean
Sparkling water without plastic bottles is not only good for your health (plastic bottles can cause health problems). In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Marcus O'Donovan, the founder of CO2U, a company that provides carbon dioxide cylinders for home sparkling water machines. The discussion centers around the intersection of entrepreneurship and sustainability, highlighting how CO2U addresses environmental concerns while offering a convenient product. Key Points on Sustainability: Convenience Over Single-Use Plastics: CO2U allows consumers to...
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California Wildfires: The Devastating Impact of Climate Change
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, emphasizing the significant role climate change plays in their occurrence and intensity. Lewin highlights that the wildfires are exacerbated by a phenomenon known as "hydroclimate whiplash," where California experiences extreme fluctuations between wet and dry conditions. In 2023, the state saw record precipitation and lush vegetation growth, but by 2024, drought conditions led to that vegetation drying out, creating ample fuel for wildfires. The situation was further...
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Environmental Protections Before the Next President
How To Protect The Ocean
Environmental protections before the next president could be sworn in were implemented to help save 625 million acres of ocean from oil and gas exploration. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses recent developments regarding the Gulf of Mexico and new protections for marine environments in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Name Change Proposal The episode begins with a focus on Donald Trump's controversial proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." Lewin explains that such a unilateral change is not feasible due to historical,...
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From Engineer to Ocean Advocate: Carlos Mallo's Journey with Innoceana
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Carlos Mallo, the founder and CEO of Innoceana, an innovative marine conservation organization. Carlos shares his journey from being an engineer to a marine conservationist, highlighting the pivotal moments that led him to launch Innoceana. Carlos grew up in Spain, surrounded by the ocean, which instilled in him a deep love for marine environments. He initially pursued a career in engineering, focusing on construction projects related to harbors and marinas. However, after a transformative trip to Thailand,...
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Not again...Orca Mourns Second Calf Since 2018
How To Protect The Ocean
Orca mourns second calf since 2018 in a devastating report that J35 was seen floating her dead calf on January 1st, 2025. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the tragic story of J35, a Southern Resident Orca, who lost her second calf, J61, shortly after its birth. The episode highlights several critical factors contributing to the high mortality rate of orca calves in this endangered population, which currently numbers only 73 individuals. Reasons for Calf Mortality: Food Scarcity: The primary prey of the Southern Resident Orcas, Chinook...
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It Takes a Village to Protect the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
It takes a village to protect the ocean even though ocean conservation can sometimes feel lonely. Leaning on your community can help to inspire you to take more action for the sea. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Luan emphasizes the vital role of community in ocean conservation efforts. He discusses how protecting the ocean can feel overwhelming for individuals, especially when faced with complex issues like climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution. However, community involvement can transform this daunting task into a collective effort,...
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Sea Turtle Conservation in Florida is Hard
How To Protect The Ocean
Sea Turtle Conservation in Florida is hard and it's about to get harder with the onset of increased intensity of hurricanes and increased sea level rise. Sea Turtle Conservation has been successful over the past few decades with protection policies being implemented along Florida coastlines. Still, hurricane events and increased sea level rise can wipe out nests in one storm killing hundreds of thousands of sea turtles. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lord discusses the challenges facing sea turtle conservation in Florida, particularly in light of climate...
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Where Do Whales Live? The Federal Government Wants To Map Where They Go
How To Protect The Ocean
Where do whales live? Where do they go? These are just some of the questions the US federal government would like to answer by introducing a bill (H.R. 10292) called the Whale CHARTS Act. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lauren discusses the recently introduced Whale Conservation Habitat Analysis Research and Technical Strategies Act, also known as the Whale Charts Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance the protection of baleen and sperm whales by improving our understanding of their feeding areas, calving grounds, and migration routes. Key points...
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Climate Change Actions Using Sargassum and Black Fly Larvae
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Dr. Annalisa Bracco, a professor at Georgia Tech specializing in ocean and climate dynamics. The discussion centers around innovative climate solutions, moving away from the typical focus on the negative impacts of climate change. Key Climate Solutions Discussed: Sargassum Management: Problem: Since 2011, there have been significant blooms of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic, impacting beaches in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These blooms require costly cleanup efforts, amounting to approximately...
