

The Environment in Canada Podcast
Sierra Club Canada
A podcast about the environment in Canada (and sometimes elsewhere) by Sierra Club Canada. Topics include climate change, biodiversity, pollution, renewable energy democracy, and the Rights of Nature. Tune in and take action!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 22, 2024 • 44min
Corporate ESG & The Resilience Report Podcast with Lauren Scott
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/

Oct 16, 2024 • 28min
Terrible Equinor Oil Spill Modelling Comes as Brazil Suffers Severe Climate Impacts
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/

Oct 15, 2024 • 41min
The Emissions Cap will NOT Hurt the Economy nor Jobs in Canada ICYMI
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.

Oct 8, 2024 • 52min
The Climate-Aligned Finance Act or CAFA
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/

Oct 2, 2024 • 47min
Don't Panic, Get Vocal: Climate Communication After Climate Denialism
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.

Sep 24, 2024 • 26min
Oil & Gas Lobbyists Do NOT Care About You. Let's Cap Corporate Emissions.
We held an exhibition of wildfire and other climate artifacts at New York Climate Week in NYC on September 24, 2024. Climate survivors are also present to tell their stories. We get into that exhibit, why we need an emissions cap on wealthy oil and gas corporations, and what goes on in the heads of the public relations professionals who work for those corporations. Draft regulations for a cap on corporate oil and gas emissions have been delayed repeatedly because of oil and gas lobbying, and we are still waiting for those regulations.Attend the exhibit and join us if you're in New York today. Learn more about the exhibition at www.protectwhatwelove.caFind facts on wildfire causes and the history of oil and gas corporate lobbying and misinformation here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/canada-wildfire-causes/Find facts on the Canada emissions cap here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/canada-emissions-cap-facts/Take action for the emissions cap by sending a message here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/canada-emissions-cap-now/Listen to our previous episode on the emissions cap, The Emissions Cap will NOT Hurt the Economy in Canada, here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/emissions-cap-economy/Listen to our previous episode, The Jasper Wildfire & How Climate Change Made High Temperatures at Least Twice as Likely, here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/jasper-wildfire-climate-change/Learn more on that subject also at the article Jasper Fire, Pine Beetle & Forestry Practices NOT the Major Factor here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/jasper-fire-pine-beatle/And lots of other information on why climate change is real and caused by CO2 from oil and gas available here: https://skepticalscience.com/argument.phpBe sure to send us your questions for our Q&A podcast sections 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/

Sep 17, 2024 • 59min
The Work that Reconnects, Therapy, & a Carbon Tax Update
In this engaging talk, facilitator Sally Ludwig and activist Joanna Macy delve into the Work That Reconnects, merging Tibetan Buddhism with community action against environmental crises. They discuss the therapeutic bond between personal well-being and activism, highlighting the importance of collective emotional responses. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about carbon pricing in Canada, urging a deeper understanding of climate policies. Personal stories and community healing strategies make this a thought-provoking and inspiring discussion.

Sep 10, 2024 • 58min
AI Might Put a Few TechBro's Minds on Floppy Disks at the Cost of Millions of Lives & Our Environment - With Paris Marx
Technology alone will not save us. Paris Marx joins us to discuss how the drive to grow the artificial intelligence (AI) industry without moderation could have some seriously negative consequences for the climate and how the debate on AI tends to emphasize false concerns over genuine ones (like misinformation and impacts on journalism quality). We get into how journalism is changing and the importance of public funding.We also discuss how a lot of AI hype is being driven by some bizarre theories about the future. These theories value a few very wealthy peoples' quest for immortality over the benefit of generations of human beings (and maybe one day artificial beings) to come.It's a discussion about future energy needs and the quest for balance when some voices want fossil fuels around, for pretty selfish reasons, after fossil fuels aren't even needed anymore. It's a discussion about healthy relationships with that which we create and to that end in the Q&A we answer some questions from a unique source...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/

Sep 3, 2024 • 32min
The Jasper Wildfire & How Climate Change Made High Temperatures at Least Twice as Likely
Taylor talks with Kaitlyn Trudeau about her recent research on how climate change made high temperatures at least twice as likely before the Jasper wildfire and how without the impacts of human-caused climate change the fire wouldn’t have been as severe as it was. They go over why there’s no substitute for dramatically reducing carbon emissions and how we can now tie specific events directly to climate change. They also discuss how a prescribed burn in New Mexico turned into one of the largest wildfires in state history because of unseasonal weather made more likely by climate change and what this means for dealing with fires at the local level. For the Q&A section we answer your question: Is arson a major factor for wildfires in Canada? The answer is no, it is not a major factor. We discuss the myths around arson and chemtrails, and how climate disinformation distracts from addressing the genuine issues of climate change and environmental degradation.Thirteen Canadian oil and gas companies, including five of the six that make up the Pathways Alliance oil sands lobby group, are on the list of 88 big carbon polluters called out for a major share of the forested lands lost to wildfires in North America between 1986 and 2021.Find more wildfire facts here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/canada-wildfire-causes/ 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/

Aug 27, 2024 • 39min
Where is Canada on Renewable Energy and Jobs? With Vittoria Bellissimo
Vittoria Bellissimo, a representative from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, dives into Canada’s renewable energy landscape. She discusses the crucial role of government actions in job creation and community control over energy grids. The conversation tackles myths about renewable energy reliability and affordability, emphasizing fact over fiction. Vittoria also highlights the growing workforce in the sector and the transformative power of community engagement in environmental activism, inspiring listeners to harness hope in tackling climate change.


