EarthMatters

EarthMatters has been broadcasting on radio and podcasting for 2 years now – over 100 shows. I’ve met and chatted with leading experts studying complex issues and regular folks just trying to make a difference in their daily lives. Guests have come from England, Germany, Uganda, Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, all over the United States and, of course, Canada where I’m from. Why am I saying all this? It’s because EarthMatters, the podcast and radio show, is coming to a close. This is our...

EarthMatters has been broadcasting on radio and podcasting for 2 years now – over 100 shows. I’ve met and chatted with leading experts studying complex issues and regular folks just trying to make a difference in their daily lives. Guests have come from England, Germany, Uganda, Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, all over the United States and, of course, Canada where I’m from. Why am I saying all this? It’s because EarthMatters, the podcast and radio show, is coming to a close. This week and...

‘For The Wild’ is an anthology of the Anthropocene; focused on land based protection, co-liberation and intersectional storytelling rooted in a paradigm shift from human supremacy towards deep ecology. ‘For The Wild’ believes that: Our economic system is based on converting the living world into dead commodities and waste, while our political system is designed to safeguard this system. No amount of “reform” will ever reach the root causes of our crises. Some people will turn their backs...

Buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global GHG emissions. Approximately two-thirds of the building area that exists today will still exist in 2050. The question for many in the building and design fields is – what can be done to reduce the footprint of multi-level buildings? One solution that is slowly taking root, pardon the pun, is mass timber construction. Advances in mass timber construction have allowed for taller wood buildings of six storeys or more. In North America, some...

Are you a Climate Concerned Citizen? Do you have to deal with climate insincere politicians? Can you compromise enough to meet the 'other side' halfway, or are your cognitive biases holding you back from convincing others to 'do more'. "After three decades of acknowledged concern by world political leaders, the global effort to reduce GHG emissions is still feeble and sporadic," says Prof. Mark Jaccard in his latest book, 'The Citizens Guide to Climate Success'. Jaccard suggests that we...

Often we cannot foresee what small event will trigger a big reaction. Something as seemingly insignificant as a Swedish 15 year old, skipping school to protest climate change. Or a young, black, African activist being cut out of a picture featuring four white activists at an international conference on climate change. EarthMatters looks further into the frustration of African activists to have their messages heard, to break through a distracted media, to educate their fellow citizens to be...

Plug’n Drive is a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in order to maximize their environmental and economic benefits. Since 2011, Plug’n Drive has established itself as a leader in the electric vehicle industry, a trusted and unbiased source of information on electric cars, charging stations and the electricity sector. Cara Clairman is the President & CEO of Plug'n Drive. EarthMatters caught up with Cara as she was speaking at an event hosted...

In a study released recently, researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario say they have found a method that could reduce the environmental and safety hazards related to stockpiled tires. Michael Brook, the study’s lead author and a professor in the department of chemistry and chemical biology at McMaster says, “A tire is incredibly well made. We want to turn that tire back into something else, either make a new tire or make a new material, even if it’s not quite as high quality,...

Yet another form of plastic pollution - "plastiglomerate" - rock-like fragments of plastic, sand grains, debris and organic materials fused together by human-induced fires. In certain areas of the Great Lakes surface densities of plastics are as high as those reported for areas of litter accumulation within ocean gyres. Sources include microplastic beads, consumer products, industrial pellets, and waste from beach-goers, shipping, and fishing activities. Prof. Patricia Corcoran, Dept. of...

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) challenges concentrated economic and political power, and instead champions an approach in which ownership is broadly distributed, institutions are humanly scaled, and decision-making is accountable to communities. Focusing on Public Banking, Broadband Access, Distributed Energy, Independent Businesses, Composting and Waste to Wealth, ILSR fights build local power and resiliency. John Farrell is co-director of ILSR and is its Energy Democracy...

Flooding, drought, shorter planting seasons, insects, fire, and invasive species threaten the integrity of our existing forests. Those threats are being amplified by the effects of climate change. Forests Ontario has worked hard to strengthen its position as the voice for our forests. Through breakthroughs and milestones, it has made significant strides in its mission to make Ontario’s forests greener. Through the 50 Million Tree Program, Forests Ontario has planted more than 29 million...

We'll be taking a break for a few weeks. In the meantime, here is a musical selection of environmental-themed songs.

Suburban Remix brings together experts in planning, urban design, real estate development, and urban policy to demonstrate how suburbs can use growing demand for urban living to renew their appeal as places to live, work, play, and invest. The case studies and analyses show how compact new urban places are already being created in suburbs to produce health, economic, and environmental benefits, and contribute to solving a growing equity crisis. Authors/Editors Jason Beske and David Dixon...

In July of 2018 it was discovered that over the course of the previous four years 24 billion litres, or over 5 billion gallons, enough to fill 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of raw sewage was allowed to flow into one of the major creeks in the City of Hamilton, Canada. A gate meant to contain the sewage was left open. Over a year later, there is still no explanation for the oversight. In fact, it wasn’t until November of 2019 that the public was even made aware of the accident. In...

Sustainable Hamilton Burlington is a non-profit social enterprise serving the neighbouring cities of Hamilton and Burlington in Ontario, Canada. The folks there are dedicated to inspiring sustainability leadership in local business organizations for a healthier environment and thriving, prosperous communities. Sustainable Hamilton/Burlington recently held a Sustainable Business Conference. Over 100 attendees came to the event to learn more about how their companies could develop a more...

Save Our Scruff is a non-profit organization located in Toronto dedicated to rescuing dogs and finding them safe and suitable permanent homes through adoption, advocacy and education. Whether abandoned by owners, a mis-guided family gift, or left behind due to a climate event, thousands of dogs are in need of new homes. Save Our Scruff is one, of many, community-based services that strives to address this global, biodiversity issue. Jenna Bye is the Executive Director of 'Save Our Scruff',...

The Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) Social Enterprise is a pan-Canadian not-for-profit platform which advances Indigenous inclusion in Canada’s energy futures economy through Indigenous leadership, and broad-based collaboration with energy companies, utilities, governments, development firms, cleantech innovators, academic sector, and capital markets. The 20/20 Catalysts Program is an award-winning interactive three-month program that connects First Nations, Inuit and Métis Catalysts to a...

EarthCare Sudbury is a unique partnership between the City of Greater Sudbury (Canada), over 150 community, agencies, organizations and businesses, and hundreds of residents. EarthCare Sudbury was formed in 2000 to bring the community together around the key environmental issues facing the city and to chart a course towards sustainability. Jennifer Babin-Fenske is the Co-ordinator of EarthCare Sudbury.

Sydney Koby believes that the environmentally-conscious food choices we make don’t have to sacrifice taste or convenience. However, she couldn't seem to find anything on the market that checked all of those boxes. Between her engineering degree and experience working in kitchens, Sydney jumped in with both feet into making a product that she felt was missing from our sustainable snacking options. Cricket flour is rich in protein and other essential nutrients like fiber, iron and Omega-3...

The Democracy Collaborative is a U.S. non-profit research and development lab for a democratic economy that operates within planetary boundaries. The organization works to carry out a vision of a new economic system where shared ownership and control of companies creates more equitable and inclusive outcomes, fosters ecological sustainability, and promotes flourishing democratic and community life. Staff at the Democracy Collaborative work closely with community foundations and other...