The Environment in Canada Podcast

We describe why, even though things may seem dire, the climate movement will ultimately win and what you can do to help, PLUS how Trump pressured the IEA into publishing a ridiculous oil demand scenario, AND how our sister organization south of the border, Sierra Club U.S., has filed a new lawsuit against the Trump Administration after its Department of Government Efficiency refused to release records about its ties to polluters and special interests: They’re calling for transparency about who’s influencing DOGE’s massive budget cuts — and how those decisions are harming people, public health, and the environment.Links for today's Sovereignty Saturdays episode:Take action and send a message in support of anti-greenwashing legislation to Prime Minister Mark Carney: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/greenwashing_regulations_canada_carney/ Sources for the episode: https://www.sierraclub.ca/lng-national-interest-canada/Wind Energy and Tariffs – Sierra Club Canada and Sierra Club U.S. Meet in Montréal: Canadian wind turbines, made with Canadian steel and aluminium... (our media statment from our last cross-border meeting in February 2025): https://www.sierraclub.ca/wind-energy-and-tariffs/Read and share our sister organization's full Facebook post on the lawsuit here.Previous Sovereignty Saturdays:  How to Defend Democracy & Canada, No Kings Special, Using Social Media, Winning the Communications War, The Real Deep State.Events you can join:Climate Adaptation Training Program Information Session (Anywhere / Online): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu2AW-6tpeHGXpfS-tGnhhwxXjDhzxezBxgMUO6RxhVs-4MA/viewformBig Oil vs. Big Water: A Webinar (Anywhere / Online): https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/-AJYKA8dStwN7kyLRWAaYQShoulder to Shoulder (Halifax):.Our Sierra Club Canada Wild Child PEI Program (Prince Edward Island): https://peiwildchild.wordpress.com/register-for-winter-2026/Send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/Take action: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/Donate: https://www.sierraclub.ca/ways-to-support/donate/Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

The discussion challenges the notion that LNG projects promote nation-building, highlighting their negative impacts on Canada’s economy, health, and climate. Polls show public preference for renewable energy over LNG funding. The podcast reveals foreign ownership of LNG projects and stresses that exporting LNG could raise domestic gas prices. It connects fossil fuel production to climate crises and local health issues. Ultimately, it calls for stronger regulations against greenwashing and advocates for community-led renewable initiatives.

Diana Boston, a resilient member of the Upper Nicola Band, and Megan Fandrick, a trauma-informed editor and wildfire survivor, share their harrowing experiences of rebuilding after devastating floods and wildfires in British Columbia. They discuss the panic of rapid evacuations and the overwhelming community support that followed. Both guests passionately advocate for an emissions cap on fossil fuel corporations to protect vulnerable communities. Their stories shed light on the lasting impacts of climate disasters and the urgent need for action.

This riveting discussion highlights the real deep state—oil and gas lobbyists—and how their influence can erode democracy. Citizens, not leaders, must drive the change to counter corporate interests. The podcast critiques Budget 2025 for its fossil fuel subsidies and greenwashing loopholes while celebrating rising public support for renewables. Engaging continuously with lawmakers and building grassroots lobbying efforts can shift the political landscape. Ultimately, it calls for a strategy to empower communities and foster an independent renewable future.

Dr. Enoch Tse, an expert in public policy and community psychology, discusses the vital shift from extractive to reciprocal climate research in Canada. He emphasizes the importance of involving Indigenous peoples as co-researchers and aligning projects with community priorities. Enoch explores how worldviews shape research questions, advocating for humility and local stewardship. He outlines a five-step process for decolonizing research and shares strategies for fostering collective action, emphasizing empathy and the unpacking of privilege for impactful advocacy.

In this engaging discussion, the focus is on the dilemma of staying on or leaving oligarch-owned social media platforms. The host emphasizes the importance of building safer digital spaces while strategizing on effective online advocacy for environmental justice. Learn how to tap into denialist tactics to ethically redirect users to alternative platforms. The conversation also dives into the role of AI and the significance of truth in communications, with practical tips on engaging audiences and measuring success through conversions rather than debates.

