Perspectives on Sustainable Development Podcast

As we come into the Thanksgiving break this week, I have been thinking about some of the things that I am most thankful for. One of them is a job that I love and the ability to work on subjects that I am passionate about. Another is that I was able to create a successful platform to critically discuss these subjects. My intention had been to take a few months off from the Perspectives on Sustainable Development Podcast and return in Q1, but as I am seeing so many highly qualified people be let go, and many more projected in coming months, I want to try and help. In January, I will do a special episode to showcase 10 subject matter experts (working in climate, EJ, decarbonization or a related field) who were recently let go. They will each get five-ish minutes to highlight their work and answer a related question from me. I have been in their shoes before, most of us have. Smart networking and leaning into the work helps. Hopefully this will as well. Message me on here if you are interested, and feel free to share with your networks. We're all in this together. Happy Thanksgiving.

Season 1 Finale - Food Insecurity (in memory of my mom, Lois Whitehead) Food insecurity is a pervasive global issue that is only getting worse due to increasing climate change impacts. During her professional career, for a time, my Mom worked for nonprofits in Trenton, NJ who provided emergency food aid and worked to get people back on their feet. For this episode, I was thrilled to be joined by Smita Narula (Pace University) and Aaron McCargo, Jr. (Flavor Frontier Development Group). Smita does a masterful job discussing some of the major global and systemic issues and Chef Aaron brings it closer to home and discusses an ambitious project that he is trying to lead in his home town of Camden, NJ. As we all come up to the Thanksgiving holiday in a few weeks, I invite you to consider your relationship to food, and how the food system is a great example of an interconnected web that affects most aspects of our lives. If you are looking for ways to provide positive support to these issues, I invite you to check the episode notes for more on Chef Aaron's Camden project, Smita's resources on the right to food, and what our friends at Philabundance are doing through the #campoutforhunger (93.3 WMMR Philadelphia) and other associated efforts. Love you Mom. #foodinsecurity #climatechange #environmentaljustice Video: https://lnkd.in/euM_gJjn https://lnkd.in/e9Nh2xwT

It's been a wild day and surely will be a wild next few years, but here are some objective thoughts on where my EJ story began and where I see all of this going. Everyone take a deep breath. #environmentaljustice #climatechange #communityengagement Air & Waste Management Association, Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), National Association of Environmental Professionals

Here's a little teaser for our Season 1 finale coming up next week, an incredible discussion on #foodinsecurity with Aaron McCargo, Jr. and Smita Narula. This one's for you mom, Lois Whitehead. To be posted 11/11.

Episode 17: Financing Decarbonization: From startups to critical support infrastructure Whether a clean energy startup or billion dollar offshore wind developer, there is great opportunity right now, but also great risk, and fluctuations in supply chain, interest rates, and other outside forces, can directly impact your project. For this episode, Chris was joined by Jonathan Kennedy (Chief Development Officer, Clean Energy Terminals), and John May (Managing Director, Hamilton Clark Sustainable Capital, Inc.).?As many of my colleagues are meeting right now at the American Clean Power Association (ACP) event in Atlantic City, I invite you to listen to the episode and consider steps to de-risk your projects and creatively relay potential project benefits to your stakeholders. YouTube: https://lnkd.in/euM_gJjn #offshorewind #ports #decarbonization #energyequity #startups Oceantic Network, Offshore Wind Drinks https://lnkd.in/e6KiNp3m

Episode 16, wow. Only two more left in 2024. For this one, we take on the topic of community air monitoring, and were fortunate to be joined by Eben Cross (Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder, QuantAQ, Inc.) and Darren Riley (Co-Founder and CEO, JustAir). Community members are often concerned that their local air quality may be causing health impacts for their families, and objective tools like ambient air monitoring can help inform policy choices to alleviate impacts. There is unprecedented funding available for communities to address these issues. Eben, Darren, and I love talking about this stuff. Lastly, collaboration on these issues is possible but has been hampered for numerous reasons; some of which we go into. Audio only, available on all major podcast platforms. NOTE: I am not sure why the preview graphic is not loading, but the link below works. #environmentaljustice #airquality #ambientair #airmonitoring Air & Waste Management Association, National Association of Environmental Professionals, Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), Tri-County Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eKqAe6xA

Anyone who has listened to past episodes knows that I am an offshore wind (OSW) energy advocate. I am a renewable energy advocate, and I am an advocate for smart answers to complex problems. There is no better example than the need to urgently modernize our transmission systems. My guests for this week, are Theodore Paradise (Energy Partner at K&L Gates) and Dane Pehrman (Director of Strategy & Growth - Power and New Energy, Worley). Both men have been working on major energy and transmission projects for decades, both are leaders in the OSW industry, and both are incredibly sharp minds that understand logistical constraints and critical project processes. Our transmission infrastructure is well past its useful life, undersized for modern needs, has not been maintained well, and is not designed to support multi-sourced renewable energies. Dane and Theodore cover an astounding amount of information in 49 minutes, taking us from Grid 101 to the intricacies and cost models for upgrading. We also focus on the need for cross state collaboration on this issue and spend some time looking forward to an upcoming RFP in New England. Critical issue and really fun episode.?Audio only, on all major platforms. Oceantic Network, Air & Waste Management Association, National Association of Environmental Professionals, Tri-County Sustainability #transmission #modernizethegrid #climatechange #offshorewind https://lnkd.in/eQcp3Yx9

I have received requests over the last few months from PR firms to get their clients on this podcast. While I'm open to the idea for the right SME, our schedule is currently booked through early next season (planning to start back up in March). We have also been politely declining sponsorship opportunities out of fear that they may alter content. Perhaps that'll be a future decision but for now, the answer is no. Thank you all. Chris

One of the great joys in my career has been learning from EJ experts who have been leading their communities for decades. One of my guests this episode, Naomi Davis (Founder and CEO, Blacks In Green) is a great example. My other guest, Robert Weinstock (Director of the Environmental Advocacy Center at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law) was directly involved in the 2022 HUD zoning case that has led to critical policy changes in the city. He now leads a clinic where his students take on complex EJ cases. If you are passionate about these issues, you can find a role, but local community leaders are the real EJ experts. My role has been advising companies on their compliance programs, writing policies to be proactive on minimizing environmental impacts, and educating industrial partners. Many in industry are being exposed to EJ issues for the first time over the last few years. Hearing the words of community leaders like Naomi and legal experts like Rob is a good start. Enjoy! #environmentaljustice #zoning #chicago #environmentallaw Air & Waste Management Association, National Association of Environmental Professionals, Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), NJBIZ, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), Tri-County Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eFafXf26

EJ in Chicago with Naomi Davis and Robert Weinstock will be posting Tuesday morning, 10/1. We also just taped an incredible episode on the electric grid and critical modernization upgrades related to offshore wind and decarbonization goals with Theodore Paradise and Dane Pehrman that will air the following week on 10/8. Each episode packs a ludicrous amount of expertise and perspective into just under an hour. Be sure to let us know what you think, and if you have any questions for the guests. #environmentaljustice #transmission #offshorewind #climatechange Oceantic Network