Policy for the Planet

Feb 18 2025 11 ep. 33 mins 8
Policy for the Planet Podcast artwork

Solving the climate crisis requires a historic global collective effort. Policy for the Planet is a bi-weekly podcast that explores how countries are responding. Join best-selling author and PIIE scholar Monica de Bolle as she converses with economists, health experts, political scientists, and more to unravel the complex policy choices to save our planet’s future. From the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

  Science
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Can liquefied natural gas actually help climate efforts? (Episode 10)

Feb 18 2025 26 mins  
The United States has become the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a trend certain to continue under President Donald Trump, but will this surge hurt or help the cause of climate change? Renowned energy expert and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel Yergin (S&P Global) joins to discuss the future of LNG exports and how LNG could play a useful role

Where climate change meets war (Episode 9)

Feb 04 2025 39 mins  
How does climate change exacerbate armed conflicts—and how do conflicts get in the way of climate efforts? Cullen S. Hendrix (Peterson Institute for International Economics) joins to examine the economic and security implications of climate change, with examples from the war in Ukraine, Syria, and other regions. He also discusses research on how weather patterns affect political

Climate efforts hinge on carbon taxes (Episode 8)

Jan 21 2025 29 mins  
As the world grapples with climate change, carbon pricing has emerged as a proven policy tool for discouraging the use of fossil fuels. But raising the price of fuel, gasoline, and other fossil-based energy remains politically tough. Kimberly Clausing (Peterson Institute for International Economics; UCLA) joins to discuss how carbon pricing works, what makes it effective, why the U

What sparked Europe's green transition? (Episode 7)

Jan 07 2025 40 mins  
Europe has emerged as a global leader in climate action, but what makes Europe's approach so effective? And how did the Russia-Ukraine war unexpectedly become a catalyst for a faster green transition? Jacob Funk Kirkegaard (Peterson Institute for International Economics; Bruegel) joins to discuss carbon pricing, Europe’s adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, and whe

Measuring AI’s damage to climate and health (Episode 6)

Dec 17 2024 34 mins  
There has been much hype over AI and its potential benefits to work and society, but what about the vast computing power necessary to develop and train deep learning models? Shaolei Ren (University of California Riverside) joins to discuss the effects of the AI supply chain on the environment and public health, and what regulatory actions are being taken to mitigate its negative im

How the changing climate is eroding public health (Episode 5)

Dec 10 2024 37 mins  
The warming of Planet Earth poses an array of public health challenges beyond excessive heat. The rising threat of prevalent vector-borne diseases is the subject of this conversation with Mary Hayden (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), with a particular focus on the perils for developing countries, and whether the globe is ready for another public health crisis. Music by B

What is China’s role in climate action? (Episode 4)

Nov 26 2024 40 mins  
China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the country faced new records for extreme temperatures in 2023. Its domestic response has prioritized measures to adapt to climate change rather than reduce emissions, but what other steps is it taking? Joanna Lewis (Georgetown University) joins to discuss China’s green innovation, how to foster cooperation on climate

The global race for electric vehicles (Episode 3)

Nov 12 2024 43 mins  
Electric vehicles have surged in popularity in recent years. But not all consumers are ready to hit the EV pedal. In this episode, host Monica de Bolle sits with Mary E. Lovely (Peterson Institute for International Economics) to understand how the auto industry is changing; challenges for supply chains, the environment, and workers; and ultimately, what it will take to get more peo

The overlooked costs of climate action (Episode 1)

Oct 29 2024 29 mins  
As countries attempt to reduce carbon emissions, they must consider the price tag of rebuilding energy systems, housing, infrastructure, and more. Jean Pisani-Ferry (Peterson Institute for International Economics), former top adviser to President Emmanuel Macron of France, joins to discuss how the world will pay for the green transition. This podcast is produced by the Peterson In

How worried should we be about climate refugees? (Episode 2)

Oct 29 2024 40 mins  
The rise in extreme weather events is forcing more people to leave their homes, but what about those left behind? Renowned immigration expert Michael A. Clemens (Peterson Institute for International Economics) joins to discuss how climate affects migration, common misconceptions, and how immigration policies need to adapt. This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for Int