Climate One

Climate One is a San Francisco-based climate communications and public-affairs initiative operated as a special project of The Commonwealth Club of California. Founded in 2007 by Greg Dalton, it brings together policymakers, scientists, business executives, environmental advocates, artists, faith leaders, labor representatives, and members of the public to discuss the social, economic, technological, and ecological consequences of a changing climate. Its work is designed around dialogue rather than a single-sector advocacy format, and its programming regularly places participants with substantially different perspectives in the same conversation. The initiative developed from Dalton's earlier work at The Commonwealth Club. Dalton served as the Club's vice president of special projects from 2001 to 2007, during which he organized and moderated public discussions with figures from politics, business, culture, and science. In 2007, he hosted a Commonwealth Club symposium concerning global warming and the Arctic. The experience of hearing directly about climate disruption in the region helped motivate the creation of a dedicated program focused on sustainability, energy, and the wider implications of climate change. Dalton subsequently became Climate One's principal host and moderator. Climate One's activities combine live convenings, recorded conversations, a podcast, and a nationally distributed radio program. The radio show has aired on more than 60 public radio stations in the United States, while the podcast extends the discussions to an on-demand audience. Events are commonly held at Commonwealth Club facilities in San Francisco, but the organization has also conducted programs at other venues, including universities and public institutions elsewhere in the country. Its event format typically features several guests from different professional or ideological backgrounds, moderated discussion, audience questions, and informal interaction after the program. The subject matter spans climate science, energy systems, public policy, environmental justice, corporate responsibility, transportation, agriculture, technology, economics, and the personal dimensions of climate change. Participants have included former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, climate scientist James Hansen, environmentalist Bill McKibben, former EPA administrators Gina McCarthy, Andrew Wheeler, and William Reilly, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, former NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco, and executives or senior figures from companies including General Motors, Shell, PG&E, Monsanto, Facebook, and other major institutions. The range of guests reflects Climate One's effort to examine both systemic change and the practical constraints faced by governments, companies, communities, and individuals. In addition to its regular broadcasts and conversations, Climate One established the Stephen H. Schneider Award in 2010. Named for the climate scientist Stephen H. Schneider, the award recognizes scientists whose research has made an important contribution to the field and who have also communicated effectively with broad audiences. Recipients have included Richard Alley, James Hansen, Nicholas Stern, Jane Lubchenco, Christopher Field, Naomi Oreskes, Michael Mann, Katharine Hayhoe, Robert Bullard, Anthony Leiserowitz, Edward Maibach, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Stefan Rahmstorf, and Ben Santer. The award forms part of Climate One's broader emphasis on translating expert knowledge into accessible public discussion. Climate One is not a publicly listed company or a conventional consumer brand. It functions principally as a media, convening, and educational platform within The Commonwealth Club's institutional structure. Its public identity rests on its host-led discussions, climate journalism and broadcasting, expert network, and ability to convene participants from sectors that do not always share the same policy preferences. The organization continues to present online and in-person programming focused on climate change and the transition toward a cleaner energy future.

Climate One emerged from The Commonwealth Club of California's longstanding tradition of public discussion and special programming. Greg Dalton, who later became the initiative's founder and host, worked as the Club's vice president of special projects from 2001 through 2007. In that role he organized and moderated conversations involving political figures, business leaders, scientists, cultural figures, and public officials. The experience gave him a foundation in convening participants with differing views and translating complex subjects into accessible public events. The immediate catalyst for Climate One was a 2007 global-warming symposium sponsored by The Commonwealth Club. Dalton traveled with academic experts and journalists to examine conditions around the Arctic Circle. The firsthand exposure to climate disruption and its effects on communities and natural systems persuaded him that the issue required a sustained public forum connecting science with politics, economics, energy, and everyday life. After returning to San Francisco, Dalton worked with Commonwealth Club chief executive Gloria Duffy to establish Climate One as a dedicated project focused on climate, sustainability, and the environment. From its beginning, Climate One used moderated conversation as its central method. Dalton interviews multiple guests at many events, often selecting participants from different fields or from opposing sides of policy debates. The format has included environmental advocates, fossil-fuel and corporate representatives, government officials, researchers, labor representatives, religious voices, and community leaders. Events generally provide an opportunity for audience questions and informal discussion after the formal program, reinforcing the initiative's role as a civic forum rather than only a broadcast outlet. The project expanded beyond in-person meetings through recorded audio, podcast distribution, and a national public-radio program. Its radio show has been carried by more than 60 public radio stations in the United States. Programs have been recorded at Commonwealth Club facilities in San Francisco and, on occasion, at other venues such as universities. Online programming has allowed Climate One to reach audiences beyond the locations where live events take place. Over time, its subject matter has broadened from climate science and global warming to the interconnected systems that shape climate outcomes. Programs have addressed clean energy, energy markets, corporate strategies, environmental justice, public policy, technological change, conservation, climate communication, and the effects of climate disruption on society and the natural environment. The guest roster has included prominent scientists such as James Hansen, Jane Lubchenco, Sylvia Earle, Michael Mann, Katharine Hayhoe, and Ben Santer; environmental and civic leaders such as Bill McKibben, Varshini Prakash, Vandana Shiva, and Robert Bullard; and public officials and business figures including Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gina McCarthy, Andrew Wheeler, William Reilly, Dan Akerson, Patti Poppe, and Marvin Odum. In 2010, Climate One created the Stephen H. Schneider Award in memory of climate scientist Stephen Henry Schneider. The award was intended to recognize both scientific contribution and the ability to communicate research to a broad public. A jury of scientists selects recipients, and the award has subsequently honored researchers and communicators including Richard Alley, James Hansen, Nicholas Stern, Jane Lubchenco, Christopher Field, Naomi Oreskes, Michael Mann, Katharine Hayhoe, Robert Bullard, Anthony Leiserowitz, Edward Maibach, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Stefan Rahmstorf, and Ben Santer. Climate One remains a project of The Commonwealth Club rather than a separately listed commercial corporation. Its continuing role is to produce and distribute climate-related conversations, organize public and online convenings, and encourage wider understanding of the choices involved in moving toward a clean-energy future.

