Climate Denial in Government: The Need for Voter Awareness
Release Date: 08/16/2024
What Happens in Antarctica Affects You More Than You Think
How To Protect The Ocean
Antarctica may feel distant, frozen, and disconnected from everyday life, but what happens there can shape sea level rise, ocean circulation, climate systems, and the future health of marine ecosystems around the world. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, part of the Surfacing Secrets: Explore the Ocean, Know the Planet series with Ocean Networks Canada, we go behind the scenes of an international mission to install real-time ocean monitoring systems in one of the hardest places on Earth to study. Joining me are Juanjo Canales, a marine scientist from Spain with decades of...
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The Hidden Risk Behind Melting Glaciers
How To Protect The Ocean
Antarctic glaciers are melting, but the real story is not just about ice disappearing. It is about what happens next, and how fast those changes can impact sea levels, coastlines, and ecosystems around the world. Glacier collapse is not a slow, steady process. In some cases, it can happen rapidly, triggered by warming oceans, weakening ice shelves, and shifting climate patterns. Scientists are now racing to understand how unstable these systems really are and what it means for the future. In this episode, we break down how glaciers work, why Antarctica matters more than most people realize,...
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What Happens When Emperor Penguins Lose Their Ice
How To Protect The Ocean
Emperor Penguins are facing a problem most people don’t fully understand, and it’s happening faster than expected. In this episode, we break down what’s really happening in Antarctica as sea ice disappears beneath emperor penguin colonies. These penguins rely on stable ice to breed, raise chicks, and survive, but warming oceans and changing climate patterns are making that ice less reliable every year. Climate change is not just melting ice, it is disrupting an entire life cycle. You’ll learn how emperor penguins depend on the precise timing of ice formation, why early ice break-up can...
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What You Think About Leopard Seals Is Probably Wrong
How To Protect The Ocean
Leopard seals are often seen as one of the most dangerous predators in Antarctica, but what if that story is incomplete? Leopard seals play a critical role in the Antarctic food web, influencing populations of penguins, fish, and even other marine mammals. Their behavior, hunting patterns, and distribution are shaped by sea ice, climate change, and shifting ecosystems. Yet despite their importance, we still know surprisingly little about how their populations are changing. In this episode, we explore how leopard seals fit into the Antarctic ecosystem, why their role is more complex than most...
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What Orcas Are Changing in Antarctica Might Surprise You
How To Protect The Ocean
What if Antarctica isn’t changing as slowly as we think? And what if one of the biggest drivers of that change… is an animal most people only see as a top predator? In this episode, we look at what orcas are really doing in Antarctica, and why it might surprise you. These aren’t just whales passing through a frozen landscape. They are specialized hunters with learned behaviors, working in coordinated groups, and possibly reshaping the ecosystem in ways scientists are still trying to understand. As sea ice melts and new areas of the Southern Ocean open up, orcas may be gaining access to...
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Why Tuna Might Be Doing Better Than You Think
How To Protect The Ocean
Tuna fisheries are often seen as one of the biggest challenges in ocean conservation. But that story is starting to change, and most people have not caught up to it yet. In this episode, you’ll hear how tuna fisheries in many parts of the world are actually improving. Better science, stronger monitoring, and more coordinated international management are helping rebuild stocks and reduce pressure on key species. To understand what’s really happening, I spoke with , President of the . She shares how data-driven decisions, harvest rules, and industry collaboration are changing the way...
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Who Decides How Much Fish Ends Up on Your Plate?
How To Protect The Ocean
Most people assume fisheries are either working or failing, but very few people know how the system actually works. In this episode, I break down the hidden process behind fishing limits, stock assessments, political negotiations, and the science that shapes what ends up on your plate. You will learn why fisheries management can go wrong, what happens when countries ignore the science, and how better systems like harvest rules and stronger accountability can help fisheries recover. This episode also sets up tomorrow’s interview with Susan Jackson from ISSF, where we will reveal just how far...
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Why the Tuna on Your Plate Didn’t Run Out
How To Protect The Ocean
Tuna sustainability might be the biggest ocean success story you’ve never heard about. Nearly 100 percent of global tuna catch is no longer experiencing overfishing, but that didn’t happen by accident. There is a hidden system behind the scenes that most people never see, and it is quietly changing how fisheries work around the world. Harvest rules for fisheries are replacing political negotiations with science-based decisions. Instead of arguing every year about how much fish to catch, managers now use pre-agreed rules that respond automatically to changes in fish populations. This shift...
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How Do We Know If Tuna Is Running Out?
How To Protect The Ocean
Tuna fishing is a global industry, but how do we actually know if we’re catching too much? Every time you eat tuna, you’re relying on a system most people have never heard of: stock assessments. These scientific models estimate how many fish are in the ocean, how fast they reproduce, and how much can be caught without causing long-term damage. Stock assessments are not about counting every fish, they’re about making the best possible decisions with imperfect data. Scientists use catch records, fishing effort, and biological information to understand whether tuna populations are healthy...
