If I ruined the fall weather with my sweater declaration last week, my apologies. I know better than that! So I will tiptoe into October and keep my thoughts on the forecast to myself.
This week’s must read: The Heart Under Heat: Why Hotter Days Matter to Our Health
From former Senator Bill Frist’s substack, this piece on the impacts of climate change on heart health really hit. A heart and lung transplant surgeon before running for office, Dr. Frist writes, “When exposed to high heat, the body works harder to cool itself: blood vessels dilate, heart rates climb, and oxygen demand increases. This strains vulnerable hearts, tipping patients toward ischemia, arrhythmias, or heart failure. Research shows each 1°C rise in temperature correlates with a 2% increase in cardiovascular deaths; during heat waves, mortality spikes by about 17%. Dehydration further heightens risks, making heat a direct danger to cardiac health.”
If that doesn’t convince you, how about the prognosis: “As someone who once treated patients at the edge of life, I now see climate change itself as a cardiovascular risk factor—one that already touches every family and community.”
Kind of makes you crave those cooler fall days (oof, I know, I said I wouldn’t talk about them).
The EcoRight Speaks talks to Lexi Shultz about the importance of science
In August, our Engagement Director Angela Larck attended a climate conference at which she ran into today’s guest, Lexi Shultz, whom I used to know back in my days working on Capitol Hill. Angela reconnected me with Lexi, who currently serves as vice president of public affairs at AGU, a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in the Earth and space sciences.
Before joining American Geophysical Union, Lexi spent eight years at the Union of Concerned Scientists, where she was part of an effort to restore scientific integrity to the policymaking process and then worked on the climate and energy program, which is how I once knew and worked with her.
We had a delightful time reconnecting and talking about the importance of science. That conversation is ready for your ears!
Coming up next week, our 200th episode! Celebrate this milestone with us by tuning in, giving us a five-star rating, and sharing the podcast with your network.
Live, from National Clean Energy Week…
As indicated previously, I signed up to attend the Policymakers Symposium in person (gasp) on Wednesday (virtual on Thursday). For those who missed it, here are the top three highlights:
- A panel featuring a few folks I used to work with discussing the challenges of permitting reform. Spoiler: it’s a lot harder than I imagined to find policy alignment. I have already invited one of the panelists to be on the podcast to share more.
- Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and a co-chair of the House Conservative Climate Caucus, who said: “clean energy security is national security.”
- “We need to figure out how to get the politics out of it,” Sen. John Curtis said of climate change. “I’ve never found anybody who doesn’t want to leave the earth better than they found it.” He also went into all the reasons why a robust clean energy industry is good for the U.S. economy, good for lowering energy prices, and good for the environment.
Congrats to Heather Reams and the entire CRES team for another successful and robust conference.
REPORT: Powering the future
Our friends at the Climate Leadership Council are at it again with another stellar report, Powering the Future, which makes the economic, geopolitical, and climate case for a stronger government role in commercial diplomacy, international investment, and export strategy.
“The U.S. has a legacy of global energy leadership to maintain and a reputation for generating transformative innovations,” said our friend, Catrina Rorke, a co-author of the report and executive director of the Council’s Center for Climate & Trade. “American innovators are currently developing the next generation of advanced energy technologies, but only with the right federal export and investment tools in place can they truly compete globally and deliver on the economic, security, and climate benefits that are up for grabs.”
For the TL;DR version, check out these key takeaways!
EVENT: Creation Care Across the Divide
If you’re in Rhode Island or nearby, join the Creation Care Ministry of the Diocese of Rhode Island for a bipartisan climate conversation featuring our own Bob Inglis and his long-time friend, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
When: October 4, 8:30am-12:00pm
How: Register Here
Happy New York Climate Week to those who will be there next week (including Bob). I look forward to hearing and sharing some recaps!