Race Against Climate Change: Recent Episodes
Linda Solomon Wood, Polly Leger, Shaghayegh Tajvidi
Canada’s National Observer is already the country’s most trusted voice in climate journalism. Now, it has a new podcast: Race Against Climate Change. With just nine years until 2030, we need to move fast to avert climate catastrophe. So what are we going to do about it? Race Against Climate Change brings you the stories and solutions you won’t hear anywhere else.
A firefighter’s wife and a corporate lawyer in different parts of the U.S. get pulled into solving separate mysteries. Something was making cows die and deer hemorrhage to death in West Virginia. That same something could also be giving firefighters cancer — all over the country.
When the lawyer and the firefighter’s wife met, they found out they were working on the same mystery.
The mystery was caused by a human-made chemical that environmental regulators should have known about but didn’t. A chemical that is said to be so toxic, it is unclear if any contact with it is safe.
The chemical was created by a corporate giant, and then another corporate giant began using it to provide the world with so-called revolutionary products. Products that come with a very steep price.
This is a fascinating story of two people unravelling a ball of yarn that would reveal the poisoning of the world.
Listen to The Poison Detectives on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Haida Gwaii is a stretch of islands teeming with life just off the coast of British Columbia. The land, its skies, and the bodies of water around it have been protected for thousands of years by local Haida guardians. Protecting Haida Gwaii is a story about a First Nation that continues the fight for its rights, despite having inhabited the territory for thousands of years.
Read more about Haida Gwaii at Canada’s National Observer.
Written by Brandi Morin
Edited by Zahra Khozema
Cover art by Ata Ojai
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
GUESTS:
- Julian Brave NoiseCat is a National Observer columnist and writer, as well as Vice President of Policy & Strategy for Data for Progress.
- Jesse Firempong is a columnist for National Observer and has worked with Greenpeace and Oxfam as well as on human rights projects in Canada, Ghana and Botswana.
- Naomi Klein is a filmmaker, activist and writer. Her most recent book is On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. She’s currently an Associate Professor of Climate Justice at the University of British Columbia.
- Seth Klein is a contributor to National Observer. He’s the author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency. He is also an adjunct professor with Simon Fraser University’s Urban Studies program, the Director of Strategy with the Climate Emergency Unit, and was the founding director of the British Columbia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Correction to this episode: We wrongly introduce journalists Julian Brave NoiseCat and Jesse Firempong as being "both in their thirties."
CREDITS:
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Luke Ottenhof. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal. Original video sound in this episode from Brad Mueller, Guillotino Shuxley, Michael Toledano, and the Parkland Institute. Music provided by Blue Dot Sessions. Additional sfx from freed of freesound.org
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
Links to studies we mention in the show:
- To see the full video from Michael Toledano, click here
- To see that video Polly can’t stop watching of the cows being rescued, click here
- To see Seth and Linda talk about his latest book
Related articles from CNO:
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/16/opinion/climate-talks-tokenize-indigenous-peoples
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/06/28/opinion/one-indigenous-girls-brave-response-residential-schools
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/11/opinion/canada-profited-fossil-fuels-moral-obligation-climate-refugees
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/11/16/opinion/women-climate-movement-inclusion-green-recovery
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/22/opinion/battle-our-lives
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/09/17/opinion/why-tackling-inequality-and-climate-crisis-must-go-hand
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/17/opinion/time-stop-playing-nice-fossil-fuel-companies-blocking-climate-action
GUESTS:
- Delia Warren, offshore wind consultant and former director of Iron and Earth East
- Dirk Toleman, heavy machinery operator and UNIFOR local president in Fort McMurray
- Jim Standford, economist and Director of Centre for Future Work
- Max Fawcett, Canada’s National Observer
- Angela Carter, political science professor at the University of Waterloo
- Truzaar Dordi, postdoctoral fellow in climate finance at the University of Waterloo
CREDITS:
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Luke Ottenhof. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal. Archival sound in this episode from the Legislative Library of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Music provided by Blue.Sessions Patrick Patrikios, and Lobo Loco.
