A ‘breath of hope’ in the climate fight

Tired of stories about bleak, hopeless futures? You’re not alone. Writers are ditching dystopian narratives for a fresh take on climate fiction. Enter ‘thrutopia,’ a new genre that aims to chart a middle path through the worst impacts of climate change. And maybe even envision a future where humanity both survives and thrives. Climate writer Sanjana Sekhar and media watcher Lucy Stone talk about getting more ‘thrutopia’ onto screens and bookshelves.

Nations gathered in Colombia to chart a path to a cleaner future. Many say this ‘coalition of the willing’ could speed the transition away from fossil fuels. But there are those who say that Canada’s lack of ambition will mean we’re left behind in the switch to renewables. And others who say global Indigenous voices still don’t have enough sway in the climate fight.

She became famous for her work that said trees communicate through a forest web. But Suzanne Simard’s research also faced backlash. Not only is she defending her work as a scientist, she’s back with a new book expanding on it. Together with Tsimshian scientist Teresa Ryan, Kwakwaka’wakw artist and hereditary chief Rande Cook, and lawyer Chris Rusnak, she takes to the stage at UBC with our own Laura Lynch to talk about forests, trees and how to combine western and Indigenous science, along with the law, to make the case for change that helps the climate.

After a year in office, climate minister Julie Dabrusin says she’s proud of her record. But critics say more pipelines, less progress on emissions cuts and other moves overshadow efforts to protect nature and boost renewable energy. We challenge the minister’s claims that her government is making Canada “climate competitive.”

Coral reefs support marine life — and livelihoods. But bleaching caused by warming oceans is putting both under threat. Fishing communities in Mauritius and Seychelles are feeling it more than almost anywhere else. But there are ambitious efforts underway in these island nations to restore some of what’s been lost, to protect the health of the ecosystems and the local economies.

Climate change is melting away winter, but a new documentary summons the magic of the most Canadian of frozen delights: the outdoor skating rink. For Earth Day, we speak with the filmmaker behind Icemakers about why he was driven to share stories about the people who spend hours each winter making ice for their families and communities – a job that’s getting harder with warmer winters. And we meet a Winnipeg man who turns his backyard rinks into a climate change conversation starter.

And Beth Gardiner says industry hopes you won’t notice. So what does it take to fight back? That’s the number one question the journalist asks in her new book, Plastic Inc.: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil’s Biggest Bet. She traces the history of how and why the industry has ramped up plastic production, and how we can ditch all but the most essential plastic in our lives.

“What’s there to worry about?” That’s what Alberta rancher Teresa Patry thought when her family agreed to oil wells on their property. But that changed when she, her family and her animals started experiencing a variety of health issues. And she says the province’s energy regulator is not doing enough to address her concerns. We hear about the potential links between health problems and oil and gas production. Then, we hear about a coalition of landowners, environmental groups and others working to push the oil industry to clean up its mess – for the health of communities and the climate. 

From the Best of What On Earth – Don’t have a garden? Adopt a roundabout and plant things for the bees! We meet a TikToker who’s done just that. And then we travel from coast to coast to hear about a push to let sections of city parks grow a little wild. We head to one of these meadows to hear how they attract pollinators, and hear why creating “pollinator pockets” for busy bees and “hairy” moths can be a climate solution across the country – and a patriotic one at that.

Canada faces a climate conundrum when it comes to the military. To maintain northern sovereignty, defence needs to adapt quickly to the warming Arctic. But even before the recent boost in investment, the military was already the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the federal government. So how can Canada defend the North and stick to its climate goals at the same time? Then, we hear about Canada’s new $3.8 billion investment plan to protect nature.