Daily Podcast #16

Source 🎧

The best way to lower Earth’s temperature - fast | Daniel Zavala-Arazia - TED Talks Daily (TED Audio Collective)

Sentences ✍️

1. I realized firsthand how this combination of smart policy and data significantly improved the air in my city.
   • firsthand: Experienced personally; directly from personal experience rather than from others.
   • New sentence: She learned firsthand how challenging it is to run a small business during a financial crisis.
2. And we got momentum.
   • momentum: The driving force or speed gained by a process or movement as it develops; continued progress.
   • New sentence: The campaign gained momentum after the first big public rally drew thousands of supporters.
3. Already Japan and South Korea have formed the coalition and are also looking at methane emissions as a condition to access their own oil and gas import market.
   • coalition: A group formed by different individuals, organizations, or countries working together for a common goal.
   • New sentence: Several environmental groups formed a coalition to push for stronger climate legislation.

Summarization 👀

Daniel Zavala-Araiza grew up in Mexico City, where severe air pollution once made the air visibly thick. Thanks to strong environmental policies and data-driven decisions, the city drastically improved its air quality, becoming a global example in urban climate action.

Inspired by this transformation, Daniel pursued chemical engineering and later focused on methane emissions—one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Although methane is emitted in smaller amounts than CO2, it traps much more heat in the short term, making it critical to address.

He now works in Europe, supporting the EU’s efforts to reduce methane emissions globally, not just within its borders. New satellite technology like MethaneSat can now detect leaks worldwide, helping ensure compliance with new methane regulations.

The EU’s policy could become a blueprint for other regions, with countries like Japan and South Korea already following suit. Over 50 major oil and gas companies have committed to cutting methane emissions by 90% by 2030.

Daniel believes that using transparent, real-time data can hold polluters accountable—and make real change. His work gives him hope, especially as a father, that the future can be shaped by urgent, smart climate action.