The World Meteorological Organization labeled summer 2019's arctic and boreal wildland fires "unprecedented." In the first episode of In This Climate, Janet, Jim and Emily explore with scientists and policy experts how and why this circumpolar fire season was so significant and what we can do moving forward. 7:00 - Siberian wildfire story, featuring Mark Parrington, Angelina Davydova and Kate Birdy 13:15 - interview between Janet McCabe and Joel Clement, with contributions from Edward Alexander 28:15 - interview between Jim Shanahan and Nancy Fresco

How the Arctic caught fire

The billowing black factory smoke may be gone, but there remains much work to be done in U.S. and global air quality. As the earth warms, ozone worsens and wildfire particulate matter threatens communities. Janet, Jim and Emily delve into these issues and more with a host of seasoned air quality experts and one community group fighting for quality of life. 7:00 - Dale, Indiana coal to diesel refinery story, featuring Mary Hess, Rock Emmert, John Blair and Randy Vaal 13:15 - interview between Janet McCabe and David Hawkins of the National Resources Defense Council, with contributions from Janice Nolen of the American Lung Association 28:15 - interview between Janet McCabe and Dan Greenbaum of the Health Effects Institute, with contributions from Janice Nolen

The brief history of air quality

September 20 is the first day of the Global Climate Strike. It's an event that follows the rise of youth organizations like the Sunrise Movement and Zero Hour, a full year of Fridays for Future school strikes and CNN's 7-hour climate change town hall marathon. At every level of society, people have gotten involved in the politics of the environment. In this episode, the team talks with activists, a communication scientist and journalists to find out how much of a difference any of it can make. 4:30 - Louisville, Kentucky, Global Climate Strike and Extinction Rebellion story, featuring Alice Melendez 12:15 - interview between Janet McCabe and IU environmental communications scientist Nathan Geiger 20:15 - interview between Janet McCabe, Zahra Hirji of BuzzFeed News and Nathanael Johnson of Grist

Striking the political match

With rising and warming ocean waters, hurricanes are on track to intensify. This change means greater risk for people in the path and greater need for effective long- and short-term risk communication. But the story of the hurricane doesn't stop with the radar, or the rescues, or la renuncia, or the rebuild. To understand the chatter around hurricane season, the team talks this week with a meteorologist, a risk communications specialist and a podcast host whose family lived through Hurricane Maria. 2:45 - Update on "Huracán Maria changed my family's life" with Paola Marizán from ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? 16:45 - interview between Jim Shanahan and Gina Eosco from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 27:45 - interview between Jim Shanahan and Jeff Berardelli from Columbia University and CBS News

Speaking of hurricanes

When so many of us feel responsible for and powerless against climate change, it can be difficult to assess which actions are effective. In this episode, associate producer Jacob Einstein speaks with Chelsea Campbell about the environmental app she developed and explores the relationship between individual and collective action in the fight against climate change.

Playing to our strengths

In this week's Air Check, Janet explains how and why the EPA is hurrying to finalize rules before a shift in administration.

In This Climate Podcast