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Half of Murres seabird population dies after this happened
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Luan discusses the significant decline in the population of common murres, a seabird species in Alaska, which has seen about half of its population die off—approximately 4 million individuals—since the marine heat wave known as "the blob" occurred from 2014 to 2016. The primary reason for this drastic decline is linked to the effects of the heat wave on the marine food web rather than direct thermal stress on the birds themselves. The heat wave caused shifts in the availability of food sources, leading to starvation among...
info_outlineAndrew Lewin discusses the changing climate resiliency of his community in Burlington, Ontario. He reflects on how the community used to be relatively unaffected by climate change but has recently experienced vulnerabilities, particularly with heavy rain and forest fires. Andrew delves into the importance of community resiliency in the face of climate change and its impact on local areas.
Tune in to learn more about the evolving climate challenges faced by communities and the need for proactive measures to protect our environment.
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Impact of Climate Change on Communities
The consequences of climate change are increasingly evident in communities worldwide, including traditionally resilient areas like Burlington, Ontario. In a podcast episode, the host discusses how Burlington, located in Southern Ontario, was once considered resilient to climate change impacts. However, in recent years, vulnerabilities within the community's resiliency have been exposed.
The host highlights how extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, have started to affect Burlington. While the city had not previously experienced significant damage from climate change-related events, recent occurrences like Hurricane Beryl and subsequent heavy rainfall have led to flooding, property damage, and disruptions within the community.
The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing these vulnerabilities to enhance community resiliency in the face of climate change. It discusses the need for proactive planning, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Burlington and similar areas.
The experiences shared in the podcast underscore the reality that no community is immune to the effects of climate change. Even in well-developed regions like Burlington, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are posing challenges that require immediate attention and action. By acknowledging and responding to these challenges, communities can work towards building greater resilience and adapting to the changing climate conditions.
Vulnerabilities in Community Resiliency Exposed by Extreme Weather Events
The podcast episode highlights how vulnerabilities in community resiliency are being exposed by extreme weather events, specifically heavy rain and flooding. The host discusses how their community in Burlington, Ontario, had previously been considered resilient to climate change consequences due to the lack of major storms, droughts, or forest fires. However, in recent years, they have experienced significant vulnerabilities in their community's resiliency.
The episode describes a recent event where Hurricane Beryl brought heavy rain to the region, causing flooding and exposing weaknesses in the infrastructure. The sudden and intense rainfall led to water accumulation in neighborhoods, resulting in flooded basements and homes. The host mentions instances where fridges were floating in basements, and water levels reached above fence lines, forcing some residents to evacuate.
Furthermore, the episode emphasizes the impact of these extreme weather events on individuals, with anecdotal stories of insurance companies not covering damages due to categorizing them as "acts of God" or natural disasters. This lack of coverage adds financial strain to those affected, highlighting the need for improved community resiliency measures.
The host also raises concerns about the city's preparedness for future climate change-related events, noting the importance of adapting infrastructure and planning for more frequent and severe storms. The discussion extends to the need for collaboration between community members, local officials, engineers, and organizations to address vulnerabilities and enhance resiliency.
Overall, the episode underscores the urgent need to address vulnerabilities in community resiliency exposed by extreme weather events like heavy rain and flooding. It serves as a reminder that even developed countries are not immune to the impacts of climate change and emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to build resilience in the face of changing weather patterns.
Building resilience against climate change impacts requires active engagement from community members. In the podcast episode, the host highlighted the importance of seeking answers, getting educated, and engaging with local officials and organizations. Here are some key points to consider:
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Seeking Answers: Community members should proactively seek information about climate change impacts in their area. This includes understanding the vulnerabilities of their community, such as susceptibility to flooding, extreme weather events, or other consequences of climate change. By asking questions and seeking answers, individuals can better prepare themselves and their community for potential challenges.
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Getting Educated: Education plays a crucial role in building resilience. By educating themselves about climate change, its impacts, and potential solutions, community members can make informed decisions and take appropriate actions. This knowledge empowers individuals to advocate for sustainable practices, support resilience-building initiatives, and contribute to community preparedness efforts.
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Engaging with Local Officials and Organizations: Collaboration with local officials, government agencies, and environmental organizations is essential for effective climate change resilience. Community members can engage with these stakeholders to voice their concerns, provide input on resilience strategies, and participate in decision-making processes. By actively participating in local initiatives, individuals can influence policies, advocate for sustainable development practices, and contribute to building a more resilient community.
Overall, community engagement is key to enhancing resilience against climate change impacts. By seeking answers, getting educated, and actively engaging with local stakeholders, individuals can play a significant role in preparing their communities for the challenges posed by a changing climate.