Fahrenheit 140: Episode 4

What does an older member of Generation Z think about climate change? How does improving climate literacy and finding a balance between scale and individual engagement help tackle these challenges? Hosts Robert Mace and Carrie Thompson speak with Nicolas Tarasewicz, who has been working at the Meadows Center as a Climate Change Program Associate, about his thoughts and perspective on the climate crisis as he prepares to embark on his PhD.

In this episode, our hosts cover several topics:

• Three things Robert learned about geothermal power production, Climeworks, and groundwater on a recent vacation to Iceland [4:28]
• Talking about the three latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the balance between policy and science [15:00]
• The threat of a megadrought compared to extended drought in Texas and its consequences on water planning [27:35]

An interview with Nicolas Tarasewicz:

• Introduction and brief background [34:14]
• How growing up in a small mountain town sparked an interest in nature [36:50]
• Being introduced to the field of geography and studying in Sweden [41:43]
• Moving to Texas [46:00]
• Future PhD work and explaining climate refugia [48:17]
• A Gen Z perspective on climate [52:50]
• Climate literacy and action empowerment [1:04]
• Coming to the Meadows Center and lessons learned [1:06]

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

• Texas’ progress and potential to achieve net-zero by 2050 [1:170]
• How changes made at home can help us meet climate goals [1:20]

Articles Mentioned in this Episode:

• Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report I)
• Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report II)
• Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report III)
• Technology to reverse climate change (Climeworks)
• Texas Can Get to Net-Zero by 2050 and Simultaneously Bolster the Economy (UT Austin)
• Climate change: IPCC scientists say it’s ‘now or never’ to limit warming (BBC News)
• Climatologist says future megadrought could harm Lake Travis area (Community Impact Newspaper)
• Methane emissions jumped by record amount in 2021, NOAA says (The Washington Post)
• How going electric lets homeowners help slow climate change (PBS)