The State of The Planet Today (2024)

Matt and Nick close 2024 and Chapter 1 of TPT with a fun episode, where they just talk about what the show has meant to them, what they’ve learned from it, and their friendship as a whole.After today, TPT will be on hiatus for the start of 2025. After some time to regroup and refocus, the show could either pick back up where it left off, come back with a different structure, or end on a high note.While we’re not sure what’s next, we know this episode will be a good one.

Matt introduces plays clips of interviews from:August 23, 2024 - Laird Christensen (Prescott College),October 11, 2024 - Alex Schulze (4Ocean),November 8, 2024 - James Leitner (Mission Clean Water),And November 22, 2024 - Fiona Nugent (Made By Fiona)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt introduces and plays clips of interviews from:May 17, 2024 - Shubber Ali (Garden for Wildlife),August 2, 2024 - Chris Bonifati (Pets Add Life),August 9, 2024 - Amber Wendler (Been Outside),And August 16, 2024 - Brett Jenks (Rare)!Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt talks about the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan (Backroom deals and betrayal: how Cop29’s late $300bn deal left nobody happy),Scientists creating a mouse from microorganism genes (Scientists just used genes from a microorganism and created a mouse,)And burial sites in the U.S. becoming greener (Life After Death: America’s Cemeteries Are Rewilding)!Matt references a 2022 episode of TPT with Sandy Gibson that you can listen to here.Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American listeners!Matt checks in to let everyone know what the team has in store for December and beyond.

Matt interviews Fiona Nugent, the creative mind behind Made by Fiona.Fiona is a friend of Matt’s and a New York City-based knitter, pattern tester, and all-around crafter. They talk about sustainability in fashion, making your own clothing, the fast-fashion problem, and what it means to be environmentally conscious when filling our closets. For more from Fiona, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube by clicking any of these links.Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt talks about this year’s Biodiversity Summit in Colombia before breaking down what the 2024 U.S. Elections mean for the environment and our climate goals.COP16 Sources:COP16: Landmark biodiversity agreements adopted | UN News‘We are walking a long path’: Some progress at COP16, but so far to goU.S. Election Sources:U.S. Election Sends Alarming Message for Global Climate EffortsWhat Trump Can—And Probably Can’t—Do to Reverse U.S. Climate Policy | Scientific AmericanTrump's win promises to shake up U.S. energy and climate policy : NPR

Matt interviews James Leitner, the Founder and Executive Director of Mission Clean Water (MCW). James recently returned from Uganda where his team installed hand-pump water systems to help bring clean water closer to the communities the wells service.MCW aims to address a major issue with clean water projects in Africa: 60% of them fail within the first two years, according to the World Health Organization.MCW says this is because projects are implemented too quickly, and without proper consultation and coordination with local communities.Their focus on community involvement treats clean water as the beginning of the process, and not just a photo-op and plaque next to a well that will not function properly in a few years.Their team of technical and community teams maintain communication, training, and long-term involvement so that their wells will continue to provide clean water to arid regions that have been underserved for generations.Learn more at www.missioncleanwater.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly known as Twitter).You can also visit our sponsor of today's episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt and Nick end this week’s show talking about this week’s upcoming elections, specifically environmental policies.Before that, they quickly cover the U.K. going coal free (How Britain became the first major economy to quit coal),10 new amphibian species discovered in National Park in Bolivia (Madidi National Park in Bolivia May Be the Protected Area with the Highest Amphibian Species Diversity in the World),Our current global warming pace (World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns),And the frustrating inaction on global climate goals (U.N. Report on Climate Goals Says Countries Have Made No Progress)!Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt interviews Larry Selzer, President and CEO of The Conservation Fund (TCF), who is revolutionizing conservation by integrating environmental protection with economic growth.TCF operates in all 50 states, pioneering innovative financing and partnerships to safeguard nature, wildlife, and enhance communities to increase economic opportunityLarry’s leadership embodies a forward-looking approach, recognizing conservation as pivotal in addressing contemporary challenges.Keep up with Larry and The Conservation Fund on their website, LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.