Later this month we'll see the kickoff of COP26, the 26th meeting of the UN's main climate change arm. Not only is this the first of these annual meetings to take place during the Biden administration, but it's also one in which the nations of the world are expected to lay out exactly how committed they are to achieving the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. On this week's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg News' Jess Shankleman, who'll be attending the conference in Glasgow, Scotland. She'll go over the stakes for this year's conference, who's expected to be attending, and whether this UN process is moving too slowly to have a meaningful effect on climate change. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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UN Climate Conference: Everything You Need to Know

Attorneys and environmental activists have been trying for years to prove that Exxon Mobil Corp. and other fossil fuel companies knew about—and covered up—the fact that their products cause climate change. Now, it appears that members of Congress are joining the effort. On this episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, Bloomberg Law reporter Jennifer Hijazi talks about the documents top Democrats in Congress are demanding from the fossil fuel industry ahead of an important hearing next month and about where this all could eventually lead. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

'Exxon Knew' Movement Arrives on Capitol Hill

New York's new governor, Kathy Hochul (D), just took a major step toward an all-electric future by signing a bill that would ban the sale of gas-powered cars in her state by 2035. On this episode of our weekly environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we talk with Bloomberg Law's New York correspondent, Keshia Clukey, about why Hochul signed this bill so quickly after taking office. Keshia also talks about how lawmakers are hoping their neighbors enact similar laws so that New Yorkers aren't tempted to shop for cars across state lines. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The Politics of New York's Ban on Gas-Powered Cars

The Gulf Coast region is crucial for the energy industry, with a huge portion of the country's oil refining and petrochemical manufacturing clustered there. And now it's reeling after a direct hit from Hurricane Ida. On this episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we talk to two Bloomberg News energy reporters about how the region is handling this. Kevin Crowley talks about the risks now faced by the Gulf Coast's petroleum industry, while Josh Saul fills us in on the slow and painstaking effort to bring the region's power grid back online. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Hurricane Ida Walloped Gulf's Energy Infrastructure

The Senate-passed infrastructure bill aims to revive nineties-era taxes on chemical companies and importers to pay for cleaning up some of the nation’s most contaminated sites. While the bill still needs to clear the House, the chemicals industry claims the Superfund tax provisions are unfair because they impact a small subset of the industrial sectors that contributed to pollution. But advocates say the return of the “polluters pay” doctrine is a step in the right direction to clean up toxic sites. On this week’s episode of Parts Per Billion, corporate tax reporter David Hood talks to Steve Jawetz, a principal at the environmental law firm Beveridge and Diamond PC, who argues the tax is unfairly targeted. David also talks to Danielle Melgar, an advocate with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s “Zero Out Toxics” program, about how this tax is a victory for environmental groups. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Infrastructure Bill Reignites Superfund Tax Debate

ESG investing has quickly grown into an important institution on Wall Street. But what types of rules govern whether an investment can tout itself as good for the environment, social justice, or corporate governance? It may surprise you, but there aren't that many. On today's episode of our weekly podcast, Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg Law reporter Andrew Ramonas about why this is the case and about the efforts underway in both the public and private sectors to establish a stronger set of rules over who gets to don the ESG halo. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Reining in the Wild, Wild West of ESG Investing

Extreme heat waves are breaking out all across the country, and some environmental activists are questioning whether this unprecedented summer is making the EPA's air pollution regulations obsolete. On today's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law's Jennifer Hijazi explains how high heat can both trigger more pollutant emissions and also intensify the pollution already in the air. And she explains why the EPA's cap-and-trade system for managing these pollutants is having trouble keeping up. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Air Pollution Rules Buckle Under Brutal Heat Waves

Shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden gave his federal agencies numerous climate-related tasks to complete within the first few months of his presidency—like making a plan to buy more electric vehicles or stand up a youth-led climate corps. By and large, the agencies have accomplished few if any of these tasks so far. On today's episode of our weekly podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law White House reporter Courtney Rozen talks about why the executive branch is missing all of these climate deadlines and about why this does not necessarily spell doom for Biden's larger, long-term climate goals. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Biden Climate Deadlines Come and Go With No Action

