The Environment in Canada Podcast

Sierra Club Canada
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A podcast about the environment in Canada (and sometimes elsewhere) by Sierra Club Canada. Topics include climate change, biodiversity, pollution, renewable energy democracy, and the Rights of Nature. Tune in and take action!

  1. 2D AGO

    ICYMI: Black History Month and the Environment

    Jessica Murray talks with Juliet Rennick about Black History Month and its multiple meanings. They also discuss environmental racism and the story of Africville in Nova Scotia, how cities consult on environmental matters, the work of environment and social activist Wangari Maathai, how to be a better ally, and what it means for environmental organizations to truly engage in a dialogue on these issues. (Originally published in February 24, 2024) And don't forget to take action! Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    50 min

  2. FEB 10

    An NL to Europe Electric Cable? It Might Not be as Difficult as You Think

    Could a power cable from Newfoundland and Labrador to the United Kingdom and EU connect the grids of North American and Europe? There's already a concept proposal for one: https://nato-l.com/  The idea might not be as outlandish as it sounds, and it would bring significant benefits in terms of wind and solar energy and associated jobs and revenue locally in NL and across Canada. Similar projects have also been proposed elsewhere. Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/ Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs. Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    34 min

  3. JAN 29

    Rojava vs. Syrian Government Attacks & Ethnic Cleansing (Part 2)

    Journalist James Stout joins us to discuss Rojava, the ecological aspects of their revolution in Northeast Syria, and the history of conflict there. Kurds and other cultural minorities in Rojava are also being threatened with the prospect of ethnic cleansing by the new Syrian Transitional Government of Damascus that has attacked on Rojava.  The Canadian Government could apply pressure to the Syrian Government to help facilitate a peaceful resolution if you'd like to call your MP and tell them to act. We will also update this description with ways to assist in humanitarian efforts in the region as they become available. UNICEF is operating in the area. Find James' work and more about James' book Against the State at https://bsky.app/profile/jamesstout.bsky.social Find the It Could Happen Here Podcast at: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-it-could-happen-here-30717896/Listen to Part One of this two part podcast, Rojava: Social Ecology, Democracy, Feminism, & Community, here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/rojava-social-ecology-feminisim/In this episode we additionally delve further into organizing-without-the-state skills from Rojava of use to anyone anywhere. On that note, James also recently returned from reporting on I.C.E.'s invasion of Minneapolis. As James puts it:  "I met an older lady in Minneapolis... she said 'we wish our politicians would do more [to stop I.C.E.], but they're not going to, so that's okay, we'll do it ourselves.' And I wish people would just take that, if they take nothing else from my book, if they take nothing else from what is happening in Minneapolis, it would be that:  You don't have to wait [for politicians to act], you can do it yourself, and maybe you can do it better... And I think that's something I took from Rojava - I took a sense of hopefulness." Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/ Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs. Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    51 min

  4. JAN 28

    Rojava: Social Ecology, Democracy, Feminism, & Community (Part 1)

    Conor talks with Arthur, a journalist working with the Emergency Committee for Rojava about Rojava's "experiment in feminism, pluralism, democracy and environmentalism" that includes a sweeping vision of social ecology. This podcast comes as Kurds and other cultural minorities in the area are being threatened with potential genocide by the new Syrian Government which has attacked the Rojava region. A follow up episode (Part 2) which will be out soon will get into what has happened since this episode was recorded on January 7th 2026. The Canadian Government could also apply pressure to the Syrian Government to help facilitate a peaceful resolution if you'd like to call your MP. The Environment in Canada Podcast often covers community solutions to environmental crises in Canada, giving communities more autonomy via renewable energy and mutual aid systems, and how organizing from the ground up can help Canadians reinforce our sovereignty and protect our environment. Rojava is a really important case study in these sorts of things being attempted at scale. It also becomes apparent during this interview that when it comes to acting on climate change and adopting renewable energy - especially given upcoming demand decreases for oil and gas globally - there really is no excuse for us not to be taking climate and renewable energy action here in Canada and helping others around the world do the same. Find out more about the Emergency Committee for Rojava: https://www.defendrojava.org/ Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/ And don't forget to take action for the environment generally in Canada: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs. Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    53 min

  5. JAN 20

    Digital & Energy Sovereignty with Paris Marx of Tech Won't Save Us

    Conor talks with Paris Marx of the Tech Won't Save Us Podcast about digital and energy sovereignty in Canada in the face of U.S. aggression - including tips for your personal digital sovereignty to get off U.S. tech - and the importance of continuing to push the Canadian Government to do better. Find Paris Marx's full guide to your personal digital sovereignty here: https://disconnect.blog/getting-off-us-tech-a-guide/ Take action on related issues via our petitions / letter writing campaigns: Pledge to support community-led renewable energy and tell Carney to do the same: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/carney-support-renewable-energy/Tell Carney on Bill C-15: Protect our rights and those of First Nations and future generations: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/carney_bill_c-15/Sign up for our eNewsletter here for more like this: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/ Listen to our most recent previous episode with an update on U.S. aggression and the west coast oil pipeline situation here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/threat-oil-canada-greenland/ Listen to the full list of our Sovereignty Saturdays subseries of podcasts on related topics here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/sovereignty-saturdays-canada-podcast/ Why there will be NO market for new Canadian LNG (and oil) projects: https://www.sierraclub.ca/lng-national-interest-canada/ Why climate policies HELP Canada's economy and why oil and gas reliance HARMS it: https://www.sierraclub.ca/emissions-cap-economy/ Learn more about Sierra Club Canada's Wild Child Programs which help get kids outside in nature (and offline): https://www.sierraclub.ca/programs/wild-child/ Become a Sierra Club Canada member here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/ways-to-support/membership/ Learn more about Sierra Club Canada's staff here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/about/our-staff/ And our Board: https://www.sierraclub.ca/about/board-of-directors/Listen to our previous episode with Paris on AI here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/ai-environment-paris-marx/ Send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca And don't forget to take action for the environment generally in Canada: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs. Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    50 min

