Amex Business Platinum card review: Big bonus and luxury benefits

Business News

The Business Platinum Card from American Express overviewThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best business rewards cards around, thanks to its large welcome bonus and the sheer number of value-added perks it offers cardmembers. While it requires some work to take full advantage of them, the effort can pay off with savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.With premium cards in the mainstream these days, many people are comfortable paying annual fees of over $400. The Business Platinum Card from American Express stands out above even that, though, with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) — although its annual statement credits and benefits go above and beyond to mitigate that yearly cost.Between its high annual fee and a handful of business-focused perks, this card certainly won’t be suitable for every small business — especially ones that don’t log major travel expenses or ones with primary spending areas more in line with the bonus categories offered by other business cards. Still, it has some valuable perks, making it a strong choice for many businesses.We recommend applicants have a credit score of 670 or above to increase their chances of getting approved.Let’s dive into the card details so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your business.Related: How to apply for a business credit cardAmex Business Platinum pros and consProsCons
Earns valuable Membership Rewards points
Can transfer points to 21 airline and hotel partners
Unparalleled lounge access
Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (enrollment required)
Gold status at Marriott and Hilton hotels (enrollment required)
Access to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program and The Hotel Collection
International Airline Program and Cruise Privileges Program

Steep annual fee
Statement credits tied to specific merchants
Limited bonus categories
Amex Business Platinum welcome offerNew Amex Business Platinum applicants can earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. Based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, the Membership Rewards points this card earns are worth 2 cents apiece. So, if you can manage the $20,000 spending requirement, you’ll earn points worth $3,000 toward travel. This matches the best welcome offer we have seen on this card.THE POINTS GUYWhile $20,000 in three months might not be hard for businesses with a lot of cash flow, if your enterprise is smaller, you could consider prepaying as many expenses as you can afford during your first three months to help earn your welcome offer.Daily NewsletterReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsOn the other hand, if this type of spending is out of your league, another business card with a lower bonus threshold, a smaller annual fee and more targeted earning categories might be a better fit for you in the long run.Related: How to achieve the Amex Business Platinum’s spending requirementAmex Business Platinum benefitsAmex’s bevy of statement credits, easily totaling over $1,500 in annual benefits, can help cardmembers potentially offset the initial shock of that high annual fee. Here’s a close look at all of them (enrollment is required for select benefits):Statement credit Annual amount  How it worksDell*Up to $400Statement credit on U.S. Dell purchases up to $200 semiannually (enrollment required)IndeedUp to $360Statement credit on Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services to post open positions and find talent, up to $90 per quarter (enrollment required)Adobe*Up to $150Statement credit on select annual purchases, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC (enrollment required)Wireless telephone servicesUp to $120Statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider, up to $10 per month (enrollment required)Clear PlusUp to $199Statement credit toward an annual Clear Plus membership for expedited airport security (subject to auto-renewal)Airline feeUp to $200Annual airline fee credit of up to $200 on charges by the airline you select per calendar yearGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheckUp to $120Statement credit for Global Entry  ($120) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) every four years (4.5 years for PreCheck)*These two credits are slated to end on June 30, 2025.Alongside the plethora of statement credits you may (or may not) be able to use, the Amex Business Platinum shines through with its other travel perks.Aside from access to Amex’s Centurion Lounges, your card will open the door to the extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection. It is comprised of more than 1,500 lounges worldwide, including Delta Sky Clubs that you can enter when you have an eligible same-day flight on that airline, Priority Pass lounge access (excluding restaurant locations), Escape Lounges and Lufthansa Lounges when you have a same-day flight on that airline.However, it’s worth noting that you’ll be limited to 10 total Delta Sky Club visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025 — unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year to unlock unlimited access.Enrollment is required for select benefits.ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYAs for benefits that come in handy once you reach your destination, this card allows you to register for complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, which provide better earnings and benefits during stays with these two brands.Cardmembers also enjoy complimentary elite car rental status with multiple programs, including Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and National Emerald Club. Enrollment is required for these benefits.As you might imagine, the Amex Business Platinum Card is also great for business purchases. It features extended warranty protection* that prolongs eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties of five years or less by an additional year, saving business owners time and money if something happens to an item they buy.Additionally, the card’s purchase protection covers accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days after purchase, up to $10,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year, so it’s a great choice for expensive items.*Aside from these two specific benefits, the card’s other notable perks include:Cellphone protection, for a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period. Coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellphone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit.**Access to the Cruise Privileges Program and the International Airline ProgramA 35% bonus when you use Pay with Points to cover a first- or business-class ticket on any airline or an economy ticket on one airline of your choice (up to 1 million points back per calendar year)*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.Related: Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the annual fee?Earning points on the Amex Business PlatinumAmex Business Platinum cardholders will earn 1.5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on up to $2 million in eligible purchases in the U.S. per calendar year in the following categories:U.S. electronic goods retailersU.S. softwareU.S. cloud service providersU.S. construction materials and hardware suppliesU.S. shipping providersPurchases of $5,000 or moreCardmembers earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare and prepaid hotel purchases with American Express Travel (including Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts). All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent.Related: Everything you need to know about Amex Membership RewardsRedeeming points on the Amex Business PlatinumWe recommend transferring your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s hotel and airline partners for maximum value. You can also redeem your points for merchant gift cards or to cover charges on your bill. However, these options significantly devalue your rewards to 1 cent per point or less, so we don’t recommend using your points this way.ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYThe easiest redemption option that still offers decent value is American Express Travel’s Pay with Points feature, which allows you to receive a 35% bonus when you use points toward first- and business-class flights on any airline, as well as economy-class flights on your selected airline. This boosts your redemption value for these purchases from 1 cent to 1.54 cents per point.Just note that the 35% rebate is capped at 1 million points back per calendar year, and you must have the full number of points for the standard redemption in your account at the time of booking. You’ll then receive the rebate within one or two billing cycles.Transferring points on the Amex Business PlatinumAgain, you can unlock even more value from your earnings by transferring your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s 21 airline or hotel partners. Most transfers occur at a ratio of 1:1 and process instantly. Going this route may take a bit of research, but a little work can help increase the value of your points significantly above the TPG valuation.For instance, one TPG reader credited their best-ever redemption to points accumulated with the Amex Business Platinum, then transferred to Delta Air Lines:”Transferring Amex Biz Platinum points to Delta Amex for 10 round trip Comfort+ flights between OMA-JFK that most have received automatic 1st class upgrades on.” — Tammy S via FacebookNote: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG’s opinions of these cards.ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYYou’ll also want to watch for Amex’s regular transfer bonuses, which can further increase the value of your points.TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson frequently receives outsize value by utilizing Amex’s generous transfer bonuses to Avianca LifeMiles, to book lie-flat seats on Star Alliance partners, such as United Polaris business-class flights to Europe.Related: The best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards pointsWhich cards compete with the Amex Business Platinum?If you feel that your business might not be able to get the full value out of the Business Platinum Card, you might want to consider other options:If you want a lower annual fee but higher earning rates: The American Express® Business Gold Card offers similar redemption options to the Business Platinum but at a lower annual fee of $375 (see rates and fees). It earns 4 points per dollar spent on the two eligible categories you spend the most on each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases for these two categories per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent after that). For more information, please read our full review of the Amex Business Gold.If you don’t want business-specific benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express has perks less tailored to small businesses. You’ll still earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive significant value in annual statement credits (as long as you can take advantage of them), and gain access to the same extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. For more information, please read our full review of the Amex Platinum.If you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Chase’s Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a TPG favorite. It earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. For more information, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.For additional options, check out our full list of the best business credit cards.Read more: Practicality vs. luxury: Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Amex Business PlatinumBottom lineThe Amex Business Platinum Card is an excellent choice for business travelers with expenses in bonus categories and those that offer statement credits. While it might not be worth it for all business owners, its travel perks are difficult, if not impossible, to beat. With a plethora of travel benefits, the Amex Business Platinum is a must-have card for business owners looking to maximize their travel.Apply here: The Amex Business Platinum card with 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membershipFor rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

New film series set for science center

Science and Health

A new children’s film series is set to launch at Orlando Science Center. Storytime Cinema will feature “Inside Out” on Saturday, the first of a monthly series with an emphasis on STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — topics.The series will have showings on the second Saturday of each month and will be a mix of throwback classics and more modern releases.The films will be shown in the museum’s Digital Adventure Theater and are included with regular admission to the science center. Families with EBT or WIC cards can attend the film series, produced by Global Peace 360, and have a full day of science center admission for $3 as part of the Science for All access program.SeaWorld Orlando: Preschoolers can get in free throughout 2025
“This program is a wonderful way to ignite curiosity and foster a love of learning in young minds,” David Wheeler, CEO of Global Peace 360, said in a news release.The schedule for the movie series is:• Jan. 11: “Inside Out.”• Feb. 8: “Labyrinth.”• March 8: “The Iron Giant.”• April 12: “Bambi.”• May 10: “Flubber.”• June 14: “The Absent-Minded Professor” (1961).• July 12: The Little Prince.”• Aug. 9: “Dolphin Tale.”• Sept. 13: “Charlotte’s Web” (1973).• Oct. 11: “Monsters, Inc.”• Nov. 8: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”• Dec. 13: “The Good Dinosaur.”For more information, go to globalpeace360.com or [email protected] Disney ticket returns with theme park discounts for Florida residents