• 2023

  Ben Santer receives the Schneider Award

  [1]Climate Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Ben Santer is listed as the 2023 recipient of Climate One's annual science and communication award.

• 2011

  First Schneider Award presented

  [1]Climate Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Richard Alley becomes the first listed recipient of the Stephen H. Schneider Award.

• 2010

  Stephen H. Schneider Award established

  [1]Climate Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Climate One creates an annual award honoring scientists who combine significant climate-related contributions with effective public communication.

• 2007

  Climate One is founded

  [1]Climate Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Greg Dalton and The Commonwealth Club of California launch Climate One after a global-warming symposium and Dalton's Arctic experience intensified his interest in creating a sustained climate dialogue.

An independent-minded climate dialogue and media platform that connects scientific, policy, business, civic, and public perspectives on climate change and clean-energy transition.

• Podcast

  Climate One Podcast

  The Climate One podcast distributes recorded interviews and panel discussions featuring experts and public figures working on climate science, energy, policy, business, and environmental issues. It extends the organization's live-conversation format to an on-demand audience and presents climate questions through moderated exchanges among participants with different professional backgrounds and viewpoints.

• Public radio

  Climate One Radio Program

  Climate One's national radio program adapts its climate conversations for public-radio distribution in the United States. The program has aired on more than 60 public radio stations and covers the implications of climate change for society, energy systems, the economy, public policy, and the natural environment.

• Events and public dialogue · 2007

  Climate One Live and Online Convenings

  The organization hosts in-person and online events, usually featuring Greg Dalton in conversation with several guests. Programs may include policymakers, scientists, companies, activists, faith representatives, labor leaders, and community voices. Live events generally include audience questions and opportunities for informal discussion after the moderated session.

• Science and climate communication award · 2010

  Stephen H. Schneider Award

  Established in memory of climate scientist Stephen H. Schneider, this annual award recognizes a social or natural scientist for important contributions to climate knowledge and an ability to communicate findings to broad audiences. The recipient is selected by a jury of scientists, and the documented award includes a monetary prize.

• 2010

  Creation of the Stephen H. Schneider AwardOther

  Background

  Climate One sought to recognize not only climate research but also the ability to explain scientific findings to a broad public.

  Action taken

  The organization established an annual award named for climate scientist Stephen H. Schneider and selected recipients through a jury of scientists.

  Aftermath

  The award became a recurring part of Climate One's public program and has recognized scientists and communicators through at least 2023.

  Award prize. $15,000 (Award program as described in the source)

  Source

• 2007

  Launch of a dedicated climate dialogue projectStrategy

  Background

  The Commonwealth Club had already been producing public discussions, but Greg Dalton's Arctic and global-warming symposium experience highlighted the need for a continuing forum focused specifically on climate, sustainability, and energy.

  Action taken

  Dalton and Commonwealth Club chief executive Gloria Duffy established Climate One as a special project combining public events, expert dialogue, and later broadcast and podcast distribution.

  Aftermath

  The project developed into a recurring media and convening platform with national public-radio distribution and online programming.

  Source

1. 1Climate Oneen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Climate One official websiteclimateone.org