Since the Paris Agreement coming into force in 2016, world leaders have increasingly emphasized the need to keep warming to the 1.5°C target by the end of this century, in order to avoid more dangerous impacts from climate change. Yet temperature readings around the globe show that the world has already warmed by roughly 1°C on average above pre-industrial levels. Many models suggest we will very likely exceed 1.5°C of warming, possibly in the next 5-10 years, in the absence of aggressive worldw...
Oct 05, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 2
On our first episode of Season 5, Sara and Ed speak to Dr. Melanee Thomas of the University of Calgary about her survey research into Albertans' attitudes to the energy transition, the oil and gas industry, coal and climate change. David wasn't able to join us for this one, but he'll be back live for Episode 2. EPISODE NOTES @00:49 If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: how the public’s economic confidence in the fossil fuel industry reduces support for a clean energy transition @2:16 Great expectatio...
Sep 25, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 1
[Rerelease] David, Sara, Ed and author Jeff Goodell discuss the impacts of heat on humans, the topic of Jeff’s new book . From heat-wave deaths, to reduced ability to learn, to the economic effects, who will suffer the most, and what does it mean for the politics of the energy transition? EPISODE NOTES B.C. heat wave leads to 11-hour ambulance wait time, spike in sudden deaths The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson review The Water will come: Rising Seas, sinking cities and the rema...
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Hi Everyone! We've got a favour to ask. We're doing a survey to help us understand what you like about Energy vs Climate, and how we can bring you more of that! We would be extremely grateful if you took just a few minutes out of your summer schedule to complete the survey. Your feedback will help us as we plan for Season 5. Thanks! We look forward to coming back in September. Send us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email) Follow us on: LinkedIn Bluesky X/Twitter Instagram ...
Jul 27, 2023•32 sec
On a special summer episode of Energy vs Climate, we’re addressing the record-setting wildfires that Canada has been experiencing this summer. We're joined by molecular paleoecologist Allison Karp to examine how fire has changed across geologic timescales and how much of this year's wildfires we can attribute to climate change. EPISODE NOTES @1:23 Allison Karp, paleoecologist at Yale and Brown University @11:04 Earliest evidence of wildfire found in Wales 430 million years ago, BBC , original jo...
Jul 24, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 11
No, we didn’t forget to fill in the pod title after Matt Ferrell’s name. On Still TBD, aka the Still To Be Determined Podcast , Matt and his brother Sean discuss electric vehicles, renewable energy, smart technologies, and how they impact our lives. And this week we have a special treat for you: a bonus episode with Ed, Sara, and Matt, who also happens to be host of the massively popular Undecided YouTube channel . Matt's team reached out to us about collaborating and we loved what he was up to,...
Jun 07, 2023•44 min
On the final episode of Energy vs Climate Season 4, we’re covering the basics of solar geoengineering. We're joined by The Right Honourable Kim Campbell , former Prime Minister of Canada, to unpack the debate over the role of further research, the place of these technologies in the global climate toolkit, and the role for Canada in research and governance. EPISODE NOTES @1:36 Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Canada's 19th and first female Prime Minister @2:56 Solar geo-engineering resources @2:56 ...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 10
On Season 4 Episode 9 of Energy vs Climate, David, Sara, Ed and special guest Dr. Blake Shaffer of The University of Calgary, dig into the how and why of Canada's big bet on electrification in the 2023 Federal Budget. EPISODE NOTES: @0:44 Blake Shaffer, economist and professor at the University of Calgary @3:59 Blake Shaffer: Technical Pathways to Aligning Canadian Electricity Systems with Net Zero Goals Report @11:14 Electricity 101: Generation capacity vs. Energy generation @27:39 Non-wire sol...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 9
On Season 4 Episode 8 of Energy vs Climate. David, Sara, Ed, and special guest Dr. Chris Bataille, Adjunct Research Fellow at Columbia University’s Center for Global Energy Policy (CGEP) and researcher with the Institut du Développement Durable et de Relations Internationales (IDDRI.org), discuss contracts for difference policy and and how can it help industrial decarbonization. EPISODE NOTES: Dr. Chris Bataille, Adjunct Research Fellow at Columbia University Centre on Global Energy Policy. @1:1...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 8
“Just Transition” is making headlines again in Alberta with the Provincial government pushing back against the yet to be tabled just transition legislation the Federal government first promised in 2019. Part of the debate is political, but underneath is the reality of the energy transition and the impact it will have on Alberta communities. How do we separate the politics from the policies when it comes to transition? What can we learn from coal communities that have already started to undergo s...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 7
You may recall that we sipped Annex Ale Project's Easy Answers Pale Ale when we recorded our Crypto vs Climate episode back in Season 3. Little did we know that would be the start of a fun and productive relationship with the good folks at Annex Ales . And now the beer is here, we're proud to introduce our very own Energy vs Climate Session Ale, the beer that remembers to turn off the lights when it leaves the room. To celebrate, we made a bonus episode taking you behind the scenes of brewing th...