Part art, part science: Art Shanty Projects returns to the Lake Harriet ice

Science and Health

But out on White Bear Lake, the Art Shanty Project’s second of three homes, person after person stepped inside. “People are there to play in a different way,” Garwood said. He was hooked.Because last year’s shanties were cut short, Garwood is bringing back NatureGrafter, the mutating meditation on Minnesota’s natural world, which he created with artist Sam Price, his wife. He presents that piece, with its “patent-pending new chimeracule redistribution process,” as scientific, but it’s “100% fake science.”So he loves that this year’s festival will feature some real scientists, presenting real science.The festival itself is a kind of meta-conversation about climate change, said Garwood, who worked on climate policy at the city level for many years.“The idea that ice on a lake in Minnesota in January and February is a roll of the dice at this point should make us all take a long, hard look in the mirror and say, ‘What are we doing?’” he said. “It’s interesting to me that people are thinking about how do we, in this setting, give people an artistic, participatory experience around the fact that winter is under threat?”When: Weekends from Jan. 18-Feb. 9, with pop-up performances and other events

The Top Digital Marketing Travel Trends For 2025—And Why This Matters Across Industries

Travel

Kurt Weinsheimer, Chief Product Officer at Sojern.

The holidays are here, which means consumers are gearing up for travel, and all signs are pointing to a banner year. According to Sojern’s data, U.S. flight bookings around the Thanksgiving holiday were up 4% compared to 2023, while travelers are flocking to lively (and expensive) destinations for Christmas, like London, Vienna and Paris.

While these holiday travel trends are positive for the travel industry, one thing is clear: If travelers are paying higher prices for better experiences, brands must deliver on their personal needs. And delivering requires the right strategies along the traveler’s journey. Here are the top digital marketing travel trends for 2025.

Personalized experiences reign supreme.
At this point it’s no secret: Travelers are prioritizing experiences. While this isn’t new (I highlighted this trend as we moved from 2023 to 2024, and research shows spending on experiences jumped 65% from 2019 to 2023), who is spending and how they’re spending has evolved. Regardless of discretionary income, experiences are driving purchasing decisions.

Many travelers are willing to spend big for those experiences, with concerts and sporting events being a prime example. In 2024, Taylor Swift concerts spiked hotel prices by up to 154%, and Swifties gladly footed the bill, while our data found that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar spiked international lodging searches by 541% worldwide. With major events on the horizon in 2025 and 2026, such as Formula One and the FIFA World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, this trend will surely hold.

While some experience-driven travelers are willing to open up their pocketbooks, economic concerns are at the forefront of others’ minds, creating a larger gap between travel groups. But marketers shouldn’t rule budget-friendly consumers out.

By finding potential customers from the moment they express interest and bringing them into the experience using channels such as social, video and connected TV, marketers can take them from inspiration to action—and capture the conversion. For example, some brands are offering consumers the opportunity to book their own concert experiences directly from TikTok videos showing concertgoers.

