Podcast
What is 2028?
"2028" is a podcast named in honor of the Climate Clock, which counts down how long it will take to burn through our “carbon budget” at our current rate of emissions. If significant changes are not made, global warming will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the time the clock gets to zero. At this point, the effects of global warming will be irreversible, leading to global environmental disaster.
Currently, the clock is set to expire in 2028. Our podcast seeks to bring in different speakers like the Fractivists to bring awareness to a myriad of ecological issues. We hope our listeners and audience
Image: The Climate Clock in New York City
Text and image source: climateclock.world
Sections Addressed
The History of Fracking
We go over how the federal government has left fracking regulation mostly to the states, and talk about the vast variation in policies across the US. Some states have encouraged the development of the natural gas industry, while others have not. In all states, there is the question of how local land interests should be reconciled against state officials.
Biological & Psychological Effects
In this section, we cover population health studies as well as laboratory experiments on the effects of exposure to EDC's found in fracking chemicals. There are numerous ill effects of fracking chemicals, from endocrine changes to acute harms. Included is also testimony from families who live near fracking wells, and their experience with side effects.
Racial Disparities
We explain how minority groups frequently must deal with the brunt of these chemical's effects, because of systematic oppression that favors the accumulation of wealth for white individuals. To support our claims, we go over case studies where fracking wells were deliberately placed in communities that were presumed not to have the resources to fight back.
For the Future
We reference grassroots movements and ways to get involved and share your opinion on social media. The documentary Gasland did a lot for fracking in terms of raising awareness about the industry, but we must continue to shine a spotlight on it for any meaningful change to take place.