NEWS 9/18/2020: KQED Newsroom, “Climate change and the economic outlook”
To watch the interview and discussion video, click here on the KQED website.
Fighting Climate Change Amid Wildfires, Extreme Weather and Presidential Denial
On Monday, during a trip to California, President Trump refused to acknowledge the role climate change has played in generating wildfires that have burned more than 3 million acres and killed at least 26 people, including one firefighter battling the El Dorado Fire east of Los Angeles. Trump asserted that poor forest management was to blame and that the weather would get cooler. But Trump’s denial of climate change is at odds with public opinion. According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, more than 70% of Americans believe that climate change is happening, and nearly 60% believe that it is mostly due to human activities. Meanwhile, California remains a leader on fighting greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 30% of its energy coming from renewables like solar and wind, a figure that is mandated to double in a decade. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state would accelerate its climate change strategies, including a goal to get to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.
Guests:
- Daniel Kammen, professor of energy and director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, UC Berkeley
- Jennifer Marlon, professor and research scientist, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
You must be logged in to post a comment.