The lines between digital and physical will continue to blend.
Like most industries, travel is becoming increasingly digital, with consumers using AI, apps and numerous other tools along the path to purchase. Currently, 65% of companies are trialing GenAI to increase personalization, improve operational efficiencies and create content, and that number will only continue to grow in 2025. As brands adopt more customer engagement tools, the lines between digital and physical will become increasingly blurry…but at what cost?
While new digital tools may seem convenient, customers still want personalization, and brands must deliver. According to Hotel Tech Report, 70% of guests prefer chatbots for simple queries but crave human connection for complex issues.
I discussed some of the ways brands can deploy successful AI strategies here, but a critical first step is setting precise goals around business outcomes to know when to rely on machines—and when to bring that human touch.
Next, understanding when AI tools need to provide precise outputs versus when they can offer more subjective suggestions will help you shape your data strategy effectively. For example, when a guest asks a chatbot what time the hotel restaurant opens and closes, the answer must be right.
However, when a guest asks which restaurant is family-friendly, your chatbot can rely on contextual data and other information to offer up a more subjective answer. As adoption increases and technology becomes smarter—think integrating voice, cameras and more this coming year to create a more immersive advertising experience—the right data strategy will become even more important.
Net zero and curation will finally have their day.
I know what you’re thinking: What do net zero and curation have in common? On the surface, nothing other than being emerging buzzwords. But let’s dig a little deeper. With both net zero (the focus on measuring and reducing carbon emissions) and curation (a digital advertising targeting technique that protects consumer privacy), regulation is driving new trends that will accelerate the adoption of both in 2025.
In travel, sustainability has been huge for years, with destinations highlighting how tourists can enjoy eco-friendly stays and minimize their impact on the environment to preserve the area for generations to come. In fact, global travel leaders recently met at the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss how the industry can mitigate climate change.
While green hotels and transportation are important, the focus in 2025 will shift more to the business side. Every business has a digital climate footprint, and as brands rely more on GenAI and energy-intensive digital media tools, that footprint is growing.
Massive amounts of data equals massive energy output, and some companies, such as Google and Microsoft, are working to move their data centers to net zero, which will significantly reduce the energy required to run ads. Next year, travel brands will embark on the next phase of sustainability by measuring their digital footprints and enacting mitigation techniques.
Just as the world is moving toward net zero, it’s also moving toward privacy-focused advertising. While Google reversed its decision to deprecate third-party cookies, marketers are still looking for new ways to deliver personalized ads that protect privacy, and curation is emerging as a strong tool.
With curation, brands and buyers work with a supply-side platform to curate the right package of data, audiences and inventory, which is pushed to their own demand-side platform, matching curated audiences to available ad inventory. Curation doesn’t rely on third-party cookies, protects privacy and is more environmentally friendly.
Advertisers can curate “green inventory” that prioritizes things like efficient page loading to reduce energy usage, and, due to the streamlined nature of data processing, curation lowers the carbon footprint associated with deploying a campaign, making it the avenue of choice for advertisers in 2025.
As we close out 2025 and roll into a new year, marketers will continue to find new ways to woo potential customers. The brands that deliver experiences, find the right balance between digital and physical and reduce their carbon footprint while increasing personalization will stand out.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?

British-Jamaican Scientist “Big Manny” Wins TikTok’s Education Creator of the Year Award

Science and Health

Emanuel “Big Manny” Wallace, a British-Jamaican science communicator, has been named Education Creator of the Year at the inaugural TikTok Awards. Known for his unique blend of Jamaican Patois, London slang, and captivating experiments, Big Manny has redefined how science is taught on social media.

With over 1.9 million TikTok followers and a debut book, Science Is Lit, Manny uses his platform to make complex scientific ideas accessible to younger audiences. His innovative content has included experiments like testing lithium batteries inside raw chicken and creating blue gold from gallium and gold.

[embedded content]

Who is Big Manny?

Born and raised in East London, Emmanuel Wallace holds a master’s degree in biomedical science. During the pandemic, he started making science videos to help students adapt to online learning. His videos, which merge science with everyday language and humor, have since gone viral, amassing millions of views.

Drawing inspiration from his Jamaican heritage, Manny incorporates cultural references into his teaching, making his lessons more relatable and engaging for diverse audiences.

“The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage … That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wah gwaan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak.” – PA news agency

Science Beyond Social Media

Big Manny’s influence goes beyond TikTok. He’s been featured on major platforms like BBC and The Times, recognised by institutions like the Royal Society and Oxford, and highlighted in publications such as Chemistry World.He hopes to inspire young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). By showcasing his own journey, he aims to show students that becoming a scientist is achievable regardless of background.

As part of his advocacy, Manny plans to expand his influence into television and publish a follow-up to his book in 2025.

Science creator Big Manny posing with debut book “Science is Lit – Crazy chemistry and epic experiments” published by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Manny’s Message to the World

After receiving the award, Manny emphasized the importance of curiosity and perseverance, saying, “Stay curious. Always ask questions and look deeper into things.” He also predicts that short-form educational videos like his will soon become an integral part of classroom learning.

Big Manny’s achievements, including this award and his 2023 Lovie Special Achievement Award, mark him as one of the leading voices in modern science communication.

