KPFA - Terra Verde

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future. This is Part Two of this series on fire resilience and stewardship. Listen to Part One at kpfa.org or on the Earth Island Journal podcast page. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part II) appeared first on KPFA.

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future. This is Part One of a two-part conversation. Tune in to Terra Verde again next week for Part Two. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part I) appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – December 12, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Across the U.S., there are well over a million contaminated brownfields and superfund sites such as abandoned factories, industrial facilities, and former gas stations where toxic materials have accumulated in the soil. Many of these sites sit polluted for decades because cleanup is expensive and still relies on excavating the soil, hauling it away, and dumping it somewhere else. California alone exports more than half a million tons of contaminated soil every year, much of it to hazardous waste landfills in other states. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Hannah Wilton speaks with environmental toxicologist and mycologist Dr. Danielle Stevenson about nature-based remediation as an alternative to costly “dig and dump” cleanup. Drawing from her research at three highly contaminated brownfields in Los Angeles, Stevenson describes how she works with fungi, plants, and microbes to pull heavy metals from soil, break down petrochemicals, and restore life to polluted sites. Stevenson also discusses her post-fire bioremediation research, where she is using “myco-wattles,” native plantings, and hyperlocal fungal inoculum to rebuild soils in landscapes scorched by the Palisades and Eaton fires. The post Can Fungi Help Heal the Earth? appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – November 28, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Popular for their water and grease resistance, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in countless everyday products, from cookware and cosmetics, to rain gear and cleaning supplies. They are sprayed on crops, added to food packaging, utilized in electronics, and much more. As a result, these substances — which have been linked to serious health impacts and have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — are now widespread in our water, soil, and air. Several states have begun to take action on the issue. But the road to PFAS regulation has proven challenging, including in the Golden State. Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren speaks with Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director with Clean Water Action, and Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California with the Environmental Working Group, about ongoing efforts to reign in our use of these toxic substances California. The post Tackling PFAS in California appeared first on KPFA.

Youth movements are at the forefront of the fight for a livable future. Around the world, young people are reimagining solutions to urgent environmental challenges and taking bold action to build a more sustainable and just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod is joined by two young environmental leaders — Sophie Tipper and Lily YangLiu — to discuss their work advancing youth representation in environmental policy and decision-making. Lily YangLiu, a 17-year-old from British Columbia, leads initiatives to expand early climate education and increase youth participation in global governance spaces, including the United Nations and international financial institutions. Sophie Tipper, an 18-year-old from Colorado, helped draft and pass a state bill guaranteeing youth representation in environmental justice governance. Both recently received the 2025 Brower Youth Award in recognition of their environmental achievements. Together, they reflect on the power and necessity of youth leadership in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. The post Youth Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Environmental Policy appeared first on KPFA.

On this week’s Terra Verde episode, host Hannah Wilton speaks with Amy Bowers Cordalis about her new memoir, The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life. Amy shares stories from the Klamath River and the Yurok homelands, tracing her family’s multigenerational struggle to protect the river, restore the salmon, and defend Indigenous sovereignty. From witnessing the largest fish kill in U.S. history in 2002, to watching the Klamath flow free again after the last dam came down in 2024, Amy reflects on the long arc of loss and healing, and how the river’s restoration offers a model for environmental justice and reconciliation. Amy Bowers Cordalis is a member of the Yurok Tribe, an attorney, fisherwoman, and advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental restoration. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, leading efforts to protect tribal sovereignty, lands, and waters—including the historic Klamath Dam Removal project. Former general counsel for the Yurok Tribe and an attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, Amy has earned honors as a UN Champion of the Earth and Time 100 climate leader. The post A Story of Indigenous Resistance and Renewal from the Klamath River appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 31, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

It is widely recognized that climate change is the biggest global health threat that we face today. But one piece of information that gets relatively little attention is the question of: how does climate change affect our brains? Dr. Burcin Ikiz is a neuroscientist and global health advisor who studies exactly that. On this episode, she joins Terra Verde host Fiona McLeod to discuss how climate change and environmental factors like air pollution, extreme heat, and malnutrition affect neurological and mental health. Burcin Ikiz, PhD is the founder of EcoNeuro and the International Neuro Climate Working Group. She leads a network of over 250 researchers, physicians, and policymakers with the goal of expanding research on how climate change impacts neurological and mental health, and on translating these insights into tangible global health solutions. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and an Affiliate of the Center for Human and Planetary Health at Stanford University, where she contributes to transdisciplinary efforts linking neuroscience, mental well-being, and climate resilience to advance brain and planetary health. In 2025, Dr. Ikiz was named a Grist 50 Fixer alongside other climate and justice leaders building sustainable and hopeful futures. The post How Does Climate Change Affect our Brains? appeared first on KPFA.

California’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was designed to stabilize the state’s groundwater resources, but its implementation has posed significant challenges, particularly for small-scale farmers. Many of these producers across the state face barriers to accessing technical support and taking part in decision-making processes under SGMA. While large agricultural operations can invest in efficient irrigation systems or purchase extra water, small-scale farmers stand to be hit the hardest by water caps and overuse fees. On this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton is joined by Catherine Van Dyke, Deputy Director of Water Policy at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and Ngodoo Atume, SGMA Small Farms Technical Assistance Coordinator with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Small Farms Network. They discuss how SGMA is playing out on the ground and share their insights on how policy actors can work together to ensure the state’s most vulnerable farmers aren’t left behind. The post Managing Groundwater: From Policy to Practice appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 10, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 3, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 26, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 19, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Photo by Bango Architecture and Design. In recent years, the movement to decarbonize the buildings where we live, work, and otherwise spend our time has picked up speed. It’s no wonder. The climate crisis is escalating, and building operations account for a significant portion of our greenhouse gas emissions here in the United States, somewhere around 30 percent. Reducing these emissions could go a long way to mitigating global heating. It could also come with significant benefits for our health. Alongside the push to decarbonize is a growing movement to ensure that it is done equitably. Community advocates are drawing attention to the fact that, if not handled thoughtfully, the transition could leave lower-income residents behind, and they are piloting projects to bring the benefits of decarbonization to underserved communities. In this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal managing editor and show cohost Zoe Loftus-Farren talks about equitable decarbonization in the Bay Area with Edith Pastrano, lead organizer for the Contra Costa office of ACCE Action, and Chris Selig, director of the Health Resilient Homes initiative at PODER. The post Centering Equity in Home Decarbonization appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 5, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – August 29, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Our best hope for a new civilization is one that points a mirror to the sun to fuel our world, says climate activist Bill McKibben. Photo by Nancie Battaglia / 350.org. In his latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, veteran climate activist and author Bill McKibben makes a deeply-researched and passionate argument that the path out of the planetary crisis we are in is lit by the sun. Additionally, he says, a massive, and rapid, pivot to solar power will come with some key co-benefits, including a chance to build a healthier and more just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and show cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with McKibben about his new book, the opportunities for and roadblocks to the energy revolution that’s underway, and why he believes that “if you don’t put up a field of solar panels now the world will break.” Note: Check out McKibben’s call for Sun Day celebrations on September 21 at sunday.earth. The post To Avert Climate Chaos, Turn to the Sun appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – August 15, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.