Feb 15, 2023•12 min
On Season 4, Episode 6 of EvC, Sara, David and Ed tackle the thorny and always controversial topic of carbon offsets, live at Avatar Innovations at The Energy Transition Centre in downtown Calgary. An offset in principle is paying someone else - a company, or a country - to reduce emissions that you yourself cannot, or simply will not reduce. What is the role of offsets in helping the world to avoid dangerous climate change? What's 'additionality' when it comes to offsets, and is it fundamental ...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 4Ep. 6
David (just back from Egypt), Sara, Ed and special guest Adrien Abécassis, Chief Policy Officer of the Paris Peace Forum and former Advisor to the French President (also just back) unpack COP 27 and what it means for Canada and the world going forward on Season 4 Episode 5 of Energy vs Climate. EPISODE NOTES @1:31 Adrien Abécassis, former senior advisor to the French president, and the Chief Policy officer of the Paris Peace Forum @7:55 Key outcomes of the COP27 @9:28 $750 billion a year into cl...
Nov 24, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Published each year, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO) is a leading source of scenario-based analysis of global energy demand and supply. This year’s WEO explores the impact of both short-term volatility in energy markets and the long-term trend of decarbonization. What do the analysis and insights tell us about potential pathways for the world’s energy future and the implications for Canada’s natural resources? How is government action and technological developm...
Nov 08, 2022•58 min•Season 4Ep. 4
After months of uncertainty the United States passed the biggest climate bill in its history, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Coming on the heels of the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and combined with executive action across government agencies, the actions represent a major turning point in US climate action at the federal level. But what is actually in the IRA, and what comes next for implementation? How does the US approach compare to Canada’s actions on climate and how wil...
Oct 26, 2022•49 min•Season 4Ep. 3
David, Sara, Ed, and climate economist Gernot Wagner of Columbia University discuss Europe’s energy crisis and its implications for Canadian energy exports, on Season 4 Episode 2 of Energy vs Climate. Episode Notes @1:12 Welcoming Dr. Gernot Wagner of Columbia University @2:18 How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights the crisis and opportunity of the energy transition @4:00 Europe’s dependency on Russia’s Cheap Gas @12:17 Germany Charters LNG Terminals @17:18 Expansion of heat pump manufactur...
Oct 07, 2022•58 min•Season 4Ep. 2
On Episode 35 of Energy vs Climate, David, Sara and Ed are back for Season 4! They interview acclaimed energy policy advisor, Hal Harvey , and award-winning New York times reporter Justin Gillis about their new book, The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save our Planet ; an examination of seven areas where communities and individuals can insert themselves into key political decisions to ensure the most climate conscious choices are being made. EPISODE NOTES: @0:33 The Big Fix: Seven Practical S...
Sep 20, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Sara, David and Ed are back for Season Four of Energy vs Climate on September 20th with a lineup of shows that we're really excited about. Until then we'd like to share Sara's guest appearance on an episode of The Energy Transition Show with Chris Nelder from earlier this summer. The Energy Transition Show covers the full range of energy transition globally, including grid power, all fuels, transportation systems, macro economics, and more. Featuring interviews with some of the smartest and most...
Sep 13, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Energy vs Climate is still on summer hiatus, but we wanted to pop in with a very special recording of an in-person event we hosted at the end of July at Annex Ale Project in Calgary. In the show, we cover some thoughts on the climate news of the summer, answer some live audience questions, and tease some potential future topics we hope to cover on EvC. We had a great time engaging with folks in person so stay tuned for more information about future in-person programming by subscribing to our ema...
Aug 15, 2022•55 min
Hi, Sarah here. We're still in a summer break, but we've got an exciting in person, Energy vs Climate meet and greet coming up that we wanted to tell you about. Subscribers to our emails will receive the details next week. And tickets are limited. So if you're not signed up for EVC emails, yet head over to energyvsclimate.com and subscribe today. Thanks and hope to see you soon. Send us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email) Follow us on: LinkedIn Bluesky X/Twitter Instagra...
