The Environment in Canada Podcast

A special compilation episode on why to be hopeful for the environment, ways forward for the climate movement and in your personal conversations with others, and much more!If you'd like to support the work of this podcast and Sierra Club Canada, today on Giving Tuesday, or any day with a donation you can do so here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/ways-to-support/donate/Every amount helps! And a quick note: We stand in solidarity with workers at the Canadian Union of Postal Workers exercising their right to collective bargaining as part of the Canada Post strike. However, there will be a disruption to mail services, putting critical year-end donations at risk. Please donate online or by calling us at 1-888-810-4204We need your help to keep fighting for nature, to stop pollution, and to grow programs like Wild Child.P.S. Did you know postal workers, as part of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, are pushing for a climate-friendly postal service? You can find out more here (video at the end of the page): https://www.cupw.ca/en/collective-agreements/urban-and-rsmc-negotiations-2023-2024/support-your-postal-workersSolidarity everyone!You can as always find other ways to take action on environmental issues, like petitions, here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/Finally, be sure to send us more of your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/The Sierra Club Canada Foundation (SCCF) is a national registered charity: CRA # 11914 9789 RR0001Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

We discuss food security lessons from personal experiences in the Yukon and, on an unrelated note, share the audio version of our past webinar with the Yukon Conservation Society on their Yukon South Beringia Priority Place initiative. The Priority Place spans 89,000 square kilometers between the Ogilvie Mountains to the north and Dezadeash Lake and Carcross to the south. Because it was never (or only occasionally) glaciated during the ice ages, it is home to some of the oldest landscapes in Canada and contains a variety of unique and endemic species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.For anyone concerned about how climate change will impact our ability to feed ourselves we share some advice on how to make our food systems more resilient in the second half of today's episode. Please note that the views in the second half of the podcast are on behalf of ourselves and not our guests.Watch our full joint webinar in video, Conserving the Last Canadian Home of the Mammoth, with the YCS here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/conserving-the-last-canadian-home-of-the-mammoth/Find out more about the Yukon Conservation Society (YCS): https://www.yukonconservation.ca/Find out more about the South Beringia Priority Place initiative: https://www.yukonsouthberingia.ca/Find out more about food security in the Yukon via The Food Bank Society of the Yukon: http://www.whitehorsefoodbank.ca/Find out more about collective gardening in Montréal in our previous podcast episode here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/urban-agriculture-collective-gardens/Find out more about renewable energy in our other previous episode here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/renewable-energy-grid-alberta/Finally, be sure to send us more of 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!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Explore the looming U.S. tariffs on Canada’s oil and gas sector and the surprising exemptions likely in play. Discover how implementing an emissions cap could save lives by drastically reducing air pollution without harming the economy. Delve into the alarming role of oil and gas corporations in Canada’s inflation and pollution, contributing to 30% of national emissions. Additionally, hear about the media’s tendency to scapegoat climate policies, raising the call for responsible narratives and strong leadership in green initiatives.

Jessica speaks with post activist and paradigm shifting thought leader Bayo Akomolafe, who is a poet, philosopher, and the Executive Director of the Emergence Network. They explore what post activism has to offer today’s movements for a more just and green world. In the Q&A we tackle ideas on how to deal with the rise of artificial intelligence ( AI ) in a productive way, the atom-bomb-development-analogy, limiting damage, and the importance of the human element in the history of technological development.Be sure to send us more of 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!Note: Episode re-uploaded due to technical difficulties.Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Megan Fandrick, a trauma-informed editor and wildfire survivor, shares her heart-wrenching experience of losing her community to the Lytton fire. Raisa Marks, a Montreal small business owner and flood survivor, recounts her family's struggle during the devastating floods of 2024. Together, they passionately advocate for an emissions cap on oil and gas corporations, emphasizing its necessity for climate action. Their personal stories highlight the emotional toll of natural disasters and the urgent need for systemic change to protect communities and the environment.

Conor talks with Lauren Scott of The Resilience Report Podcast about corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG), examples of good ESG, and ways to set common standards for measuring success. We also chat about ways you can assess a corporation's commitment to the environment, advice for businesses getting into ESG, the circular economy, and finding cool stuff on the streets of Montréal.In the Q&A we have a chat about why private planes are bad for the environment.Be sure to send us more of 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!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Conor talks with Carlos about the totally inadequate approach to oil spill modelling and response by Equinor in both Brazil and Canada ( with Bay du Nord ). They also discuss how Brazil is facing climate impacts that will only be made worse by projects like Equinor's Bacalhau oil project and why countries like Canada and Norway need to do more to act on climate change, working with others globally. Find out more about the Equinor Out campaign in Brazil here.In the Q&A we discuss why our current dependence on oil and gas does NOT mean we need to stay dependent on oil and gas. For facts on why climate change is real and is caused by the burning of oil and gas check out these resources: 1) https://www.sierraclub.ca/canada-wildfire-causes/2) https://skepticalscience.com/argument.php For more on why a renewable energy transition in Canada is entirely possible see our previous episode: https://www.sierraclub.ca/renewable-energy-grid-alberta/Be sure to send us more of 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!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

In this discussion, Aaron Cosbey, a veteran development economist, and Jessica Kelly, a senior energy policy advisor, debunk the myth that Canada's emissions cap will harm the economy or jobs. They explore how oil and gas dependence fuels inflation and offer strategies for a sustainable energy transition. The guests critique flawed industry reports predicting job losses and discuss how new anti-greenwashing laws are reshaping corporate accountability. Their insights advocate for a future where climate policy aligns with economic growth.

Finance is often made into an inaccessible topic to keep people out, but finance is also a vital force in the world that we should all play a role in shaping. Jessica talks with Julie Segal of Environmental Defence Canada about the role of finance in addressing climate change in Canada and a new policy that aims to get financial institutions to act. In the Q&A we answer your question as to why we focus on oil and gas corporations so much when discussing environmental blame. Check out our previous episode on this here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/oil-gas-emissions-cap/Be sure to send us more of 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!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Imre Szeman, the inaugural director of the Institute for Environment, Conservation and Sustainability at UTSC, and Mark Apollonio, podcast producer and co-host of the Cited Podcast, delve into the evolving landscape of climate communication. They discuss strategies to counter climate denialism and the cultural challenges tied to energy transitions. Topics include the impact of Canada’s emissions on global efforts, the health benefits of reducing air pollution, and the importance of mobilizing communities for effective climate action.