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.
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.
From the Best of What On Earth – in remote northern communities, diesel is king. But breakthrough solar energy projects are underway that could begin to reduce fossil fuel reliance. We’re taking you to Nunavut where people are adding solar panels to small off-grid cabins and others are working on community-scale solar projects — so the diesel generators can finally be turned off and communities can hear silence once again, like their ancestors did.
From the Best of What On Earth – Come with us to California where entrepreneurs are sending balloons full of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It’s a form of solar geoengineering known as stratospheric aerosol injection, and the company Make Sunsets isn’t waiting for scientific consensus before they launch. We hear about their business model, and then from the researchers who question both the science and ethics of the practice.
From the Best of What On Earth – Better transit service could help lower Canada’s emissions. But can more people get on board with buses, trains and subways? We hear how policy changes and behaviour “nudges” can make it happen.
Power is pricey in the Yukon, and solar panels help some homeowners keep costs down. But two years ago, the government paused a program that allowed people to install solar on their roofs, use the electricity they generate and sell some of it back to the electrical grid. We find out what the roadblocks to renewables are in places like Whitehorse, and what the Yukon’s struggle tells us about the challenges of transitioning to clean energy across the country.
In a year-end interview with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, the prime minister talks about why his plan for more pipelines will help the climate. He also gives his version of what happened behind the scenes when former minister Steven Guilbeaut quit cabinet over the new energy agreement with Alberta.
Why did Volkswagen employees keep mum about the Dieselgate emissions scandal? That’s one of six crimes author Julia Shaw dives into in her latest book, Green Crime: Inside the minds of the people destroying the planet, and how to stop them. She asks, can environmental laws hold criminals accountable or do we need to get tougher?
They popularized, "OK, boomer" but when it comes to climate action, some Gen Z activists find they actually have much in common with their baby boomer counterparts. What On Earth columnist Aishwarya Puttur recently joined the Sue Big Oil campaign. While on the journey to get local governments to file lawsuits against big polluters, Aishwarya met fellow activist and retired journalist Erin Ellis. We get advice from both about overcoming generational stereotypes and uniting for change.
Ferocious fires, monster storms and epic floods. But there were some climate bright spots in 2025 as well. CBC meteorologists Johanna Wagstaffe and Ryan Snoddon break down the impacts of human-caused climate change and how it affected our weather this year. From the rapid intensification of hurricanes and typhoons to rivers and wells running dry in places not accustomed to drought, they explain how climate-charged extreme weather events are reshaping the world along with the way they talk about their forecasts.
Steven Guilbeault made room for compromise when he switched from climate activist to government minister. He was okay with that. Until Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement with Alberta that Guilbeault says went too far. In a frank interview, the now ex-minister defends his choices and voices his concerns about Canada’s climate future.
Electric tricycles. Wagons. Bumming rides. Canadians are going to great lengths to live without a car. Yes, even people who have a disability, live in a rural community, or are terrified of biking. Our car-free correspondent Emily Chung shares their stories and solutions.
Can Canada build another oil pipeline AND hit climate targets? PM Mark Carney says yes. But some see the new energy deal between Ottawa and Alberta as a climate pivot by the federal government. While Canada tries to be a climate leader and pump out more oil at the same time, at least two dozen other countries – including Colombia – are now getting serious about weaning off fossil fuels.
The term "carbon capture" is getting tossed around a lot by Canadian politicians these days. What's actually being talked about is carbon capture, utilization and storage or CCUS. The technology is promoted as a way to help Canada reach its climate goals, even as the country keeps exporting oil. So what exactly is it? How does it work? And does it actually help reduce fossil fuel emissions?
For Marsya Ancker, laying her father to rest in a mycelium casket was a choice that was true to his environmental values. We hear how the biodegradable Loop Living Cocoon, made of the root fibres of mushrooms and upcycled hemp, is better for the earth than traditional coffins. And, we explore other innovations in green burials for people who want more environmentally friendly end-of-life options.
A carbon capture project and a new pipeline may be on the horizon as Alberta gets closer to signing a memorandum of understanding, which Premier Danielle Smith calls a "grand bargain" with the federal government. Proponents tout carbon capture as a way to reduce emissions from oil sands production. But critics say the technology only enables the fossil fuel industry to expand.
Mother Nature is mad as hell. But they're also being played by the godfather of punk, so maybe that makes sense? In a new podcast, Iggy Pop takes an absurdist approach to get people to think about the climate. Is it weird? Sure. But the producers of Sweet Little Human hope its dark humour will appeal to people who might not want to hear about the subject.
There are protests and promises at this year’s UN climate conference, which is in full swing now in Brazil’s rainforest. Can the international spotlight lead to real change for the threatened ecosystem? We examine a new plan to pay countries for preserving tropical forests, and hear calls from Indigenous leaders and an advocate to scale back oil and gas development in the Amazon.
If Arnold Schwarzenegger tells you to fight climate change, are you going to listen? He has joined Pope Leo XIV and other religious leaders in challenging the faithful to demand their governments take substantive steps to “terminate” harmful emissions. A Canadian Cardinal who helped craft Vatican climate policy and a Muslim scholar who worked on an Islamic climate declaration, explain how religion should compel people to protect the planet.
Can Canada have it all when it comes to fighting climate change and fossil fuel extraction? That appears to be the goal in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget. But Climate Minister Julie Dabrusin says Canada still has cred in the fight to lower emissions, as she heads to the UN’s climate conference in Brazil. Then, we hear what’s at stake as the world gathers in the Amazon rainforest for COP30, and what climate leadership looks like in 2025.
When Rick and Lori Findlay decided to divest from fossil fuels, their advisor told them they couldn’t get the returns they wanted. The Toronto-based couple wants their money choices to both reflect their values and ensure financial stability. Producer Molly Segal follows their story and gets tips on how to make your money work for you and the climate.
As Jamaica moves to rebuild after the storm, the world prepares to gather for its annual climate conference. And amid the stories of death and destruction, Caribbean nations are urging richer countries to help them adapt to climate change. We hear from climate leaders in the Caribbean about what Jamaica is doing to safeguard itself against hurricanes, and why more is needed from world leaders at COP30.