Energy Switch
Episodes
Carbon Markets, Part 2
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part 1, we explored compliance and voluntary markets. Now we look at brokers and traders, market forces that help set prices, the emissions reducti...
Carbon Markets, Part 1
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carbon markets were created to try to reduce CO2 emissions. There’s a compliance market, in which governments set emission limits and companies comp...
Climate Adaptation
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To curb global warming, governments often focus on reducing CO2 emissions. But many are now also adapting to a changing climate, from expanding air co...
Population
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The common narrative about human population -- that it will grow forever -- is dead wrong. Demographic experts now agree that population will peak soo...
Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small reactors have been used on aircraft carriers for decades. Similar designs are now proposed for power generation and industrial heat. They could ...
Wildfires
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are more wildfires in some areas, though globally they’re down. Climate change contributes, but there are other factors which have made forest...
Climate Journalism
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
General readers want straight answers on climate. But climate science is complex and full of nuance. This excites scientists, whose research explores ...
Natural Gas Pipelines
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The US natural gas pipeline network carries gas from where it’s produced to the many places it's used: power plants, factories and millions of homes...
Plastic Recycling
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic is cheap, lightweight, strong and versatile, so we use it in millions of products. But there are challenges with disposal and recycling, meani...
Offshore Wind, Part 2
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part 1, we talked about the size of planned offshore wind farms, and potential impacts to fisheries, marine mammals and property values. Now we dis...
Offshore Wind, Part 1
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The US is contemplating massive new offshore wind projects. Proponents see these as part of decarbonizing our electricity system. Opponents worry abou...
Jobs in Energy
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Working in energy, particularly oil and gas, is not as popular as it once was in the US. Electricity and lower carbon energies are more readily embrac...
The Future of Biofuels
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We use a lot of biofuels in the US -- corn ethanol now makes up 10% of every gallon of gasoline. Ethanol made from cellulose, from agricultural waste ...
Urgency of Climate Change, Part 2
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To wrap up this discussion, Dr. Bjorn Lomborg and Dr. Andrew Dessler lay out their strategies for addressing climate change. One favors adaptation, an...
Urgency of Climate Change, Part 1
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Warming temperatures and their potential impacts are predicted to escalate in the coming decades. Dr. Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist, argues for ...
How to Build Powerlines
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loves electricity…and no one loves powerlines. But we need more of them. New lines face many challenges, in permitting, siting and eminent ...
Nuclear Fusion
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fission, the splitting of atoms, makes the heat that drives our nuclear reactors. Fusion, the fusing together of atoms, powers the stars, including ou...
How to Decarbonize Industry, Part 2
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 1 of this discussion, we heard ideas to decarbonize cement and steel. We’ll conclude with a look at fertilizer, which has made modern agricu...
How to Decarbonize Industry, Part 1
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cement and steel have created the modern world: they make our buildings, roads, machines and products. These two industries emit nearly as much CO2 as...
Food: Energy & Emissions
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everything in our modern lives has energy inputs and emissions outputs -- and that’s certainly the case for our food. It’s not just all the energy...
India’s Energy and Climate Policies, Part 2
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part 1, we focused on India’s electricity, and the potential to expand it using coal and/or solar. We continue with the growth of 2- and 3-wheel ...
India’s Energy and Climate Policies, Part 1
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
India is the third largest energy consumer and carbon emitter in the world, with the fastest growing energy demand. Today coal makes three-quarters of...
Students’ Energy and Climate Opinions
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For our ongoing ‘youth voice’ series, we created an energy and climate survey and asked two current and recently graduated university students to ...
Electric Grid Reliability
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everything in the modern world relies on the electric grid. To keep the grid reliable, system operators order electricity from dispatchable generation...
Critical Risks to Energy Systems
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The US energy system, particularly our electric grids and pipelines, is constantly at risk -- from extreme events, like hurricanes, winter storms, hea...
Sea Level Rise
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sea level has been rising since the end of the last Ice Age, when continental ice sheets began to melt. In island nations and low-lying coastal areas ...
Energy for Africa
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Six hundred million people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have modern energy -- so African nations are working to develop their energy resources. For ma...
Energy and Climate Paradoxes
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are many paradoxes in climate and energy: people want energy for their homes and cars… but don’t want new power lines or pipelines that coul...
EU Energy and Climate Policy, Part 1
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Europe is currently facing an energy crisis that has instigated a 'war mentality' toward energy use and climate action, accelerating the implementatio...
EU Energy and Climate Policy, Part 2
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this continuation of the discussion on Europe’s energy crisis, Dr. Carlos Batlle and Jonathan Elkind explore how the crisis has catalyzed coopera...
Critical Minerals for Energy
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Critical minerals and rare earth elements are pivotal for the advancement of new energy technologies, yet their supply is predominantly controlled by ...
Solar Panel Recycling
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of solar panels are approaching the end of their life cycles, but current recycling methods are costly and underdeveloped, leading many panel...
