The Climate Lens

Coming off the hottest year and worst wildfire season in recorded history you might think Canada as a whole would have finally learned our lesson and gone all in on climate solutions but you'd be wrong as the prime political discussion in Canada these days are about getting rid of our carbon tax with precious little about what climate solutions we'd like in their place. This sentiment is strongest in Alberta where our once mighty clean energy industry was first hobbled by a 6 month moratorium then followed by far reaching anti-renewable policy in place for the foreseeable future. To help us break down all this today we have Martin Olszynski, Associate Professor at the University Of Calgary, Faculty of Law. ***** Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mpV-cwGOoXW8HC1OWf_nN1DUIWE_9g5IJrm0Dxsw_3E/ Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VsXEfX_Q3fby2kynppIVyD29lCHs8AXzycWjxuvbJ98/ ***** If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219 ***** CALLS TO ACTION! Speak at City Hall Training - April 18th: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/rezoning_speak_city_hall_train_apr24 ***** Martin Olszynski: https://twitter.com/molszyns **** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzh9NWUmvSzpOsa7ReTs83Q Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate Support us on Patreon!

The Housing Crisis. It's a hot topic everywhere, from federal politics to the neighborhood. Facebook group. Calgary, along with other Canadian municipalities, is trying to deal with the fact that there are more people who want to live here than places for them to live. In September of 2023, Calgary City Council adopted a housing strategy which included a controversial proposal for citywide rezoning. According to the City of Calgary website, properties that currently allow single or semi-detached homes will be rezoned to R-CG, R-G, or H-GO. That means that buildings like townhouses and rowhouses will be allowed on any residential lot. As climate advocates, we love a plan for urban densification and rezoning as a chance to make our voices really count. The City of Calgary has planned a public hearing on the proposal April 22nd. Here today to discuss rezoning and the climate implications is Ward Eight Councillor Courtney Walcott. This show was recorded the day after council voted to proceed with the public hearing instead of kicking the decision down the road to a plebiscite in the 2025 civic election. ***** Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fDRgr31m3FAgxAbls2xbNEZRrJny7OfBSnmeH5TEquY/ Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R2PYwO4Ylh52cc7ET1AAHCUi4o9uUKpwvUafuYS9L6g/ ***** If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219 ***** CALLS TO ACTION! Speak at City Hall Training - April 18th: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/rezoning_speak_city_hall_train_apr24 ***** Courtney Walcott's personal website: https://www.courtneywalcott.com/ Courtney Walcott's page on the City of Calgary's website: https://www.calgary.ca/council/ward-8/warddefault.html Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CWalcottYYC **** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzh9NWUmvSzpOsa7ReTs83Q Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate Support us on Patreon!

Energi Media’s Markham Hislop shares learnings about the energy transition from his interviews with business and energy leaders. Could Alberta make the change from dirty oil exporter to clean materials manufacturer? Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BcnM9_glw2cs-X6__ipsT6_BR2YqlNQvWIwAYP6D4oA/edit Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YGoR5yyHHZIRwWXcvlj3IS0X8Xn7CjsdvPVjhidR25s/edit ***** If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/the_climate_lens ***** CALLS TO ACTION! Speak at City Hall Training - April 18th: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/rezoning_speak_city_hall_train_apr24 ***** Energi Media website https://energi.media/ Twitter/X @EnergiMedia Markham Hislop @politicalham **** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate Support us on Patreon!

2023 was the hottest year in recorded history and also the worst wildfire season Albertans have ever known and it's only in the first week of January that we've had anything resembling what a normal winter looks like before hitting deep freeze extremes in the opposite direction. In the midst of all this our Christmas present from the Alberta government was an extreme drought warning for 2024 which likely flew under the radar for a lot of ordinary Albertans given the timing. The common thread through all of these stories is water so we're very happy to have with us today Phillip Meintzer & Kennedy Halvorson, two conservation specialists for the Alberta Wilderness Association (or on X/Twitter at https://twitter.com/ABWilderness***** Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14fU3EEG_M0EIoDq4MIXDJGINH-1m9M3V8PShexQTItA Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m8DDtthQ-2WiTNdWknesw7y8NU3Qe6lnFbz11HV4hTQ ***** If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/the_climate_lens ***** CALLS TO ACTION! 1) Tree Equity Workshop - Jan 30th: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/tree_equity_workshop_jan2024_20240130 2) Advocacy in the Prairies - February 10th (in Calgary): https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/crpc_prairies_advocacy_training_calgary_jan24 3) The Kananaskis Logging Slowdown Campaign: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/kananaskis_logging_slowdown_24 ***** Alberta Wilderness Association website https://albertawilderness.ca Twitter/X @ABWilderness Phillip Meintzer @PhillipMeintzer Kennedy Halvorson @kentomologie AWA News Release: Four Big Oil Companies Used 200 Billion Litres of Alberta’s Freshwater Last Year https://albertawilderness.ca/news-release-four-big-oil-companies-used-200-billion-litres-of-albertas-freshwater-last-year/ Aquatic Ecosystems – Gaps Opportunities and Law Reforms https://elc.ab.ca/sdm_downloads/aquatic-ecosystems-gaps-opportunities-and-law-reforms/ **** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate Support us on Patreon!

