The Environment in Canada Podcast

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.

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.

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/

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/

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/

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/

Roberto Dobles was former Minister of Environment and Energy between 2006 and 2009 in Costa Rica. Following his time as minister he cut a deal with an American company, Black Hills Energy, for a huge share of oil and gas profits from the company’s proposed oil and gas plans in Costa Rica. After those plans fell through he sued Black Hills for the compensation he said he is owed (more money than Costa Rica itself would have made in royalties had Black Hills’ plans proceeded).Recently ex-minister Dobles attended a meeting between the current Costa Rican government and the Norwegian government about Norway helping Costa Rica explore for oil and gas in the country. Dobles and the Main Business Association brought before Costa Rica's Government data from the very company he is suing to try to convince the authorities and the public there’s a lot of oil and gas in Costa Rica. Under those claims, Costa Rica asked Norway to help in a diplomatic meeting with Dobles' attendance. Not being a Costa Rica official, the presence of Dobles in that diplomatic meeting is difficult to explain, and the Costa Rican Government’s push and Norway’s participation in the meeting could benefit Dobles' lawsuit for compensation from Black Hills.Sound above board?The question remains why would Norway work with someone like Dobles, and is Norway promoting oil and gas in Costa Rica?Promoting oil and gas in Costa Rica would be at odds with Norway’s insistence that they are climate champions. At the recent UN climate conference the Norwegian Environment Minister said that ‘the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in our energy systems is groundbreaking and cannot be misunderstood: not by governments, not by markets, not by anyone.’Conor Curtis talks with Carolina Sánchez, a climate change communications professional in Costa Rica about what’s happening, how Norway is involved, and what you can do in Canada to help shine a light on this issue.   For context to the above: Sierra Club Canada is part of an international campaign against the plans of the Norwegian state oil and gas company, Equinor, to expand oil and gas production overseas. In Canada Equinor is proposing the Bay du Nord oil project, which if it succeeded could do irreparable damage to local ecosystems.You can find out more about Equinor Out here: https://www.equinorout.com/As part of that international campaign, and this podcast we are looking into the Norwegian government and their majority state-owned oil and gas company Equinor’s actions and climate hypocrisy.Tune in to the end to hear our Q&A responses to the questions you've sent us since our last episode! Send your questions for the next episode to communications@sierraclub.caAnd don't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Jessica Murray talks with Ole Hendrickson about Government of Canada's decision to allow 80 years’ worth of its accumulated radioactive waste to be put in a gigantic landfill surrounded by wetlands that drain into the Ottawa River, 1 kilometer away. They discuss the history of Canada's nuclear industry and what to do about our nuclear waste.Ten Algonquin First Nations, on whose unceded land this Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) would be built, have registered their objections in the strongest possible terms. They note that section 29(2) of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples requires the Government of Canada to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before disposing of hazardous waste in their territory.The NSDF’s proximity to the Ottawa River would also ensure that detectable quantities of long-lived, man-made radioactive substances and other toxic wastes will pollute the river in perpetuity. Indeed, the location was chosen to minimize costs of hauling waste from the dozens of radioactively contaminated structures in the “Active Area” at Chalk River.To build the NSDF, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories would additionally destroy 35 hectares of near old-growth forest adjacent to the Perch Lake wetlands. The forest, unlogged for 80 years, is home to bear dens, a wolf pack, beaver, moose, and turtles.Tune in to the end to hear our Q&A responses to the questions you've sent us since our last episode! Send your questions for the next episode to communications@sierraclub.caAnd don't forget to take action!Support the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Jason Ruochen Wang and Mitchell Beer discuss the impact of renewable energy on the Alberta power grid. They cover topics such as clean energy regulations, grid flexibility, renewable benefits to municipalities, cost reductions, and media coverage. They also explore the benefits of induction stovetops, financial struggles of fossil fuel-dependent municipalities, and scaling up a pilot project for solar panels. Clarification on Sierra Club entities and addressing misinformation is provided as well.

For those who see oil and gas as the future for Newfoundland and Labrador Norway is often held up as an example: a place where oil and gas has brought prosperity and economic stability.But in Norway questions are being raised about that stability, the future of the oil and gas industry, and the direction of Equinor as the world transitions more and more rapidly to renewable energy.We’re also seeing the increasing impacts of climate change on communities across both countries, both gradual and rapid, from flooding to the erosion of local economies.I talk to Erlend Tellnes (pictured), the new coordinator of the international Equinor Out campaign to which Sierra Club Canada belongs, about changing times in Norway, what Norwegians think about the majority state-owned energy company Equinor, the campaign to get Equinor Out of oil and gas, and the similarities and differences between Norway and Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic situations.Find out more about Sierra Club Canada and take action at www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ and find this episode on our website here. It’s important to note that since we recorded this episode a UK advertising watchdog has banned Equinor from repeating green claims.Being from Newfoundland and Labrador this is a subject that’s close to home for me and what Erlend has to say is very enlightening.Listen to our previous episode of The Environment in Canada Podcast Equinor’s Rosebank, Divestment, Energy Bills, and COP28, here – also part of a sub-series we are doing on Equinor Out.You can also find out more here: https://www.equinorout.com/Links to other ways you can find out more and support Equinor Out!Greenpeace Norway’s website.The Truth about Equinor’s Global Fossil Fuel Projects.More on the Equinor Out campaign and Bay du Nord in Canada.Host: Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club CanadaSupport the showFind out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/