Texas Climate Predictions and Potty Training Cows

What weather extremes can Texans expect to see into 2036? How can we prepare for the intensifying natural disasters that Texas is experiencing? Hosts Robert Mace and Carrie Thompson talk with Texas State Climatologist Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon to get the answers to these questions and discuss findings from his latest report on future climate trends in Texas.

In this episode, our hosts cover several topics:

• Acknowledging the role of methane emissions in climate change and how Texas contributes to them [3:50]
• How Iceland is leading the world in active carbon capture technology [8:06]
• Why climate change education needs to go beyond the science classroom [11:58]
• The importance of potty-training cows to greatly reduce nitrous oxide emissions [16:30]

An interview with Dr. Nielsen-Gammon:

• Overview of his latest report “Assessment of Historic and Future Trends of Extreme Weather in Texas” [25:12]
• Clarifying the attribution between cold snaps and climate change—warming means they can be more frequent but less cold over time [26:42]
• What the data says about Texas getting warmer, with the state already experiencing an increase in 100-degree days [29:02]
• An explanation behind the term “one-degree change” [31:17]
• As long-term precipitation changes, drought severity is predicted to increase in Texas [35:07]
• There will be more flooding in Texas [38:18]
• Austin is not prepared for future flood events - preparation is currently based on historical records, not future predictions [41:40]
• There will be fewer hurricanes in the future, but the ones we experience may be more severe [45:02]
• The compound effects of drought validate the trends shown by climate models, and that East Texas is at a greater risk of more wildfires [47:09]
• An explanation of everything involved in the role of State Climatologist [53:50]

Along with some feel-good stories to leave you inspired, like:

• Jane Fonda’s call to action in her latest book What Can I Do? with steps to take against climate change [57:35]
• China’s recent commitment to cease investing in new coal power projects overseas [1:02:36]
• And a poem by Typewriter Rodeo [1:06:03]

Articles Mentioned

• Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis(IPCC)
• Carbon gets the headlines. But Texas' methane emissions are root cause.(Houston Chronicle)
• The world’s biggest carbon-sucking machine is switching on in Iceland (Quartz)
• Why it’s a mistake to teach climate change only in science class (Washington Post)
• Researchers Potty Trained Young Cows to Reduce Greenhouse Gases (Smithsonian)
• Jane Fonda. What can I do?: My Path from climate despair to action. (Random House Large Print)
• In climate pledge, Xi says China will not build new coal-fired (Reuters)