The Best and Worst Climate Stories of 2023 with Calgary’s climate community. Druh Farrel (former City of Calgary's councillor), Claire Kraatz (co-lead of Alberta's chapter of For Our Kids), Noel Keough (co-founder of Sustainable Calgary), Jenny Yeremiy (reclamation specialist), Jodi Conuel (program coordinator at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley), Andy Kubrin (creator of the Alberta Beyond Fossil Fuels blog), Markham Hislop (energy writer and independent journalist), Daniel Smithies (volunteer & admin Coordinator at the Calgary Climate Hub) and Joe Vipond (president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) join Steve Bentley to reflect on the year that was. ***** In 2023 the COP global climate conference has never been more important yet more compromised. Catch up wth the Hub's daily COP28 coverage on this Youtube playlist **** Energi Media https://energi.media/ Markham Hislop Twitter/X: @politicalham **** Alberta Beyond Fossil Fuels https://albertabeyondfossilfuels.ca **** Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative https://www.bvgreenenergy.org/ **** Sustainable Calgary https://www.sustainablecalgary.org/ **** For Our Kids https://www.forourkids.ca/ **** Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment https://cape.ca/ **** PATREON: Join the Climate Lens 'Focus Group.' These shows aren't created in isolation. They start with great conversations amongst smart people that care about the right things. We're going to ask the tough questions and follow the Truth wherever it leads us. Join us. https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate Support us on Patreon!

On Sept 28th 2023 the Alberta government launched an 8 million dollar cross country media campaign called "Tell The Feds" reaching audiences in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and of course here in Alberta. This campaign makes a number of dubious claims about Canada's efforts for a net zero energy grid by 2035 which would pave the way for a net zero country in 2050. To help us sort through some of the claims of this campaign we have with us today Jenny Yeremiy a Calgary-based Geophysicist turned oil and gas properties clean-up & reclamation expert and a member of the Calgary Climate Hub Rob Tremblay is an electrical engineer who works in clean energy, and co-chair of the Calgary Climate Hub Sasha Adamova is a high school student, member and public speaker from Fridays For Future Calgary, a grass roots, youth-led climate activism organization. ***** PATREON: Join the Climate Lens 'Focus Group.' These shows aren't created in isolation. They start with great conversations amongst smart people that care about the right things. We're going to ask the tough questions and follow the Truth wherever it leads us. Join us. https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.social Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate ***** Jenny Yeremiy: https://twitter.com/JennyYeremiy Rob Tremblay: https://twitter.com/RobTPublic Fridays For Future Calgary: https://www.fridaysforfuturecalgary.ca/ Support us on Patreon!

On September 16, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against some of the world's largest oil and gas companies, saying that for more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us, covering up the fact that they've long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet. To get a sense of the scope of this news, as well as what it might mean for Canada and perhaps even right here in Calgary, we're happy to have Andrew Gage, staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law. They're part of the Sue Big Oil movement in British Columbia, whose website reads in big, bold letters : They knew. They profited. They need to pay their fair share. ***** PATREON: Join the Climate Lens 'Focus Group.' These shows aren't created in isolation. They start with great conversations amongst smart people that care about the right things. We're going to ask the tough questions and follow the Truth wherever it leads us. Join us. https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations ***** Sue Big Oil: https://suebigoil.ca/ and https://twitter.com/SueBigOil Andrew Gage: https://twitter.com/singingwithin West Coast Environmental Law: https://www.wcel.org/ Support us on Patreon!

