Hello from the hub of heat and humidity. (I’m not being hyperbolic…109 is the real feel today!) We aren’t even in the worst month yet. August awaits! And August means Maine, though a much shorter trip than I normally take.
This week’s must read: Half the world’s GDP might be at stake: Why harming nature harms our bottom line (The Invading Sea)
Remember William Sweet, of the Connecticut William Sweets (apparently we have two members with this name)? This is his first piece published as a volunteer with us.
From his piece:
“According to the actuarial analysis group XDI, climate-related shocks could erase over 50% of global GDP between 2070 and 2090 if we continue degrading our environmental base. That is not a projection from activists — it is a warning from risk specialists whose job is to quantify future losses. That includes agriculture, energy, transportation, real estate and finance,” he writes. “And yet, every year, we erode the foundation of that wealth. We treat topsoil, pollinators, clean water and climate stability as if they were infinite — when, in fact, they are infrastructure. Nature is not simply scenery; it is a supply chain.”
Congrats, William!
Mark your calendars… the EcoRight Speaks is BACK
Have you been wondering when season 11 would kickoff?
My voice will be back into your head next Tuesday! We are ready to launch on July 29th with our first episode of the new season, featuring Dr. Doug Casa, one of the leading experts on heat management for athletes.
If you want a preview of our conversation, check out this New York Times article that producer Price Atkinson (fellow baseball lover) sent me over the off season, describing the various strategies employed by MLB players during these hot hot summers.
A sneak peak at some of the other early guests:
- EcoRight fave Mary Anna Mancuso
- A “near-term sci-fi” fiction writer with an eco-thriller series
- An expert on the Texas floods
Don’t forget to tune in next week!
Quote of the week
“They’re picking winners and losers. No doubt of that… There has been a convergence of both Democrats and Republicans into the industrial policies propping up the industries or technologies they love with the resources and the legal authorities they have.”
—Shuting Pomerleau, director of energy and environmental policy at American Action Forum, a center-right think tank. She’s also a past guest of the EcoRight Speaks. Find her episode on taxing carbon here.
Bob takes on Iowa
Over 100 Iowans came out to hear Bob speak about conservative climate leadership at events he participated in there this week. You know I’m going to work on him to put his experience down in a post to share next week. But in the meantime, we are thrilled with the number of people coming out to meet and speak to him!