Students showcase innovative ideas at science expo

Science and Health

From smart integrated farming to sustainable bus prototypes, futuristic home security systems enabled by the Internet of Things and upcycling bagasse fruit fibre, young minds showcased an impressive range of innovative ideas at the just-concluded regional and State-level science exhibition hosted by the Directorate of School Education (DSE).Around 400 scientific models were on display at Sri Maraimalai Adigal Government Higher Secondary School, Embalam, as part of the three-day event. Over 900 students from all the schools in Pondicherry Municipality visited the exhibition.Apart from the students’ exhibits, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam; National Book Trust of India, New Delhi; Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)-Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation; Primary Health Centre Karikalampakkam; Sri Aurobindo Society; Department of Science and Technology; Puducherry Police Department; and Tobacco Awareness Programme cell had also put up stalls to pitch their ideas. The event featured side-shows, including group dance, drama, silambam performance, solo acts, a magic show and instrumental music performances.According to the DSE, the exhibition, held annually to select young scientists from across the four regions of the Union Territory, is held as a two-stage competition — regional and State-level.This year, the main theme, ‘Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future’, encompassed sub-themes spanning physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth science, environmental science, engineering, bioscience/biochemistry and computer science.During the regional round of the competition for Puducherry region, a total of 55 participants were selected for the State-level science exhibition, comprising 8 prizes for students at primary level, 12 prizes for middle-level students, 12 prizes for secondary-level students, 8 prizes for higher secondary-level students and 15 prizes for exhibits of school teachers.The overall championship (Rotary-Midtown) went to Muhamed Tajdeen H, a Class X student of Vivekananda Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Villianur, with Varalakshmy as his teacher-guide. The regional-level winners competed at the State-level, along with the winners of the regional rounds held in the Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions at the same venue on January 6 and 7. The following students came out as toppers in the primary, middle school, high school and higher secondary categories, earning the privilege of participating in the Southern India Science Fair to be held from January 21 to January 25 in Puducherry.Teachers also won mentor awards for the best exhibits. The Ilango Adigal Government Higher Secondary School, Muthirapalayam represented by Devan B of Class XI, guided by Sriram S. bagged the overall championship for the exhibit ‘Automatic Roof Top Solar Panel Cleaner’. This exhibit had also been chosen for the Integra Rolling Trophy at the higher secondary level. The other winners were Eshana Faten, student of Class V, Excel Public School, Mahe (primary); Sanjeev V, Class VII student of The Pearl Middle School, Karaikal (middle school) and Dheepak G, Class IX student of Aditya Vidyasharam HSS, Poraiyur (high school).According to the DSE, the jury assessed the students across multiple categories on the basis of student’s creativity and imagination, originality/innovation in the exhibits/model, scientific thought/principle/approach, technical skill/workmanship/craftsmanship. Other factors such as cost, scalability, portability/durability and socially viable nature were the other metrics.The upcoming science fair will be organised by the DSE in coordination with Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru, which is a constituent unit of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture. Published – January 10, 2025 09:12 pm IST
Read Comments
Copy link

Email

Facebook

Twitter

Telegram

LinkedIn

WhatsApp

Reddit

Remove

SEE ALL
PRINT

Climate Scientist Peter Kalmus Fled L.A. Fearing Wildfires. His Old Neighborhood Is Now a Hellscape