This month's guest is Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, representing 175,000 unionized Alberta workers from both the public and private sectors. Gil recently penned an op-ed for the Tyee entitled "Alberta Workers See Their Future. Denial Blocks the View" and his organization published in 2022 a roadmap for a prosperous Alberta that leads the energy transition instead of hiding from it entitled 'Skate to where the Puck Is Going.' Both pieces are required reading for any Albertan that cares about where our province is going during this critical time. We talk about this critical moment in Alberta's history and how to get back on the ice. ***** PATREON: Join the Climate Lens 'Focus Group.' These shows aren't created in isolation. They start with great conversations amongst smart people that care about the right things. We're going to ask the tough questions and follow the Truth wherever it leads us. Join us. https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Mastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations ***** Gil McGowan: https://twitter.com/gilmcgowan Alberta Federation of Labour: https://www.afl.org/ "Alberta Workers See Their Future. Denial Blocks the View" https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2023/09/03/Alberta-Workers-Future-Denial-Blocks-View/ The AFL's "Skate to Where the Puck Is Going" report https://www.afl.org/ground-breaking_report_from_alberta_unions_urges_province_energy_industry_to_skate_to_where_the_puck_is_going_by_embracing_job-rich_energy_future#:~:text=CALGARY – Today%2C the Alberta Federation,the oil and gas sector. ***** The World Petroleum COUNTER Congress RSVP: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/wpcc_climate_rally Support us on Patreon!

Just one day after Alberta announces a moratorium on renewable energy, Climate Lens host Bentley goes one-on-one with John Vaillant, author of "Fire Weather: the Making of a Beast." Don't miss this! ***** PATREON: Join the Climate Lens 'Focus Group.' These shows aren't created in isolation. They start with great conversations amongst smart people that care about the right things. We're going to ask the tough questions and follow the Truth wherever it leads us. Join us. https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations ***** John Vaillant: https://twitter.com/JohnVaillant "Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast" by John Vaillant: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/739360/fire-weather-by-john-vaillant/9780735273160 ***** Support us on Patreon!

The Pathways Alliance is a coalition of six of Canada's largest oil sand producers: CNRL, Cenovus, Conoco Phillips, Imperial Oil, MEG Energy Corporation and Suncor. Their stated goal, as per their website, is reducing annual oilsands emissions to net zero by 2050. A vital pillar of which seems to be carbon capture and storage, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently described as the least effective yet most expensive approach. It's been recently revealed that Pathways is lobbying the Federal Government for delayed and weakened caps on emissions, and they're currently under investigation by Canada's Competition Bureau over allegations of false or misleading claims in an ad campaign geared towards the Canadian public. With us today, we have Alberta Environmental Network's Molli Bennett as our co-host. And to help us put all of this under the Climate Lens is the Pembina Institute's director of Oil and Gas, Jan Gorski, as well as energy writer and independent journalist Markham Hislop. ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations ***** Pembina Institute: https://www.pembina.org/ Jan Gorski: https://twitter.com/jangorsk Energi Media: https://energi.media/ Markham Hislop: https://twitter.com/politicalham Support us on Patreon!

