It’s a f&%#ing climate emergency! Why aren’t we acting like it? (w/ Seth Klein)

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Mar 15, 2025

Seth Klein, author of 'A Good War' and Director of Strategy at the Climate Emergency Unit, dives into transformative climate action strategies. He presents the six markers of the climate emergency, advocating for mandatory policies and transparent communication. Klein emphasizes the importance of a wartime mentality, learning from historical responses to crises. He stresses leaving no one behind and highlights Indigenous leadership in the fight against climate change. Ultimately, he calls for immediate, bold actions to confront this urgent crisis.

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INSIGHT

Current Climate Plan Failures

Current climate plans rely on voluntary incentives and rebates.
This approach is insufficient for the urgent, large-scale action needed.

ANECDOTE

WWII Spending & C.D. Howe

During World War II, Canada prioritized spending, resulting in a high debt-to-GDP ratio.
C.D. Howe famously said, "If we lose the war, nothing will matter."

ANECDOTE

WWII Production & Crown Corporations

During WWII, Canada built an immense amount of military equipment, including 800,000 vehicles and 16,000 aircraft.
C.D. Howe established 28 Crown corporations to expedite wartime production.

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This episode aired on March 15 2025.

Seth Klein joins host Erin Blondeau to talk about the 6 Markers of Climate Emergency Framework.

Marker 1: Spend what it takes to win.

Marker 2: Create new institutions to get the job done.

Marker 3: Shift from voluntary & incentive-based policies to mandatory measures.

Marker 4: Tell the truth about the severity of the crisis & communicate urgency.

Marker 5: Leave no one behind.

Marker 6: Indigenous rights & leadership are essential.

Learn more: https://www.climateemergencyunit.ca/emergencymarkersframework

About the 6 Markers of Climate Emergency

We believe that it’s not too late to change the course of the climate emergency and prevent more catastrophic suffering. But to do this, we need the kind of transformational change not seen since the Second World War.

We got a glimpse into emergency mode during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the government failed to sufficiently hit Marker 5 (leave no one behind.)

As explained in Seth’s book, the Canadian government took extraordinary measures during the Second World War to ensure that it successfully navigated and confronted the rise of fascism. During the war, the government hit Markers 1 through 4 big time, and partially hit Marker 5.

These war-time measures worked once, and can be used again to fight the most dangerous threat we have ever faced: the climate crisis. But, it can’t be overstated how important it is to expand on the war-time measures of WWII to empower historically excluded populations of today and nurture a more just society for our future generations.

When asking people to enlist in a grand societal undertaking, we have to make a commitment to them that the society that will emerge from the other end of that effort will be more just and fair than the one they are leaving behind.

Credits:

Written and produced by Erin Blondeau and Doug Hamilton-Evans. Hosted by Erin Blondeau with special guest Seth Klein. Music by Anjali Appadurai. Audio editing by Blue Light Studios. Artwork by Geoff Smith.

Learn more at climateemergencyunit.ca/podcast