Episode Three of Climate Curious podcast is now live with our special guest, Monica Araya.
“There are many ways of being part of this transition to a world without tailpipes,” says Monica Araya, electrification advocate and TED speaker, on the latest episode of the Climate Curious podcast by TEDxLondon. In this episode, she helps us imagine a world without fumes and noise by replacing gasoline and diesel with renewable energy.
The good news? We already have a solution: electric vehicles. Having spent her career campaigning for clean air across the world, Monica is optimistic of where we can arrive if we engage.
“We have to find beautiful ways of having this conversation where it’s about discovery and curiosity. […] As opposed to lecturing people and making them feel bad because they love cars.”
Monica Araya
Although making a just transition away from exhaust pipe polluters to emissions-free communities will have its challenges; namely how to engage manufacturers and workers, it is a necessity when people in low-income communities are the groups being hit hardest. From finding a community, changing your car, or supporting organisations working towards zero emissions, we can all take actions today to protect children’s health and build cleaner cities.
Contrary to common belief, you don’t have to be an expert or a car owner to get involved in the exhaust pipe debate. From the way your parcels are delivered to how you get around, we’re all using a transport system which is hurting our planet.
“Just close your eyes and just think about the fact that you will have motorbikes, cars, taxis, trucks passing by, and that smell that now feels normal is not going to be there. […] The sound of the city will be different.” Monica Araya
In this conversation, hosted by TEDxLondon’s Maryam Pasha and advocate and activist Ben Hurst, Monica debunks the different energy sources that power our vehicles, explains why EVs are so much more than a Tesla and highlights the cities leading the way to eliminate these exhaust pipe polluters.
Until next time – stay curious!
How can I listen?
Entale | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS
Sources:
- ‘What do you think when you hear the word electric car? – Survey from Brazil.
- Why is diesel worse than petrol?
- New Californian legislation – where petrol and diesel cars are being banned by 2035.
- When will electric vehicles be the same price as gas and diesel equivalents? Monica terms it ‘price parity’ in the podcast and here are some reports on price parity being reached by 2025:
- How many electric buses are there in the world? As Monica quoted: 420,000 in China, 3,000 in Europe, 600 in USA , 425 in Santiago in Chile. New reports say that Europe is now around 4,000 electric buses and here is some more information on Santiago in Chile.
- Why did Honda leave Formaula 1 for Formula E?
- Would you like to know more about the Kodak story and the future of photography? The story is reference on this online video here.
- ‘9 out of 10 people don’t breath clean air around the world period’ – Here is the WHO source.
- Monica spoke on the air pollution in Calfironia. Here is the source for the 1,200 diesel trucks passing every single hour and here is information on the so-called ‘diesel death zone’ in California.
- Here is more information on citizen activist Mary Nichols and her coalition to fight air pollution.