Today, we discuss the proposed clear-cut logging in the West Bragg Creek area of Alberta with the help of Devon Earl, conservation specialist from the Alberta Wilderness Association. We shed light on the potential impacts of the logging plans, the importance of public consultation, the value of the area for outdoor recreation, and the need for collective action to protect Alberta's wild spaces. The episode also addresses the relationship between logging and wildfires and highlights the historical focus on resource extraction rather than environmental considerations in forest management. Co-hosted by Molli Bennett of Alberta Environmental Network and Alberta Talks. ***** For feedback and more information about logging plans, contact Spray Lake Sawmills. The company will be conducting open houses as they plan the logging operation in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Website: https://spraylakesawmills.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spraylakesawmills Learn about the Alberta Forest Act and Forest Management Agreements through CPAWS Forest Steward program: https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/conservation/sustainable-forestry/ Engage with Alberta land conservation efforts – Alberta Wilderness Association - https://albertawilderness.ca/ ***** Calgary Climate Hub Website: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Twitter: @ClimateHubYYC Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer Become a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations ***** Check out ACOC 5.3 featuring Seth Klein & Climate Emergency Unit's 6 Markers of a Climate Emergency. Special guests include CEU + Climate Justice Edmonton's Juan Vargas, CAPE + the Hub's Dr Joe Vipond, the Calgary Alliance For the Common Good & more! ***** We're coming to that time of year again, our 3rd annual Hub and Spokes city bike/skate/scooter/whatever tour is Saturday July 22nd. Spaces are limited so RSVP fast & we'll see you on the downtown bike paths. This is a members-only event so become a member TODAY! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/hub_and_spokes_2023 ***** It's becoming abundantly clear: until we start showing up in numbers you can expect all levels of government to continue failing us on Climate Change. Your next opportunity is this Wednesday at noon. Join us at 350.org's "Canada Is Burning Day Of Action" this June 28th at noon. We deserve better. Details at this link: https://act.350.org/event/canada-burning-doa/25645/ ***** Outdoor lovers oppose clearcut logging plan that would affect hiking trails near Bragg Creek: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bragg-creek-clearcut-2026-1.6877109 Plans to clear-cut popular trail near Bragg Creek prompts tourism and environmental concerns https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/plans-to-clear-cut-popular-trail-near-bragg-creek-prompts-tourism-and-environmental-concerns-1.6424700 ***** Alberta Wilderness Association https://albertawilderness.ca/ Adventures for Wilderness: https://www.adventuresforwilderness.ca/ Twitter @ABWilderness Instagram @albertawildernessassociation Devon Earl twitter: @DevonEarlAWA Don’t Mine McClelland Letter Writing Campaign: https://albertawilderness.ca/dontminemcclelland/send-an-email-dont-mine-mcclelland/ Send a Letter of Concern regarding Alberta’s critically low sage-grouse population: https://albertawilderness.ca/act-now/letter-of-concern-regarding-albertas-critically-low-sage-grouse-population/ ***** Alberta Environmental Network https://www.aenweb.ca/ Alberta Talks https://albertatalks.ca/ Support us on Patreon!

The Climate Lens reacts to the Alberta Provincial Election Debate. Support us on Patreon!

As the Alberta election campaign reaches its midpoint, hot and dry conditions have stoked wildfires in the north. Robert Tremblay unveils the Calgary Climate Hub’s 2023 Provincial Election Platform, and climate advocate Thana Boonlert joins Steve Bentley and Deborah Wong for analysis. Check out the Hub's full 2023 #AlbertaElection Platform here: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/announcing_our_election_climate_platform Sign our petition here: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/ab_election_signup **** Protect Our Winters, Calgary Chapter: https://www.protectourwinters.ca/calgary **** Calgary Climate Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Become a Member of the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate to the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations Volunteer for the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer The Climate Lens Podcast: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/the-climate-lens/ Support the podcast! Become a patreon supporter and join The Focus Group! https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens Support us on Patreon!

As Alberta politicians debate the path to net zero, local innovators are doing big things to decarbonize the grid. Calgary green economy leaders share insights on the growing clean energy sector. Alberta Ecotrust’s new tool for energy efficiency may have cities across Canada looking at Calgary and Edmonton for leadership. Calgary Climate Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca Become a Member of the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership Donate to the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donations Volunteer for the Hub: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer The Climate Lens Podcast: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/the-climate-lens/ Support the podcast! Become a patreon supporter and join The Focus Group! https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens ***** Alberta Ecotrust - "Nonprofits, Using Building-Scale Carbon Capture Technology, Reduce Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions" https://albertaecotrust.com/news/nonprofits-using-building-scale-carbon-capture-technology Support us on Patreon!

Alberta climate stories dominate the news in the lead-up to the provincial election. Controversy continues over the federal government's upcoming 'just transition' bill, the 15 Minute Cities planning tool, and a $20 billion bailout for oil companies to clean up abandoned wells. Climate scientists James Byrne and Hester Jiskoot join the Climate Lens to discuss the latest spin on climate denial in Alberta. Hosted by Steve Bentley and Deborah Wong. Join/Support the Calgary Climate Hub https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca A Climate of Change 5.1 Zoomcast this Tuesday, Feb 28th, 7pm MT. "How To Be A Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better World" author Chris Turner! https://calgaryclimatehub.ca/acoc_5_1_climate_optimism_with_chris_turner A looming El Niño could give us a preview of life at 1.5C of warming https://grist.org/science/el-nino-tipping-points-amazon-great-barrier-reef/ The ‘15-Minute City’: What They Are And How To Build Them https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2022/09/30/the-15-minute-city-what-they-are-and-how-to-build-them/?sh=4795a1556bdd EVENT: 15-Minute Neighbourhoods: Health and Resiliency in City Planning (Lethbridge) https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/15-minute-neighbourhoods-health-and-resiliency-in-city-planning-tickets-532233423497 Evidence For Democracy https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en What is a Just Transition? Why Is It Important? https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-just-transition-and-why-it-important Support us on Patreon!