It's no secret that the coal industry is struggling, with renewable energy continuing to get cheaper and a glut of natural gas flooding the market. The governors of some coal-producing states are now trying to halt this downward spiral by taking their neighbors to court. On this episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law correspondent Tripp Baltz outlines the arguments these states are making. He says these Republican-led states are blaming the potential shuttering of coal-fired power plants on renewable energy mandates pushed by, as one governor put it, "woke, overzealous regulators." Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

Struggling Coal States Take 'Woke' Neighbors to Court

Electric vehicles have slowly been gaining market share over the past few decades. But Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) says car buyer tax credits that recently expired must be reinstated to accelerate this trend. On this episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, Kildee speaks with Bloomberg Tax's Kaustuv Basu about how Democrats in the House, Senate, and White House are crafting a bill that would not only bring back these tax credits but also change who can take advantage of them. He also talks about how U.S. automakers need EV incentives to avoid once again falling behind their foreign competitors.

EV Tax Breaks Can Save Carmakers, Mich. Lawmaker Says

The average road and bridge in the U.S. is in poor shape, and has been for some time. That could pose a serious obstacle for the makers of electric heavy-duty trucks—and for the states that have laws mandating their adoption in the coming decades. Currently, a battery that can power one of these trucks would add more than two tons to the weight the vehicle. And data about how much damage this could do to the country's highway infrastructure is spotty at best. On this week's episode, Bloomberg Law reporter Emily C. Dooley talks about her recent story on the electric truck industry. She says the industry, and electric vehicle regulators, are banking that technological advancements will make these batteries lighter in the coming decades. If not, Dooley says, electric vehicle adoption goals may be very, very difficult to achieve.

Electric Truck Batteries Too Heavy for Rickety Roads

It's almost impossible for Democrats to pass any legislation through Congress without all 50 Democratic Senators signing on. That means Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), arguably the most conservative Democrat in the chamber, is very, very powerful. On this episode of our weekly environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we talk to Bloomberg Government's Kellie Lunney, who recently traveled to the Mountain State to learn about what Manchin's constituents want him to do to on fossil fuels and other climate policies. Lunney says Manchin, and his also-very-powerful counterpart, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), may not actually block every piece of climate legislation that the Senate will consider.

The Other Powerful Joe—Manchin—Rules on Climate Change

The Endangered Species Act typically wasn't used to go after people who run wild animal petting zoos. But that was before "Tiger King." Today on our weekly environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law's Maya Earls talks about how the Netflix show has led activist groups, and even some federal agencies, to think differently about how to use decades-old environmental statutes in new ways.

'Tiger King' Suits: New Spin on Old Environmental Laws

Michael Regan is the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency and Bloomberg Law's Stephen Lee had an exclusive interview with him this week. On this episode of our weekly podcast, Parts Per Billion, Stephen tells us what he learned from speaking with Regan and about the background of this not very well known cabinet official. Stephen also talks about why Regan is prioritizing tighter limits on auto emissions, an about face from the policies of his predecessor.

What's Regan Going to Do and How Is He Going to Do It?

Record-low prices gave the fossil fuel industry a horrible year financially in 2020. But Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm that handled a huge percentage of the industry's bankruptcy filings, made money hand over fist. On today's episode of Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg Law reporter Roy Strom, who analyzed a database of large bankruptcy filings and found that this firm soared above its rivals in 2020 thanks to the energy industry's slump.

The Law Firm That Cashed in on Fossil Fuel Failures

Parts Per Billion is an environmental policy podcast from Bloomberg Environment. Each episode of Parts Per Billion features discussions about what’s happening in Congress, in the courts, and in federal agencies. We cover everything from air pollution to toxic chemicals to corporate sustainability and, of course, climate change.

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Parts Per Billion

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