Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Ethanol is a key additive in the gas that powers our cars and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. But with electric cars gaining popularity – how long will this massive ethanol market survive? How are producers making this process more environmentally friendly?
This week – we cover the global diamond trade and what more needs to be done to ensure that the global diamond business is not funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine life – approximately 800,000 species. But these vibrant, colorful landscapes are more than just a home for life; coral reefs are animals themselves.
Look a little closer and you’ll find many hidden gems throughout New York City. Tour guide and author Laurie Lewis joins Viewpoints to shed some light on the stories behind some of the city’s most famous buildings and parks.
As of early April, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has displaced more than 4.2 million refugees. On Viewpoints this week – we discuss the importance of helping migrants who need support in getting to safety and finding shelter, education, and more.
When did quality-made clothes disappear, and the rise of new, cheaper fabrics take hold in the U.S.? Author Sofi Thanhauser joins us this week to shed some light on how the garment industry got to where it is today.
From weather forecasting to cellular coverage to global imaging, we heavily rely on space satellites in our day to day lives. We discuss the serious issue of human-created space debris and what’s being done to curb this problem before it reaches catastrophic levels.
Countless different species of wildlife were driven out of cities centuries ago, but in recent decades have begun returning in greater numbers and adapting to the human-centric infrastructure. Two wildlife experts join us this week to highlight how we can both coexist in these settings.
Dr. Susan Shaheen, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California-Berkeley, joins us this week to highlight the country’s current infrastructure and what more needs to be done to promote greater citizen mobility with bikes, scooters and other non-motor modes of transportation.
More than 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies. Light pollution can impact sleep, health, and the environment. It also means the beautiful stars in our skies are clouded by the bright beams of lights all around us. We discuss the issue of light pollution and how stargazers can bring about change in their local communities.
Researchers estimate that around 10 million Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder each year. We speak with psychologist Dr. Carrie Ditzel about the prevalence of SAD and how people can combat these feelings and find additional support.
Imagine working for hours on end outside in temperatures exceeding 90 or 100 degrees. On top of this, there’s little shade, minimal breaks and often not enough water. This is the reality for millions of laborers who work in agriculture, construction and other industries. Why aren’t there more legal guidelines protecting these essential workers?
Constructing a new building requires many resources, from hundreds of hours of labor to thousands of pounds of steel, cement, glass and other building materials. Design consultant Ned Cramer joins us this week to uncover how the industry is utilizing new technology to build more sustainably and lessen waste.
These majestic creatures walked the Earth more than 230 million years ago, yet, even today, they capture our wildest imaginations. Most us have heard the familiar narrative that an asteroid collided with Earth and this catastrophic event led to their downfall..but is there more to the story?
Gold mining has been a lucrative business for many generations. Today, it’s still a booming industry with global mining companies expanding into new markets each year. This week – we highlight the incredible story of activists in northern El Salvador who stood up to mining company, OceanaGold and won.
It seems like lately almost everyone is heading to the airport. Whether you’re flying, driving or taking a train, vacations are a highly anticipated time to get away from everyday life. Everyone deserves relaxation, but is there a way to make sure that you’re traveling more consciously? Are you booking excursions with local, independent companies? Supporting …
Lake Mead, the reservoir created by the Hoover Dam, is at its lowest levels ever recorded. Drought is not a new problem in the West, but it is getting worse as the years go by. What’s being done to curb water consumption and increase supply so people’s taps don’t run dry?
The average clothing item today is worn anywhere from seven to ten times before it’s discarded on donated. Why is this number so low, and what happens once the garment leaves a person’s closet? Maxine Bedat, a prominent voice in sustainable fashion, joins us this week to shed some light on the clothing crisis and how its impacting workers and the …
In the U.S., most Americans commonly use vegetable or olive oil when cooking. While we don’t often here about palm oil, it’s in many of the products that we buy at the grocery store, including everything from food to personal care products. And abroad, palm oil is widely used in cooking and frying. Last year, global consumption reached 72 million tons. …
Many people are worried that non-native plants and animals are invading the U.S. and preventing native species from thriving. Each year, a lot of money and time is spent trying to rid the land of these aliens - often to no avail. But, are these species present because they’re the only ones that can exist in that environment?
The average person ends up trashing 25 percent of the food they buy from the grocery store. This can mean fresh produce, expired dairy, stale bread – the list goes on and on. This cycle of food waste across households, grocery stores and restaurants adds up, resulting in more than 81 billion pounds of fresh, edible food being thrown away each year. What’s …
How often do you buy an item from the store that’s packaged in a plastic container or wrapped in plastic? Daily decisions like these add up and are feeding into the global plastic crisis. Scientists estimate that there’s anywhere between nine to 16 million tons of plastic on the sea floor, polluting the environment, harming species and releasing harmful …
In 2017, Sara Dykman biked more than 10,000 miles, following the path of the annual Monarch migration. Along her route, she stopped to educate and raise awareness about the beauty and fragility of the butterfly. Dykman joins us this week to teach us about the insect’s unique migration patterns across North America and how individuals can help this dwindling …
As more Americans look to decrease their carbon footprints, what’s one way to make a big difference? Flipping the narrative on the traditional American diet. Beef is more carbon-intensive to produce than chicken, but did you know that cheese is also worse than chicken? It’s this knowledge that can change people’s dietary decisions and decrease greenhouse gas …
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