Dr. Soren Brothers, the Allan and Helaine Schiff Curator of Climate Change at the Royal Ontario Museum, discusses his role in bridging science and public engagement. He explores how emotions impact climate communication, emphasizing the balance of hope and doom. Soren highlights the significance of Crawford Lake in the Anthropocene debate and shares insights on effectively communicating with younger generations. He also delves into the personal and emotional aspects of doing climate science, advocating for local solutions to foster community resilience.

Canada defeating the aggression of the U.S. oligarchy, & their oil & gas-interest friends, will require all of us learning how to communicate more effectively, strategically, & rapidly to counter disinformation. When it comes to disinformation going ‘straight at ’em’ will also require dealing with the extreme inequality that led us to this point, as we covered in last week’s episode: https://www.sierraclub.ca/no-kings-inequality-deregulation/Resources for this Sovereignty Saturdays sub-series episode:Previous episodes: How to Defend Democracy, Sovereignty, & Canada: Resisting U.S. Annexation PART 3 & No Kings Day special: https://www.sierraclub.ca/sovereignty-democracy-canada-annexation/ & https://www.sierraclub.ca/no-kings-inequality-deregulation/Anat Shenker-Osorio & Jessica Murray, Communicating on Climate Change in Your Community (tips on framing): https://www.sierraclub.ca/communicating-on-climate-change/How to talk with others about climate issues using metaphor: https://www.sierraclub. ca/climate-change-family-talk/On Full Spectrum Resistance, Aric McBay & Jessica Murray: https://www.sierraclub.ca/full-spectrum-resistance-podcast/Annexation playbook borrows from climate denial tactics: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/03/20/opinion/strategies-climate-denial-canada-annexation-threats"Trump Officials Discussed $500M Alberta Independence Loan, Separatist Claims". "These Fossil Fuel Industry Tactics Are Fueling Democratic Backsliding," CAP.Trump’s ‘Annexation’ of Canada Has Already Begun (Jan, 2025). How Energy Alternatives Help Smother It: https://energymixweekender.substack.com/p/trumps-annexation-of-canada-has-alreadyWhy oil, gas & LNG development is pointless: https://www.sierraclub.ca/lng-national-interest-canada/65% of Canadians (now up to 67%) Want Renewables INSTEAD of Oil & Gas Development: https://www.sierraclub.ca/canadians-renewables-oil-gas/‘Go Straight at ’Em!’: Mission Command, U.S. Naval Institute.Reputation Management, Doorley & Garcia (Book).Comms plan: Situational analysis, Audience analysis, Objectives, Key messages, Strategies, Tactics, Evaluation.Send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca & sign up for email updates from us: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

What lies beneath the waves… shapes everything above them: Exploring the vital links between water ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity, and the Rights of Water. Chevaun Toulouse, Steven J. Cooke, Julie Reimer, Kriss Kevorkian joined host Aishwariya Ravi Shankar for an event on Oct. 1st, 2025. Listen to their conversation here.Pledge to respect, protect, and uphold the rights of water here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/are-you-ready-to-pledge-for-the-rights-of-water/Find out more about Sierra Club Canada’s Rights of Water campaign here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/splashing-forward-rights-water/Some past episodes on The Rights of Nature in general:Start Thinking About Things Getting Better with Gilbert Whiteduck & Yenny Vega Cardenas about Rights for the Tenàgàdino Zibi / Gatineau River & Magpie River: https://www.sierraclub.ca/gatineau-river-rights-nature/The More Than Human World with John Borrows: https://www.sierraclub.ca/podcast-with-john-borrows/The Rights of Nature – It’s Weird Not to Acknowledge Them: https://www.sierraclub.ca/nature-rights-law-canada/When the Last Glacier Melted, the World Would Catch on Fire: https://www.sierraclub.ca/glacier-melted-catch-fire/Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/And don't forget to take action: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Explore the connection between extreme inequality, environmental deregulation, and the rise of authoritarianism. The discussion highlights how wealth concentration undermines democracy and creates opportunities for corporate profiteering. Smart regulation is presented as essential for innovation and public health. The podcast also delves into the environmental impact of the wealthy and debates wealth limits and redistribution as solutions. Listeners are urged to organize against oligarchy and challenge the narratives contributing to inequality.