Planet Policy Pals Podcast

During the last four decades, the sea level pressure has been decreasing over the Amundsen–Bellingshausen Sea (ABS) region and increasing between New Zealand and Chile, which created pressure dipoles across the South Pacific. Researchers have now linked the natural phenomenon exacerbated by human activities and climate change to the mega droughts that have plagued South American countries like Chile for over 40 years. In this extra policy, we discuss the science behind their investigation and how crazy it is that seemingly independent events can actually be linked. Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) describes forests as the “lifeblood of our economies and our health.” Forests cover nearly one-third of the global land area and are the source of 75 percent of the world’s freshwater. Nowhere has more native rainforest been wiped out than Borneo. Between 2000 and 2017, 6.04 million hectares of old-growth forest were lost in Borneo, a decline of 14%. It’s time for us to discuss this wonder of nature and how decades of wanton human greed led to it’s decline. Luckily, things have improved, but there is still much work to be done. Join us on this journey of exploration through the Borneo forest.  Follow the link for show notes and references. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_6Q3S1G2IXwg9p_5cQdDA1blPV3ju9NzC90bP4V-9AA/edit?usp=sharing  Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

This week we unpack the entirely avoidable tragedy that has come to be known as the world’s worst industrial disaster. In the night of December 2, 1984, chemical, methyl isocyanate (MIC) spilt out from Union Carbide India Ltd’s (UCIL’s) pesticide factory turned the city of Bhopal into a colossal gas chamber. It was India's first major industrial disaster. At least 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas killed between 15,000 and 20,000 people and affected over 600,000 workers. The Bhopal gas tragedy is dear to our hearts as it is the perfect example of how innocent people and the environment suffer, when we ignore safety for profit. Follow the link for show notes and references https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ETJBQKUljJzPfdWDjhtD39kIQ9q1OTEWqlDS3f8EzWM/edit?usp=sharing Captions available on our YouTube channel

The April 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was the product of a flawed Soviet reactor design coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators. The accident caused the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment ever recorded for any civilian operation, and large quantities of radioactive substances were released into the air for about 10 days. This accident affected many lives and changed how the world deals with nuclear material, even now. Listen now to hear this story and maybe learn new facts about one of history’s most infamous man-made disasters. Follow the link for show notes and references https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-RKfpkmbNmHMGRSpR2sV-bcT0MEGtWAFAoMe25e-Ll0/edit?usp=sharing  Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

It’s a new series and a new topic. Until the end of the year, we will focus on some of the environmental tragedies that have been caused by humans and impacted communities severely in the last few decades. Topics like the Bhopal disaster, Chernobyl and the oil spill that gave us Earth day are on the list. We want to learn how these things happened and how people recovered. Listen for more details and learn with us every Monday starting September 13th. Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

In episode 17, we discussed how the principles of ecotourism can improve general tourism, but there is a dark side too. Ecotourism is now a large industry and there are not enough regulations to control how it is operated. The destruction of local resources to make room for ecotourism is a problem. In this mini-sode we discuss some examples of the dark side, what can be done better and highlight even more amazing spots that you can visit for the best eco-friendly experience.  Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

Global demand for dairy continues to increase in large part due to population growth, rising incomes, urbanization and westernization of diets in countries such as China and India. Milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products are ubiquitous, consumed by more than 6 billion people worldwide. In this episode, we explore the myths surrounding dairy and look at the best options for plant milk, considering environmental impact, resource consumption and nutrients. The facts may shock you, but listen to find out what the best option is for you! closed captions of transcript on youtube

Flash flooding is fresh in our minds following the devastation seen recently in Germany. Urban areas are more likely to experience this type of "surface water" flooding because they have a lot of hard surfaces. Last year, flooding in Senegal displaced over 4000 people and this year, we have seen events in China, Nigeria, Afghanistan, London, USA, Guatemala, Sudan and others. Clearly, we have a big problem with flooding, but specifically the unpredictable nature of flash floods. In this mini-sode, we discuss some recent events, how floods and climate change are related and the effects on infrastructure moving forward.  Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

45 people arrive on average at tourist locations every minute and there have already been over 740,000 tourist visits this year alone. While tourism creates jobs and is a great way to appreciate the diversity of the human experience, mass tourism also takes a toll on the environment. In this episode, we look at the positives versus negatives of different forms of tourism and discuss how ecotourism could be the solution to a growing crisis. Wanna start planning your next sustainable vacation? Listen and get started! Follow the link for show notes and references https://docs.google.com/document/d/16XJUTaSMlivAT1IfBFdcg9XG7566LsL3lXDOrShLdTw/edit?usp=sharing  Captions of transcript available on our Youtube Page

In 2020, the United States, Brazil and the European Union accounted for roughly 50% of the world's beef production. In Episode 16, we continue the conversation on the impact of meat on our environment by focusing on some of the biggest producers and consumers, as well as the regulations and cultural paradigms that guide production and consumption in these countries. We will also look at some best practices, meat alternatives and recommend some creators to check out if you are interested in vegetarian recipes to eat less meat. Follow the link for show notes and references https://docs.google.com/document/d/17jsD4-qffvS5WNu_r6KUBnspOQsNsmHF9HxfkOcy6XI/edit?usp=sharing  Closed caption of transcript available on our YouTube channel.