Beyond the Rights of Nature: Land that Owns Itself

Cleaner Steel is Coming. Will the Communities That Built the Industry Benefit?

Making steel accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But the industry could reduce that number by removing coal from the steel-making process entirely. Three of the U.S.’s last seven coal-based steel mills are situated along Lake Michigan. Together, these facilities produce nearly half of the steel made in the U.S., supplying skyscraper beams, car doors, and appliances across the country. And right now, in Northwest Indiana, a once-in-a-generation decision is on the table.  Nippon Steel, the owners of the Gary Works steel mill, can either extend the life of their aging blast furnaces for another 20 years and continuing coal-based production, or invest in cleaner, next-generation steelmaking. Other steelmakers have already moved towards decarbonization. Will Nippon switch to cleaner steelmaking for the next generation, or double-down on coal?  Guests:  Terry Steagall, Retired Steelworker, United Steelworker Union activist Hilary Lewis, Steel Director, Industrious Labs  Roger Smith, Asia Lead, SteelWatch Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 1:55 Terry Steagall on the importance of the steel industry in northwest Indiana 4:31 Terry Steagall on relining blast furnaces  11:16 Terry Steagall on cleaner steel for the next generation  14:27 Hilary Lewis on steel industry emissions 19:36 Hilary Lewis on the realistic path to decarbonizing the steel industry 23:03 Hilary Lewis on the pressure facing the industry to make cleaner steel  27:57 Hilary Lewis on the industry’s move to southern states  34:01 Roger Smith on the scale of US Steel’s acquisition by Nippon Steel 36:58 Roger Smith on the “golden share” the Trump administration received  46:33 Roger Smith on the viable technology for cleaner steel For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠ [https://www.climateone.org/audio/cleaner-steel-coming-will-communities-built-industry-benefit] at climateone.org *** Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at ⁠⁠climateone.org/events⁠⁠ [http://climateone.org/events]  *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne], you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠⁠Sign up today⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne]. *** Ad sales by ⁠⁠Multitude⁠⁠ [https://multitude.productions/]. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ [http://multitude.productions/ads] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Beyond the Rights of Nature: Land that Owns Itself

The “rights of nature [https://www.climateone.org/audio/should-nature-have-rights]” is the idea that if a corporation can have legal standing as a person, why can’t a river or a mountain? Thomas Linzey, one of the early architects of a legal framework for granting rights to nature, now believes that structure doesn’t go far enough: Even when ecosystems are granted rights, the land is still owned by someone or some entity, even if that is a land trust or conservancy.   Through Linzey’s work in collaboration with the Sacred Contract Coalition [https://www.sacredcontract.earth/], a 30-acre mountain in Colorado was recognized in June 2025 as the first mountain to own itself. What could this mean for protecting other places? Guests: Thomas Linzey, Senior Legal Counsel, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights  Crystal Wolfchild, Guardian of The Mountain Kumu Ramsay Taum, Cultural Advisor Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 02:30 – Thomas Linzey on his career fighting projects on behalf of communities 05:40 – Linzey on why federal environmental laws don’t protect air, water, or communities 11:00 – Linzey explains rights of nature legal framework 16:30 – Successful rights of nature cases in other parts of the world 19:15 – Rights of nature is Western law catching up with Indigenous cosmovisions 21:45 – Going beyond the rights of nature to land that owns itself 35:00 – Crystal Wolfchild on what it means to be a guardian of the Mountain 40:30 – Wolfchild on what this case could mean for other places 44:00 – Ramsay Taum on incorporating Hawaiian sense of environmental responsibility with Western worldviews 50:45 – Taum on the connection between restoring sovereignty and the rights of nature 56:00 – How to respond to climate changes like rising sea levels 58:00 – Climate One More Thing For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠episode page⁠ [https://www.climateone.org/audio/beyond-rights-nature-land-owns-itself] at climateone.org *** Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠ [http://climateone.org/events]  *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne], you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠Sign up today⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne]. *** Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠ [https://multitude.productions/]. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads [http://multitude.productions/ads] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

ENCORE Dead Heat: The Danger Of Home Power Shutoffs

Summer is here, temperatures are rising — and so are electric bills. That also means many people are facing a severely overlooked issue: power shutoffs. According to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2024 utility companies disconnected U.S. households from electricity more than 13.4 million times due to a customer’s inability to pay. When that happens, people can’t turn on their lights, keep food refrigerated, or cool down the home. And regulations preventing shutoffs during extreme heat events are woefully inadequate.  But when utilities help pay the upfront costs of efficiency upgrades, the customers and utilities can both save energy — and money. How do we protect the most vulnerable people from the dangers of home power shutoffs?  Guests: Jean Su, Energy Justice Director, Center for Biological Diversity  Sanya Carley, Co-Director, Energy Justice Lab, University of Pennsylvania Tamara Jones, Co-Executive Director, Clean Energy Works Highlights: 00:00 Introduction     4:15 Jean Su on topline takeaways from nationwide data 10:04 Jean Su on why utilities don’t cover the cost of non-payment  12:55 Jean Su on polices to prevent shutoffs 16:16 Jean Su on the reality of underreported shutoffs  22:17 Sanya Carley on what happens to a household when a shutoff occurs 25:15 Sanya Carley on seeking help after a shutoff 27:44 Sanya Carley on federal impact on shutoffs 29:56 Sanya Carley on what state legislatures can do  35:25 Tamara Jones on working for justice 38:09 Tamara Jones on who is impacted by energy injustice 46:14 Tamara Jones on examples of where policy gets it right 50:56 Tamara Jones on what work needs to be done in policy and regulation For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page [https://www.climateone.org/audio/encore-dead-heat-danger-home-power-shutoffs] at climateone.org Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at climateone.org/events [http://climateone.org/events]  *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne], you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne]. *** Ad sales by Multitude [https://multitude.productions/]. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads [http://multitude.productions/ads] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

