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Podcasts Take Two
State of the State, buildings and climate change, distracted scootering
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Feb 12, 2019
Listen • 49:41
State of the State, buildings and climate change, distracted scootering

Governor Gavin Newsom delivers his first State of the State, the role buildings play in reducing the state's emissions, how to improve the safety of e-scooters.
Emissions spew from a large stack at the coal fired Brandon Shores Power Plant, on March 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Emissions spew from a large stack at the coal fired Brandon Shores Power Plant, on March 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland.
(
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
)

We analyze California Governor Gavin Newsom's first State of the State address. Plus, we look at the role buildings  play in meeting the state's ambitious emissions reductions targets. And, we see what's being done to improve the safety of electric scooters.

State of the State

( Starts at 0:55 ) 

Governor Gavin Newsom delivers his first State of the State address in which he’s widely expected to voice California's continued resistance to President Trump.

Guest:

  • Ben Adler, capitol bureau chief, Capital Public Radio

Buildings and Climate Change

( Starts at 31:48 ) 

Tuesday, the Building Decarbonization Coalition is releasing the first-ever comprehensive policy road map outlining the steps California must take to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels in homes and buildings by 2045. The BDC, which unites building industry stakeholders with energy providers, environmental organizations and local governments,  is a new coalition calling on California to address emissions from homes and buildings, which are the state’s second largest source of greenhouse gas pollution. As much gas is burned in the state’s homes and buildings as its power plants.

Guest:

  • Panama Bartholomy, director of the newly formed Building Decarbonization Coalition

Distracted Scootering

( Starts at 44:16 ) 

Distracted driving makes up about a third of all traffic crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Now there's a concern that distracted scootering could become an issue as more cities adopt the use of these electric two-wheeled rides. That's prompted a new public awareness campaign from AT&T and Bird scooters. But recent research from Consumer Reports and the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests the bigger risks with scooters have to do with other safety issues.