Thank you to The Navigators for permission to use their song, “Pulling Oil From the Sand.” Additional sfx from __jpberger__ and __xcreenplay__ of freesound.org
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
Links to studies we mention in the show
- Truzaar Dordi and Angela Carter, Correcting Canada’s one eye shut climate policy
- International Energy Agency’s report on Net Zero by 2050
- Unextractable fossil fuels in a 1.5 °C world, Nature.
- Read Jim Stanford’s plan to transition fossil fuel workers out of the sector
- Check out Iron and Earth’s just transition plan
Related articles from CNO: Side bar?
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/09/16/opinion/alberta-shocking-abuse-political-power-protect-oil-industry
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/11/news/paris-was-signed-our-banks-have-funded-climate-chaos-tune-700b
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/04/news/quebec-premier-envisions-future-beyond-oil-and-gas
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/04/news/quebec-premier-envisions-future-beyond-oil-and-gas
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/03/news/report-ranks-canadian-fossil-fuel-firms-climate-plans-bottom-pack
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/10/15/news/canadian-fossil-fuel-jobs-about-be-cut-half-its-time-talk-about-just-transition
GUESTS:
- Chúk Odenigbo, Future Ancestor Services
- Dan Wicklum, The Transition Accelerator
- Truzaar Dordi, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo
- Max Fawcett, Canada’s National Observer
- Colleen Kaiser, Smart Prosperity Institute
CREDITS:
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Luke Ottenhof. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal. Music provided by Blue Dot Sessions. Additional sound from The Juice Media and Toddler Fun Learning, as well as Kleber_KGF, alphatone, barcelonetasonora and Glaneur de Sons from freesound.org
Special thanks to Alison Gu, Azadeh Maroufmashat, Bob Howarth James Wilt, Carolyn Kim and Jess Harris.
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
Links to studies we mention in the show
- Canada’s hydrogen strategy
- Robert Howarth and Mark Jacobson, How green is blue hydrogen?
- Open letter signed by 28 civil society groups critiquing Canada’s hydrogen strategy
- Smart Prosperity Institute, a review of Canada’s transportation sector.
- Truzaar Dordi and Angela Carter, Correcting Canada’s one eye shut climate policy
- Deep sea mining for precious minerals needed for electric vehicles, The Guardian
Related articles from CNO:
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/12/news/blue-hydrogen-may-pollute-more-coal-new-research-finds
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/14/news/whats-deal-hydrogen-powered-vehicles
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/06/09/news/feds-see-big-role-big-oil-hydrogen-future
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/08/18/analysis/green-blue-or-grey-colour-coded-hydrogen-holds-keys-canadas-energy-transition#/analyze?country=CA&fuel=HY&hy_nonretail=true&access=public&access=private&status=E&status=P&status=T&show_map=true
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/04/21/news/trudeaus-wager-carbon-capture-budget-2021
GUESTS:
- Louis Bertrand, Durham Nuclear Awareness.
- John Gorman, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association
- Denise Balkissoon, The Narwhal’s Ontario bureau chief
- Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare
- Catherine Abreu, founder of Destination Zero and a member Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body
- Melina Laboucan Massimo, founder of Sacred Earth Solar
CREDITS:
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Luke Ottenhof. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal. Music provided by Blue.Sessions and Podington Bear. Additional sound from Merriam-Webster, Vlatko Blažek, ValentinSosnitskiy, Speedenza, digableplanet, tmokonen, SubwaySandwitch420.
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
- Denise Balkisson’s article: How I learned to stop worrying and love (well, accept that i might help save the planet) nuclear power. June 22, 2019. The Globe and Mail.