When Your New Neighbor Is… a Data Center

Across the country, developers are racing to build huge new buildings to house computers to fuel the AI boom, creating an explosive demand for new energy. While some hyperscalers seek renewable energy, others are turning to fossil fuels. But concerns around high electric bills, air and noise pollution and water depletion have generated widespread community pushback against these giant facilities, and it seems opposing data centers is a bipartisan issue. Many cities and states are working to rapidly update zoning and other local regulations to respond to the dual pressures of developer interest and constituent backlash. Since data center development isn’t slowing down, what policies or creative strategies can lessen the impacts for local communities and ratepayers? Guests:  KeShaun Pearson, Executive Director, Memphis Community Against Pollution  Rebecca Egan McCarthy, Freelance Journalist Jason Plautz, Reporter, E&E News and Politico Astrid Atkinson, CEO, Camus Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 3:15 KeShaun Pearson on updates to the Colossus data center pollution 6:18 KeShaun Pearson on state regulators allowing an expansion of gas turbines  8:08 KeShaun Pearson on the effect of the pollution on the community 16:24 KeShaun Pearson on what he hopes the lawsuits can achieve  19:38 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on Archbald and data center development  22:26 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on who has the power to regulate data center projects 28:16 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on data center development outside of Archbald 30:21 Jason Plautz on changing attitudes toward data centers 34:32 Jason Plautz on where there is meaningful regulation happening 39:27 Jason Plautz on state level regulatory changes  41:26 Jason Plautz on the pace of data center development 44:45 Astrid Atkinson on the effects of data center energy load on the grid 46:19 Astrid Atkinson on what flexibility means in the energy world 50:39 Astrid Atkinson on hyperscalers paying for their energy 55:22 Astrid Atkinson on how some policy changes can help communities  For show notes and related links, visit ⁠our episode page⁠ [https://www.climateone.org/audio/when-your-new-neighbor-data-center] at climateone.org --- Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠ [http://climateone.org/events] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Making Solar Great Again

More and more, conservative voices are making the case that the U.S. can’t achieve energy dominance without solar power. Even the leading industry trade group is changing its strategy. Earlier this year, Politico [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/27/solar-powers-newest-friends-maga-influencers-00802954] reported that the American Clean Power Association launched the “American Energy First” campaign to engage Kellyanne Conway and conservative influencers like Katie Miller “to amplify the benefits of solar energy” and “note the harm that could result from reckless trade policy.” Meanwhile, conservative groups at the state and federal level are advocating for building out solar power in service of private property rights, economic development and national security. Episode Guests: Kelsey Brugger, Congressional policy reporter, Politico  Skyler Zunk, Executive Director, Energy Right; Executive Director, America First Energy  Lillian Floutsis, Indiana Senior Field Representative, Indiana Land and Liberty, Conservative Energy Network  This episode also features a reported piece from David Condos of KUER. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 03:00 – Kelsey Brugger explains American Clean Power memo about reaching out to conservative influencers 06:30 – Does this indicate an ideological shift on the right? 09:40 – How much can this effort shift views within the administration 14:00 – Kelsey Brugger on what this story says about how the clean energy industry is positioning itself 19:00 – Skylar Zunk shares rationale behind his “Make Solar Great Again” hats 23:40 – How America First Energy frames solar energy 32:00 – How approach to solar energy conversation differ in D.C. and Louisiana 36:50 – KUER’s David Condos reports on Utah communities moving toward renewable energy 43:00 – Lillian Floutsis shares story from Allen County, Indiana, about local debate around setbacks for solar energy development 48:00 – Floutsis on framing solar conversations in Indiana around property rights, economic development and national security 53:00 – Climate is usually not a part of these conversations 54:20 – Floutsis share solar success stories 57:50 – Climate One More Thing For show notes and related links, visit our episode page [https://www.climateone.org/audio/making-solar-great-again.] at climateone.org --- Join us for our induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at climateone.org/events [http://climateone.org/events]  *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne], you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today [https://www.patreon.com/ClimateOne]. *** Ad sales by Multitude [https://multitude.productions/]. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads [http://multitude.productions/ads] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]