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The Tuna Story Nobody Is Really Talking About
How To Protect The Ocean
What if one of the most popular seafoods in the world isn’t the disaster story you’ve been told? Tuna has been at the center of overfishing conversations for decades. But something changed, and most people have no idea. In this episode, we unpack the hidden system behind tuna fishing, how it nearly failed, and what turned it around. This isn’t about saying everything is fine. It’s about understanding what actually worked, why it worked, and what it means for the future of ocean conservation. Because if tuna can improve, it raises a bigger question: Why isn’t every fishery doing the...
info_outlineThis episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast delves into the critical issue of climate denial among politicians in the US and its impact on climate action. Despite the urgent need for eco-solutions and renewable energy, a significant number of politicians are climate deniers, hindering progress. The episode explores the importance of enacting laws and regulations to incentivize individuals, businesses, and governments to adopt sustainable practices.
Tune in to learn more about the challenges posed by climate deniers and the actions needed to drive positive change for our planet.
Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/05/climate-change-denial-congress
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Climate deniers in the US government are significantly impeding progress on climate action. The episode highlights how 123 elected officials in the US, including 100 members of the House of Representatives and 23 Senators, deny the existence of human-caused climate change. This denial is a major obstacle to enacting laws and regulations that would incentivize individuals, businesses, and governments to adopt eco-friendly solutions and renewable energy sources.
The presence of climate deniers in the government is concerning, especially given the US's status as a superpower. These deniers not only reject the reality of climate change but also hinder efforts to address it effectively. The episode points out that these lawmakers have received a combined $52 million in campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry, which further influences their stance on climate issues.
While the American public is increasingly recognizing the urgency of climate change, with fewer people rejecting climate science, the representation in the government does not reflect this shift. The discrepancy between public opinion and the views of elected officials underscores the need for change in leadership to align with the public's concerns about climate change.
The episode emphasizes the importance of voting for candidates who prioritize climate action and are willing to take steps to combat climate change. It also discusses how the fossil fuel industry and its allies have used various messaging tactics to undermine concerns about climate change, including attacking renewable energy solutions and spreading misinformation about their environmental impact.
Overall, the presence of climate deniers in the US government poses a significant challenge to advancing climate action and addressing the pressing issues related to climate change. It underscores the importance of electing officials who are committed to environmental protection and sustainability to drive meaningful progress in combating climate change.
One of the key issues highlighted in the podcast episode is the disconnect between the American public's growing concern about climate change and the lack of representation of this sentiment in their elected representatives. The episode discusses how polls show that a significant proportion of Americans are now alarmed or concerned about climate change, with fewer than one in five people in the U.S. rejecting the findings of climate science. This shift in public opinion is significant, with more people recognizing the impacts of climate change on their lives and communities.
However, the episode points out that this sentiment is not adequately reflected in the U.S. Congress. The transcript reveals that a quarter of U.S. lawmakers deny the climate crisis, with 123 elected officials, all Republicans, dismissing the existence of human-caused climate change. This discrepancy between the views of the American public and their representatives is concerning, especially given the power and influence the U.S. holds as a superpower.
The episode emphasizes the importance of having elected officials who represent the values and concerns of their constituents. It highlights the need for politicians who acknowledge the reality of climate change and are willing to take action to address it. The podcast suggests that the current composition of climate-denying lawmakers in Congress, who have received significant campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry, is hindering progress on climate action.
In conclusion, the episode underscores the urgency of aligning political representation with the public's increasing concern about climate change. It calls for voters to be informed about the climate stances of their candidates and to support those who prioritize climate action. By electing officials who reflect the public's concerns about climate change, there is a greater likelihood of enacting meaningful legislation and policies to address this pressing global issue.
Importance of Voting for Politicians Prioritizing Climate Action
In the podcast episode, it was highlighted that individuals play a crucial role in shaping climate action by voting for politicians who prioritize environmental efforts. The episode discussed how 123 politicians in the US government are climate deniers, hindering progress in climate change legislation. This emphasizes the importance of individuals making informed decisions when voting to ensure that elected officials align with their values and prioritize climate action.
The episode also touched upon the tactics used by some individuals and groups to spread misinformation and attack environmental efforts. It was mentioned that the fossil fuel industry and its allies have long used messaging to rebuff concerns of climate change, creating confusion and hindering progress. This underscores the need for individuals to combat misinformation by staying informed, fact-checking claims, and supporting politicians who advocate for science-based solutions to climate change.
By voting for politicians who prioritize climate action and combating misinformation and attacks on environmental efforts, individuals can contribute to driving positive change and ensuring a sustainable future for the planet. It is essential for individuals to engage in the political process, advocate for science-based policies, and hold elected officials accountable for their actions on climate change. Through collective action and informed voting, individuals can play a significant role in addressing the climate crisis and protecting the environment for future generations.