Science and Health

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: We begin today’s show looking at the devastating fires in Los Angeles, where at least 10 people have died. More than 10,000 homes and offices have been damaged or destroyed. Entire neighborhoods have burned down. The death toll is expected to rise. More than 35,000 acres have already burned. The fires continue to burn due to high winds and dry conditions. The largest blaze, the Palisades fire, is just 6% contained. The Eaton fire near Pasadena remains 0% contained. Analysts project the costs of the fires may reach a record $150 billion. The climate-fueled fires come as scientists at the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service have confirmed last year was by far the hottest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times for the first time.
We’re joined now by Peter Kalmus, climate activist, climate scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. He’s speaking on his own behalf, not on behalf of NASA. He’s just written an opinion essay for The New York Times headlined “I’m a Climate Scientist. I Fled Los Angeles Two Years Ago.” He joins us now from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Peter, thanks so much for joining us today. Explain why you fled Los Angeles two years ago.
PETER KALMUS: Well, Amy, I just have to take a moment to — I don’t know what to say anymore. I’ll get to that in a second, but I just want to make sure — the reason I wrote the piece was because we have to acknowledge that this is caused by the fossil fuel industry, which has been lying for almost half a century, blocking action. They’re on the record saying that they will continue to spread disinformation and continue to attempt to block action. They’ve known the whole time that the planet would get hotter like this and that impacts like this fire would happen.
And then, something I really wanted — a point I really wanted to make in the piece, which they wouldn’t let me make, is that this is still just the beginning. It’s going to get way worse than this. Two years ago — well, 2020, when the Bobcat Fire happened, the whole time I was living in Altadena, it was getting hotter and more fiery and drier and smokier. And it just didn’t feel like I could stay there. Like, I could — you know, when you have a trendline, things getting worse every year — right? — like, where’s the point where something — where it breaks? You know, like, you keep going, keep pushing the system, getting hotter and hotter, getting drier and drier — right? — like, emitting more and more carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, eventually things break. I didn’t expect my neighborhood to burn this soon.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain what’s happened, Peter, in Altadena, in the town that you left.
PETER KALMUS: It’s complete devastation. I mean, your audience probably has seen some of the images. The neighborhood I lived is gone. I would say the majority of my friends have lost their homes there. Every now and then, there’s a home that’s still standing amidst the ashes and the devastation. I don’t even know what kind of rebuilding after this is going to look like and feel like. I don’t know how this is going to affect the housing market, the insurance industry going forward.
The thing, again, you know, I think everyone needs to understand, and I wish The New York Times would have let me make this point, that this is going to get worse. I can see that today just as clearly as I could see how hotter and drier and more fiery Los Angeles was getting. I mean, I think, in the future, if we don’t change course very quickly — and maybe it’s even too late to avoid some of these much more catastrophic impacts, but I am fully expecting heat waves to start appearing where 100,000 people die, and then maybe a million people die, and then maybe more after that, as things get hotter and hotter, because there’s no — there’s no upper limit, right? Like, we keep burning these fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry keeps lying. The planet just keeps getting hotter. These impacts just keep getting worse.
It’s not a new normal. A lot of climate messaging centers around this idea that it’s a new normal. It’s a staircase to a hotter, more hellish Earth. And, you know, a lot of climate impact predictions have erred on the side of least drama. It’s hard for even scientists to wrap our heads around how everything is changing right now on planet Earth. No matter where you look, the indicators — you know, when spring comes, how hot the winter is, habitats that are moving, ice that’s melting — everywhere you look in the Earth system, including, of course, ocean temperatures and land surface temperatures, you’re just on this trend towards a hotter planet and all of the impacts that are associated with it. And I don’t know what it’s going to take for us to stop all these stupid wars and come together and actually deal with the emergency that our planet is in the process of becoming less and less habitable and everything that means. We, humanity, we’ve got a real crisis here, and we’re ignoring it.
You know, another paragraph they took out of the piece, both the Democratic presidents, Obama, President Obama, and President Biden, they were very proud to expand fossil fuels. President Obama said, you know, “All that oil and gas expansion, that was me, people” — right? — right after he was done being president, at a lecture he gave at Rice University. And now, of course, we have a Republican president coming into office who says this is a hoax, who’s gaslighting the people who are following him. Like, I don’t know how long it’s going to take for conservative working-class people to believe what’s right in front of their eyes, that the planet is getting hotter, and that we have to come together and stop listening to these clowns who say it’s a hoax. I mean, look at — it’s all around us. Why do I have to be on Democracy Now! saying this? Right? It’s very obvious what’s happening.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, Peter, we thank you for being with us. We’re so sorry about what’s happening there in your community and all over Los Angeles. And, of course, we’re talking about a heating world, so around the world. And we hope to have you on next week.
PETER KALMUS: My heart —
AMY GOODMAN: Peter Kalmus is a —
PETER KALMUS: My heart breaks for all the victims, too. It’s just — I can’t wrap my head around what’s happening.
AMY GOODMAN: Peter Kalmus is a climate scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, speaking on his own behalf, not on behalf of NASA. We will link to your piece in The New York Times, “I’m a Climate Scientist. I Fled Los Angeles Two Years Ago.” And just reading his last sentence of his op-ed, “Nothing will change until our anger gets powerful enough. But once you accept the truth of loss, and the truth of who perpetrated and profited from that loss, the anger comes rushing in, as fierce is the Santa Ana winds.” Peter Kalmus, the NASA scientist, has been arrested numerous times for his climate change activism.
Coming up next, consumer advocate, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the life and legacy of the late President Jimmy Carter. And then we’ll go internationally to his legacy in East Asia, as well as the Middle East. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “Leonard Peltier’s Song” by Iriebellion. Many, at the end of Biden’s term, are calling for Leonard Peltier, the Native American leader, to be pardoned. Later in the broadcast, we’ll speak with another man that many are calling on to be pardoned.