FROM FIBS TO FINES - Climate Disinformation, Lawsuits & Their Ripple Effects
David, Sara, and Ed talk to Dr Benjamin Franta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Litigation at the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme and the founding head of the Climate Litigation Lab.
They examine the history of disinformation in the oil sector; how Ben and his colleagues conduct research in this area; and whether exposing disinformation and pursuing oil and gas companies through the legal system can bring about real policy changes to help the climate.
Show Notes:
(01:05) Dr. Benjamin Franta
(02:20) Nearly 15% of Americans deny climate change is real
(02:25) The social anatomy of climate change denial in the US
(02:50) Understanding the Shift in Media Perception Towards EVs
(08:40) Climate litigation more than doubles in five years, now a key tool in delivering climate justice
(10:43) The Rising Threat of CO2
(10:50) A U.S. President Was First Informed of CO2âs Impact 59 Years Ago This Month
(11:25) Edward Teller warned the oil industry about global warming
(12:10) Assessing ExxonMobilâs global warming projections
(21:05) Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
(21:25) The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt; Ten problems with Jonathan Haidtâs book
(22:15) Exxon's Climate Concealment
(32:05) Drilled Podcast
(42:30) Shell appeals against Dutch court's landmark climate ruling
(48:23) Waterkeeper Alliance
(50:30) Vermont Is Coming for Big Oil
About Our Guest:
Dr Benjamin Franta is a Senior Research Fellow in Climate Litigation at the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme and the founding head of the Climate Litigation Lab. His research focuses on applying rigorous methods to practical challenges presented by climate litigation worldwide and has been published in Nature Climate Change, Global Environmental Change, The Guardian, and more, translated into 10 languages, and cited in the US Congressional Record. Dr Franta holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University, a separate PhD in History (History of Science) from Stanford University, a JD from Stanford Law School, an MSc in Archaeological Science from the University of Oxford, and a BA in Physics and Mathematics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is also a licensed attorney and a member of the State Bar of California.
Energy vs Climate: How climate is changing our energy systems
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About Your Co-Hosts:
David Keith is Professor and Founding Faculty Director, Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago. He is the founder of Carbon Engineering and was formerly a professor at Harvard University and the University of Calgary. He splits his time between Canmore and Chicago.
Sara Hastings-Simon studies energy transitions at the intersection of policy, business, and technology. Sheâs a policy wonk, a physicist turned management consultant, and a professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development.
Ed Whittingham is a clean energy policy/finance professional specializing in renewable electricity generation and transmission, carbon capture, carbon removal and low carbon transportation. He is a Public Policy Forum fellow and formerly the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a national clean energy think tank.