- International Energy Agency’s 2019 report on nuclear power’s role in clean energy systems
- Check out Power to the People, the APTN show hosted by Melina Laboucan Massimo
- Learn more about Canada’s plan to bury its nuclear waste
- Read Canada’s plan for Small Modular Reactors
- Froese, S., Kunz, N.C. and Ramana, M.V. (2020) Too small to be viable? The potential market for small modular reactors in mining and remote communities in Canada. Energy Policy, vol. 144
- Anishinabek Chiefs-in-Assembly unanimously oppose small modular reactors on Anishinabek territory. June 12, 2019. Anishinabek News
Related articles from CNO:
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/12/news/canada-energy-future-nuclear-not-everyones-buying-it
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/25/news/opposition-grows-small-nuclear-reactors-over-alarming-risks
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/22/news/canadian-nuclear-safety-commission-lung-cancer-study-uranium-workers
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/02/opinion/no-path-to-net-zero-without-nuclear-power
With help this week from Rheanna Toy and Aftertouch Audio. Communications by Suzanne Dhaliwal.
GUESTS:
- Nilson Zepeda, Coordonnateur de la campagne ILEAU, Conseil régional de l'environnement de Montréal
- Dalila Hassid, volunteer with La Voisinerie, part of the ILEAU campaign
- Stewart Dutfield, Manager of Public Energy Initiatives, Existing Buildings- Toronto. Part of Transform TO.
- David Suzuki and Severn-Cullis Suzuki
CREDITS:
Field production from Ellen Payne Smith and Elysse Deveaux in Montreal.
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Dana Filek-Gibson. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal and Luke Ottenhof. Music by Martijn de Boer and Blue Dot Sessions. Additional sound from Eldiariosonoro_, Lonemonk and Helter Skelter from freesound.org.
TRANSCRIPT
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
Links to studies we mention in the show
- Health Canada, Reducing urban heat islands to protect health
- IPCC fact sheet on climate change and urban areas
- Learn how your city stacks up using Yale’s Urban Environment and Social Inclusion Index
- Transform T.O.’s climate plan for buildings
- Wang, Y., Berardi, U., & Akbari, H. (2016). Comparing the effects of urban heat island mitigation strategies for Toronto, Canada. Energy and Buildings, 114, 2-19.
Related articles from CNO:
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/19/news/apartments-condos-too-hot-how-can-we-fix-them
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/16/news/overhauling-canadas-buildings-could-add-48b-economy
- https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/10/22/news/canada-building-codes-development-climate-goals
Everybody’s gotta eat, but who’s feeding us, and what else are we eating up along the way? In this episode we chew on the ways our food affects our climate, and what can be done about it. Professor and author Lenore Newman discusses food security and this summer’s heat dome with National Observer founder Linda Solomon Wood. Plus, the surge in regenerative farming in Canada, and a future of real beef with no real cows. Yes, you read that right.
GUESTS:
- Robyn Bunn, Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture
- Fawn Jackson, climate lead for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
- Karen Ross, director of Farmers for Climate Solutions.
- Lenore Newman, Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute and Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Environment at the University of the Fraser Valley
- Isha Datar, Executive Director of New Harvest
CLIMATE NERD RESOURCES:
Links to studies we mention in the show
- Learn more about natural climate solutions
- Farmers For Climate Solutions calls to action
- UN report on livestock and GHG emissions
- IPCC’s 2018 report on food security
- Urban agriculture as a climate change and disaster risk reduction strategy
CREDITS:
Final audio mix by Aftertouch Audio. Fact check by Dana Filek Gibson and Marc Fawcett-Atkinson. Artwork by Ata Ojani. Communications from Suzanne Dhaliwal and Luke Ottenhof. Music provided by Blue.Sessions and Soundstripe. Effects by PianoFarm and soundmary
Join your hosts, Shaghayegh, Linda & Polly as they kick off the 'Race Against Climate Change.' Over the next 6 episodes, they will introduce you to the people who are deploying creativity, innovation, and a touch of genius to avert runaway climate catastrophe. The Observer team investigates how this crisis challenges us to rethink our lives and the systems that shape them. They’re not shying away from the urgency: from how we all eat, to the way we move, power our lives and how we envision pathways to the future, they cover it all!