Jul 08, 2022•23 sec
David, Sara, and Ed are back for the final episode of Season Three, a special ask-us-anything episode dedicated to your audience questions. From nature-based solutions, to environmentally-responsible oil, hydrogen, geothermal, and more, they dig into a wide variety of topics. EPISODE NOTES: @2:27 Accounting Emissions to Consume with Care @3:53 The forests backing California's carbon offsets are burning up @8:20 EvC S1E7 Are Nature-based Solutions a Natural Policy Choice? @9:18 Can we control the...
May 06, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 13
The cement and concrete industry is an essential part of the Canadian and global economies. Concrete, made from cement, is a material that is used in virtually every building construction and infrastructure project across the country and the world. It’s also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Cement and concrete production account for roughly 7% of global emissions annually. On Episode 32 of Energy vs Climate Ed, David, Sara, and guest Dr. Rebecca Dell of the ClimateWorks Foundation exa...
Apr 20, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Alberta has declared an intention to attract a new sector to the province – cryptocurrency. But the early experience has been rocky and the significant energy demands of the sector is reason for concern. What are the energy and climate impacts of crypto? Should Alberta and Canada chase this 21st century gold rush? And just how much did Ed and David make in their foray into crypto investing? Ed, David, and Sara discuss the energy and climate implications of crypto on this special podcast-only epi...
Apr 06, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Industrial policy is hot again, back with a new name (mission innovation) and a new target (climate change). Detractors point to past failures and the risk of costly mistakes and argue that governments should avoid picking winners and stick to carbon pricing. Is government-directed innovation a good tool for climate innovation? How can governments do it well? What should they avoid? And what lessons are there for Canada's energy transition? Join David, Sara, Ed, and industrial policy expert Dani...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 10
David, Sara and Ed are back March 23rd with a new episode of Energy vs Climate. Until then, we'd like to share another podcast with you. Smart Prosperity: The Podcast with Eric Campbell offers fresh takes on the current affairs, business, technology and ideas behind the green economy. With a decidedly Canadian twist. The Smart Prosperity episode we’d like to share with you digs into Carbon capture technology and why climate experts are divided over it. Ed was Eric’s guest on the episode, along w...
Mar 11, 2022•35 min
The cost of solar power has decreased by a factor of 1,000 over the last fifty years, and by a factor of 10,000 since it was first used to power a satellite in the mid-1950s. According to the International Energy Agency, in some sunny regions solar is now the cheapest energy available – cheaper than coal, gas and wind. What have we learned from solar's multi-decade cost curve decline? How did it benefit from a free flow of ideas, equipment and people across national borders? What lessons can we ...
Mar 04, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In the past year the number of companies committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 has exploded. With the fifty largest companies by value accounting for 28% of global GDP, corporate action is critically important if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. But what does a net zero commitment for a company mean in practice? What distinguishes the good from greenwashing, and can we even tell from the outside? What are the risks and opportunities for a company making a net zero comm...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 8
On Episode 27 of EvC, from gas stoves to hot water heaters and furnaces, what might electrifying the home look like in Alberta and Canada? And should we? Guest Bruce Nilles of Climate Imperative helps David, Sara and Ed break down the future of natural gas in the home. @2:10 ecoENERGY for Renewable Power @2:14 AB Emissions reduction programs @2:37 Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign @3:39 Climate Imperative , @brucenilles @5:07 – Erin O'Toole out | National Post @5:47 – Meat Consumption Pacing Up C...
Feb 04, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 7
David, Sara and Ed are back next week with a new episode of Energy vs Climate. Until then, we'd like to share another podcast with you. ARC Energy Ideas explores the trends that influence the energy business, including political, environmental, technological, social and economic forces. The show is hosted by Peter Tertzakian and Jackie Forrest of the ARC Energy Research Institute. Jackie and Peter have been thought leaders in the space for years. In fact Peter joined us way back on Episode 3 of ...
Jan 28, 2022•35 min
David, Sara, Ed, and special guest Professor Jody Freeman of Harvard Law School break down what the first year of the Biden Administration means for Canadian energy and climate policy. EPISODE NOTES @1:32 @JodyFreemanHLS @2:46 Top-emitting Alberta oilsands site got government relief from pollution payments @6:47 Reframing incentives for climate policy @13:06 American Leadership on Clean Cars @13:29 U.S Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan @13:58 EPA power plant rules @14:27 Joe Biden wants Am...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 6
