

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

Apr 30, 2024 • 49min
Kids in Nature, Saving Future Generations, Mr. Lumpy & Sammy the Squirrel
Tamsyn Neale discusses outdoor education and conservation efforts with Wild Child PEI, teaching kids survival skills and indigenous perspectives. They focus on reconnecting children with nature post-Hurricane Fiona, promoting environmental stewardship. The podcast also explores the impact of seed bombs on biodiversity, access to outdoor activities for kids, and the importance of addressing climate change through carbon pricing and emissions reduction.

Apr 23, 2024 • 59min
Communicating on Climate Change in Your Community
Climate communication experts Jessica Murray and Anat Shenker-Osorio discuss effective strategies for engaging communities on climate change. They highlight the need for unity and shared values, critique the focus on scientific facts over behavior change, and emphasize holding fossil fuel corporations accountable. The podcast also shares inspiring stories of Indigenous communities in Ecuador winning against powerful oil companies, showcasing the importance of grassroots efforts and resilience in facing environmental challenges.

Apr 16, 2024 • 48min
Urban Bee Populations and Climate Change
Haley Davis talks with Charlotte Craig about urban ecology and how climate change will impact urban bee populations. As part of our work to highlight the Rights of Nature, Sierra Club Canada is actively promoting awareness of the impacts climate change and biodiversity loss are having on our world.You can take action for the Rights of Nature yourself here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/new-biodiversity-strategy-for-canada-must-respect-the-rights-of-mother-earth/In our environmental question Q&A this week we answer your question: The Ministry of Natural Resources condones aerial spraying of the Vermillion forests in Northern Ontario - how do we stop this?Be sure to send us more of your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here. You can find our article on glyphosate here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/glyphosate-canada/And don't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Apr 10, 2024 • 51min
Collective Gardens, Wildfire Smoke, Feeding a Community, & Making Friends
Conor talks with Talia about collective gardens and urban agriculture; all the benefits they bring and the challenges they face in feeding communities. They discuss the impact climate change is having on urban agriculture and particularly the impact of wildfire smoke on peoples' ability to get outside. There's also information on how you can get involved, whether you live in Montréal where this garden is located, or want help setting up one locally where you are.In our environmental question Q&A this week we answer your question: What is the one thing I can do, as somebody concerned about the environment, that would have the biggest impact?Be sure to send us more of your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here.Talia is an Urban Agriculture Coordinator with the Milton Parc Citizens Committee. You can find their collective garden on Facebook (group name is Les Jardins Collectifs Milton Parc) and Instagram ( @jardinscollectifsmiltonparc).And don't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Apr 4, 2024 • 60min
When the Last Glacier Melted, the World Would Catch on Fire
Lawyer Leslie Anne St. Amour discusses the Wet’suwet’en challenge to Canada’s climate inaction, the importance of UNDRIP, and the urgent need to improve Canadian environmental law. The conversation also touches on carbon pricing and debunking myths around the carbon tax.

Mar 27, 2024 • 48min
The Carbon Tax Lie
Exploring the true costs of carbon pricing in Canada, highlighting the industry's role in pollution. Discussing the impact on inflation, the need for sector-specific approaches, and the importance of communication strategies. Advocating for environmental education and the potential of carbon rebates for sustainable living.

Mar 26, 2024 • 53min
The Rights of Nature - It’s Weird Not to Acknowledge Them
Conor talks with Professor T. Brettel Dawson about the Rights of Nature, how rights for nature is an increasingly implemented legal system in many places from New Zealand, to Bangladesh, to Québec, and why it’s strange we would assume nature doesn’t have rights. This is the first part of a mini-series within the podcast we will be doing on The Rights of Nature.In the Q&A this week we also answer your question about the impacts of offshore oil expansion.The end of each episode of our podcast is dedicated to answering your questions. Write us an email with your questions on environmental issues at info@sierraclub.caDon't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Mar 13, 2024 • 54min
A State with Three Heads: Indigenous Law and the Environment
Jessica Murray talks with lawyer Owen Stewart about Indigenous Rights, Reconciliation, and how Indigenous nations and groups are protecting our environment through legal action from Wet’suwet’en land defenders to the Nuchatlaht First Nation.Plus we address your question about the draining of raw sewage into lakes in Alberta.The end of each episode of our podcast is dedicated to answering your questions. Write us an email with your questions on environmental issues at info@sierraclub.caDon't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Mar 4, 2024 • 46min
Independent News and the Environment with André Goulet of the Harbinger Media Network
Ironically we launched this episode the same day the Facebook and Insta are down in an outage (March 5): The Facebook and Instagram bans on Canadian journalism have already had a big impact on the Canadian media landscape, and especially for independent journalism, but they also have ramifications for the environmental movement. That's especially true as misinformation, increasingly fueled by artificial intelligence (AI) and often promoted by the oil and gas industry, spreads like wildfire: Misinformation that quite literally will cause more real wildfires in the future.Conor talks with André about the overlap between independent media and environmentalism, the importance of community, why offline communications need more focus, and the crucial role of journalists. We also discuss the Harbinger Media Network and a new news website, Unrigged.For the Q&A this week we read the latest edition of our biannual newsletter, The Activist, in hopes of further answering some of the general questions about our chapters and programs you have sent us over the past year before this podcast started.The end of each episode of our podcast is dedicated to answering your questions. Write us an email with your questions on environmental issues at info@sierraclub.caDon't forget to take action!And check out the Harbinger Media Network and Unrigged.Please note: Views expressed in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, our chapters, or programs.Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Feb 21, 2024 • 59min
Black History Month and the Environment
Jessica Murray talks with Juliet Rennick about Black History Month and its multiple meanings. They also discuss environmental racism and the story of Africville in Nova Scotia, how cities consult on environmental matters, the work of environment and social activist Wangari Maathai, how to be a better ally, and what it means for environmental organizations to truly engage in a dialogue on these issues.Plus we answer your Q&A question: Why does Canada not have an effective investigative mechanism to constrain their overseas extractive firms involved in human rights abuses?The end of each episode of our podcast is dedicated to answering your questions. Write us an email with your questions on environmental issues at info@sierraclub.caAnd don't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/