Electric Cars - Pros and Cons, Part 1
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Electric cars offer speed, efficiency, and zero local emissions, marking them as a significant shift in automotive technology. However, their high cos...
Electric Cars - Pros and Cons, Part 2
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing the discussion from Part 1, this episode further explores the complexities surrounding electric vehicles (EVs). Dr. Beia Spiller, Director ...
What's New in Geothermal?
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Geothermal energy, a vast resource found everywhere beneath the surface, offers sustainable solutions for heating homes, generating electricity, and p...
Students on the Future of Energy
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the future of energy through the eyes of two promising students deeply engaged in advanced energy studies. Shadya Taleb, a graduate research a...
China's Energy and Climate Policies, Part 1
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
China's position as the world's largest energy producer and consumer, along with its status as the top exporter of solar technology and a leader in nu...
China's Energy and Climate Policies, Part 2
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this continuation of the discussion on China's energy and climate policies, Dr. Wei Peng and Dr. David Sandalow delve deeper into China's commitmen...
Carbon Capture and Storage
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emissions by sequestering them underground. However, the technology fa...
Nuclear Waste
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US stands unique in having permanent storage solutions for low and intermediate-level nuclear waste but lacks a comprehensive plan for high-level ...
How Do We Power the Developing World?
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Providing modern energy services to the developing world is a monumental challenge, as 80% of the global population resides in these regions yet uses ...
The Energy-Water Nexus
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Energy and water are intricately connected, each vital for the effective functioning of the other. This episode explores how municipal water systems a...
Is Net Zero by 2050 Possible?
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Across the globe, numerous countries, states, and corporations have committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This episode fea...
Batteries for Cars and Grids, Part 1
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Advancements in battery technology have propelled electric vehicles into the mainstream, offering consumers viable alternatives to traditional cars. I...
Batteries for Cars and Grids, Part 2
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a Text Message.Building on the previous discussion of battery technology's impact on vehicles and the grid, this episode dives deeper into the...
Energy Impacts on Land
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Energy infrastructure, from extraction sites to transmission lines, occupies and alters vast tracts of land. In this episode, Mark Mills, Senior Fello...
Could Artificial Intelligence Change Energy?
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) hold transformative potential for the energy sector, promising enhanced efficiency and improved...
Environmental Impacts of Energy on Air
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While CO2 emissions often dominate discussions on the environmental impacts of energy, particulate air pollution presents a more immediate concern. Bu...
The Good News About Climate Change
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recent IPCC reports show less warming than predicted a decade ago. Emission growth is slowing, but has not yet plateaued, and while climate scientists...
Understanding the Electric Grid, Part 1
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The electric grid, and all its attached generators and transformers, has been called the largest machine in the world. In part 1, we’ll discuss how ...
Understanding the Electric Grid, Part 2
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we continue our exploration of the electric grid, we delve into its pivotal role in powering cities, industries, homes, and increasingly, our vehic...
Could LNG Change Global Energy?
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Liquefying natural gas and distributing it globally could equalize access to gas at a universal market price, potentially boosting industry and aiding...
Does the US Need a Thriving Oil and Gas Industry?
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The oil and gas industry is a cornerstone of the US economy, supporting 10 million jobs and contributing billions of dollars annually. However, concer...
Policies to Reduce CO2 Emissions
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As carbon-based fuels continue to dominate global energy consumption, reducing emissions is both a financial and temporal challenge. In this episode, ...
How Can We Make Energy More Sustainable?
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring the multifaceted approach to sustainable energy, this episode dives into three critical areas: environmental equilibrium, societal enrichmen...
Is It Time for More Nuclear Power? Part 1
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As debates intensify about meeting climate goals, proponents argue that expanding nuclear power and embracing new nuclear technologies is essential, w...
Is It Time for More Nuclear Power? Part 2
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The conversation on nuclear power continues as Dr. Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, and Michael Shel...
New Geopolitics of Energy
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The world of energy is evolving. While many experts believe coal, oil, and natural gas will continue to dominate as the largest global energy sources,...
Investing in Our Energy Future
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transitioning the developed world toward lower-carbon energies and ensuring the developing world has sufficient energy are significant, and sometimes ...
Could Hydrogen Be Our Energy Future?
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Countries are increasingly looking to hydrogen as a solution to reduce CO2 emissions. However, for hydrogen to compete effectively, costs must decreas...
Will Solar and Wind Power Our Future? Part 1
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Solar and wind energy are now among the cheapest new power sources in many countries, yet they contribute only 4% of global electricity. Scaling them ...
Will Solar and Wind Power Our Future? Part 2
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Solar and wind provide carbon-free power, but can they scale up to meet global demands? While they enjoy favorable public opinion now, concerns over t...
What's the Future of Natural Gas?
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the energy sector, making gas abundant and affordable. This has led to a shift from coal to gas in power produ...
How Should We Respond to Climate Change?
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is making an impact on everyday lives. In this episode, Dr. Steve Koonin, a former U.S. Secretary of Science, and Dr. Michael Greenston...