“Just transition” is in the news, but more has been made of the wording than the substance of the plan. Does language make a difference? And what does a labour market transition to renewable energy look like? Edmonton climate organizers Juan Vargas and Stephen Buhler join Steve Bentley to hash it out. Support us on Patreon!

The most important budget week in Calgary's history has come and gone, and amongst the biggest stories of that week was the record breaking turnout of Calians that took time out of their days to speak truth to power at city council. The wide majority of whom were asking in one way or another for a more climate, adaptive, healthy, and or fair place to live. We didn't get everything we asked for. But the good news is there are indeed wins to report in the policy realm. The big win was the expansion of our city's active transportation network, which really just means we're putting real resources towards Calgarians, getting around this city without needing a car at all and without creating emissions while they do it. This episode will analyze the outcomes of this budget week, and we will come back on many issues discussed during the previous weeks. And still on the topics of follow-ups, we also reached out to our good friend Dr. Joe Vipond, back from Sharm El Sheikh, who will give us his impressions on the end of the conference and what to expect for future international climate talks. Support us on Patreon!

Nations travel this month to Egypt for COP 27, a global climate conference with the stated goal of holding countries to their promises on climate. Meanwhile, Calgary City Council deliberates on the budget that will set our city's course for the next four years. Dr. Joe Vipond joins from Sharm el-Sheikh to put the promises and private jets under The Climate Lens. Support us on Patreon!

This summer, Calgary City Council has taken a few degrees of heat from climate concerned Calgarians for their recent effort to sprawl our city outwards yet again, this time to the tune of somewhere between five and eight new communities on the very far edges of town. To hear some city councillors, developers and industry leaders talk, this is the only way we can accommodate growth for our city. But is it? What would it look like if Calgary were to view city growth and indeed every facet of governance through a climate lens as the moment irrefutably demands of us? Joining us today is Natalie Robertson, long time hub friend and our go to urban resilience planner and researcher with expertise and in-depth knowledge of intersections within municipalities in the face of extreme weather events. Her work includes mitigation and adaptation, with a focus on system wide elements, undermining and supporting sustainability and resilience. Also with us today is Dr. Godo Stoyke, an award-winning environmental researcher and presenter, bestselling author of Climate Change Solutions, and not to mention the chair of the Edmonton Climate Hub, who's currently working right now on net zero builds in Edmonton. Support us on Patreon!

This summer, a full one third of the entire country of Pakistan is under water after experiencing rainfall at 780% of what's normal, 4.6 million people are affected, 300,000 have been rendered homeless, over a thousand are dead, 90% of crops in one of their biggest province have been ravaged and 80% of Pakistan's livestock have been killed. Flooding is one of many ongoing extreme climate enhanced weather disasters impacting entire swaths of countries across the planet right now. It was just under a year ago that was British Columbia's turn to be underwater, crippling for a time. Our prime port in Vancouver leaving our critical western Canadian supply chain infrastructure our lifeline in rubble. When all is said and done, it may well be the most expensive disaster in Canada's history. Of course, it wasn't all that long ago that the previous record was held right here in Calgary when it was our turn to be underwater in 2013. Many things have changed since then in the city, but at the same time many things haven't changed. Calgary has declared a climate emergency. We know for a fact we headed for more and bigger extreme weather events than we've ever experienced in our lifetimes, which most certainly includes more flooding. We know that we live on a flood plain. We know that in addition to being one of nature's most efficient carbon capture systems, wetlands also act like great big sponges that can soak up floodwaters as well as releasing them in times of drought making wetlands among the best climate fighters we've got. According to the City of Calgary website, around 90% of the pre settlement wetlands in Calgary have been lost development. In spite of all this. City Council voted 10 to 5 to allow developers to sprawl once again, encroaching a river valley and endangering some of the very few wetlands that remain to us. One area under increasing scrutiny in this regard is known as Ricardo Ranch. To help break this all down, we reached out to Alberta Wilderness Association board member Nathaniel Schmidt, former City of Calgary Parks Urban Conservation Lead Chris Manderson and former City Council staffer, campaigner and owner-operator of Calgary’s one-of-a-kind Good News Coffee in Inglewood, Jordan Stein. Support us on Patreon!