What On Earth - podcast cover

What On Earth

The climate is changing. So are we. Explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. We find inspiration in unexpected places, scrutinize new technologies, hold powerful people accountable and join you on the journey to fix this mess. New episodes every Wednesday and Saturday.

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Episodes

Clean energy lessons from the 1970s oil crisis

This week on What On Earth with Laura Lynch: • As soaring oil prices force countries to rethink their energy supply, we blow the dust off of solutions developed decades ago • Mapping wildfire risk • Checking in six months after COP26 • The importance of casting a vote to curb CO2 emissions

May 28, 202254 min

How cracking open a climate story helps kids cope

New climate change books for kids help them cope with scary emotions and turn anxiety into action. Hope for the return of the wolverine in Labrador. And is climate change a ballot box issue for Ontario voters?

May 14, 202254 min

What On Earth Introduces: Tai Asks Why - Season 4

Fifteen-year-old Tai Poole won’t rest until he’s uncovered the mysteries of the universe, one probing question at a time. In Season 4 of his Webby-winning podcast, Tai talks to everyone from NASA scientists to stand-up comedians to his equally curious little brother Kien. If you’ve ever wondered if we can keep eating meat without destroying the planet or if we’re alone in the universe, Tai has you covered. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/taiaskswhy

May 10, 20224 min

What extreme heat in India tells us about the future

This week on What on Earth with Laura Lynch • Channeling eco-anxiety into a force for change • Feeling the heat in India • How to meet the call to go electric • One listener's solution that's become a campaign.

May 07, 202254 min

Meet wolverine, a climate superhero

This week on What On Earth with Laura Lynch • Producer Molly Segal straps on her snowshoes in search of the elusive wolverine and hears how climate safe havens may help them in a warming world • A young Canadian taking on her bank for making net zero promises while investing in fossil fuels • Also, a senator's push to force the financial industry to put its money where its mouth is

Apr 30, 202254 min

Why addressing energy poverty is a climate solution

This week: the first hour-long episode of What On Earth. • Producer Kristin Nelson sets out to find out how Canada can bring low-income households along in the transition to net zero. • We meet an academic who walked away from tenure to work on the front lines of climate change. • Associate producer Rachel Sanders shares what B.C. farmers are saying about the effect of extreme weather on their mental health -- and we hear about emerging solutions.

Apr 23, 202254 min

ENCORE: The trouble with transition

The coastal city of Aberdeen, Scotland, has long made its living off the North Sea, first from fishing then oil and gas. Now, a new transition is underway: offshore wind. But will it be a 'just' ?

Apr 15, 202227 min

Do Ottawa's actions speak louder than its words?

Days after another urgent call from the UN to get off fossil fuels, Ottawa approved a new offshore oil megaproject. Critics say it flies in the face of Canada's climate plans.

Apr 09, 202237 min

Life on the edge

Nova Scotians are watching the coast vanish before their eyes, due to rising sea levels and stronger storms. Guest host Portia Clark looks at the problem of coastal erosion, and the solutions underway to protect the shoreline.

Apr 02, 202227 min

Encore: Electrify Everything

As the federal government releases its plan to reduce emissions, we revisit our conversation with scientist and inventor Saul Griffith. His solution to climate change: electrification.

Mar 26, 202227 min

The tension and the truth about Ontario's Ring of Fire

Northern Ontario has rich mineral deposits that can help meet growing demand for EV batteries. But digging the minerals out risks destroying one of the planet's largest carbon stores. This week we look at the benefits, drawbacks, and ask what's at stake for the climate?

Mar 19, 202227 min

Revisiting the Fort Simpson flood

The latest UN climate report warns that now is the time for communities to prepare for climate change. What On Earth guest host Loren McGinnis finds out how Fort Simpson, N.W.T., is tackling the problem, months after the village flooded.

Mar 05, 202227 min

Now for some good news...

From a climate tech start up to a community driven food security project, people are fighting climate change and creating good news along the way.

Feb 27, 202231 min

Encore: Future of Winter

The Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing showcase bare mountains with small areas covered in snow that had to be made from massive amounts of water brought to the site. This week, an we revisit an episode that asks what’s the future of winter and what can be done to save it?

Feb 19, 202227 min

What's the deal with 'renewable natural gas'?

Some companies promise 'renewable' natural gas from landfill and other waste can slash emissions. But is there enough trash to power a fuel switch, or is it simply a distraction from better solutions?

Feb 12, 202227 min

Pass the baton

Young Black Canadians share how they are breaking barriers in the climate movement and we hear from the 'father of environmental justice' about where the struggle began.

Feb 05, 202232 min

The fight over coal in Alberta's Rockies

When the Alberta government quietly rescinded a 1976 coal policy protecting the eastern slopes of the Rockies, it kicked off mass outcry. Now, as the public awaits new policy, some argue it should exclude new mines.

Jan 29, 202234 min

A new year in climate action: part two

We had so many inspiring updates last week, we needed a second episode. Hear from a First Nation building climate-smart housing, a teen fighting to change the law, and more.

Jan 09, 202227 min

A new year in climate action

We welcome 2022 with an update from some of our guests. We hear about a geothermal project breaking ground, the fight to stop a new highway, and a campaign for better climate education.

Jan 02, 202227 min

Cozy up with climate fiction

"Cli-fi" is a growing literary genre that, at its best, can inspire hope and spur action. Hear from Catherine Bush, Premee Mohamed and David Huebert about their new works of fiction.

Dec 26, 202127 min

ENCORE: The climate cost of consumerism

As Canadian gear up for the holidays, we look at what's changed when it comes to what we buy. And we find out if re-imagining our relationship to our stuff could help fight climate change.

Dec 10, 202127 min

How COP26 put public health in the spotlight

In Glasgow, doctors, students and activists from around the world gathered to make the case: climate change is a health crisis. With Canada signing a pledge to decarbonize health care, this week a look at how the system itself can be part of the solution.

Nov 13, 202129 min
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