  6. JAN 17

    Big Oil Turns Against Canada & Greenland, & The Threat to Newfoundland & Labrador

    Find our full newsletter from this week (with sources) here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/threat-oil-canada-greenland/ Find our recent take action letter campaign here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/action-item/carney_bill_c-15/ An excerpt: If Trump invades Greenland we can expect oil and gas interests ‘based in Canada‘ to side with Trump and tell Canada to keep quiet. Oil tycoons in Canada are already apparently happy to help Trump develop oil in Venezuela and thus set the precedent we will help the U.S. violate international law. And will Venezuelans even get democracy out of it? Unlikely, for now Trump is looking to keep the old regime in Venezuela in place under the new leadership of Delcy Rodriguez. It also turns out “Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is part of a U.S. group whose leader, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, has been tasked by the Donald Trump administration with helping to annex Greenland” Desmog writes. Coincidentally, the big oil-supporting Toronto Sun, whose Ottawa bureau chief recently praised the murder of Renee Good by ICE, just published a piece by Stephen LeDrew supporting Trump’s Greenland annexation goal: “Canada may soon be cheering Donald Trump on in his stated goal of acquiring Greenland,” it declares. If we don’t cheer, Trump may take Newfoundland and Labrador instead the Sun’s piece goes on to threaten. As a Newfoundlander myself I can say that threat isn’t going to be received the way the Toronto Sun – a Postmedia publication – thinks. Big oil and gas are not just seeking to erode Canadian climate policy, they are seeking to aid Trump in Canada’s annexation and to get us to give in and give up allies like Greenland. Because Canada resisting U.S. aggression with our international allies is big oil’s worst nightmare.... Trump’s new 2025 ‘National Security’ Strategy reveals the U.S. plans to use soft power – including private sector influence – to exert influence on other countries like Canada and Greenland. The strategy mentions the oil and gas and tech sectors in particular as tools for expanding U.S. influence and specifically declares climate action in other countries to be a threat to U.S. dominance. This is the U.S. approach to Greenland and is happening in Canada too. What has happened since in Venezuela also mirrors that same approach: The U.S. has replaced Venezuela’s leader (Nicolás Maduro) with a new leader from the same regime (democracy not included) because the new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, is friendly with U.S. oil and gas interests. They built a relationship with her and directly recommended her as a replacement. Obviously Canada and Venezuela are not comparable governments, but the U.S. administration does not view Canada as different. To them we are both countries are to be annexed. There is a low risk that our PM will be physically kidnapped and replaced by a more capitulant subordinate (for now). But pressure IS being put on our government by oil and gas interests to get it to stop resisting U.S. influence and to stop climate action which would help us become more independent. Oil and gas interests – tied to the U.S. – are framing themselves as acting in Canada’s national interest when they are actually undermining it. The more naive corners of our government have largely bought into that framing... Read the full newsletter with sources: https://www.sierraclub.ca/threat-oil-canada-greenland/ Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    7 min
  7. Venezuela, Trump Oil Plans, the Threat to Canada & Pointless Oil Pipelines

    JAN 10

    Venezuela, Trump Oil Plans, the Threat to Canada & Pointless Oil Pipelines

    The U.S. Administration will use soft power - through oil and gas corporate lobbying - to try and erode Canada's resolve and sovereignty. What has happened since in Venezuela mirrors that same approach: The U.S. has replaced Venezuela's leader (Nicolás Maduro) with a new leader (democracy not included) because the new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, is friendly with U.S. oil and gas interests. They built a relationship with her and directly recommended her as a replacement. Obviously Canada and Venezuela are not comparable governments, but the U.S. administration does not view Canada as different. To them we are both countries are to be annexed. The U.S. has now said it is open to using its military to conquer Greenland. There is a low risk that our PM will be physically kidnapped and replaced by a more capitulant subordinate (for now). But pressure IS being put on our government by oil and gas interests to get it to stop resisting U.S. influence and to stop climate action which would help us become more independent. Oil and gas interests - tied to the U.S. - are framing themselves as acting in Canada's national interest when they are actually undermining it. The more naive corners of our government have largely bought into that framing. If oil is developed further by Venezuela it would increase future oil oversupply in the global market, making a new west coast oil pipeline even less viable economically. More likely though is that U.S. actions in Venezuela are ultimately about funnelling cash from U.S. taxpayers to oil and gas corporations as well as making the U.S. President and his friends richer in the short term, as The Guardian reports "Donald Trump has suggested US taxpayers could reimburse energy companies for repairing Venezuelan infrastructure for extracting and shipping oil." All of this also helps oil and gas corporations keep up the false narrative that oil and gas demand will continue for decades, a narrative that helps them make as much profit as possible in the short term before demand fades (and collect taxpayer subsidies in the process). It's the appearance, not the reality, of future demand that matters to them which is why oil and gas interests are promoting contradictory stories about oil and gas expansion about Alberta and Venezuela: The stories might contradict PRACTICALLY - because there will NOT be enough demand to legitimize expansion in one place let alone both - but both stories support the FALSE NARRATIVE of demand growth. Find sources for today's episode and the above here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/venezuela-oil-trump-canada/Find past episodes of our Sovereignty Saturdays sub-series here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/no-kings-inequality-deregulation/https://www.sierraclub.ca/middle-ground-appeal-radical/  https://www.sierraclub.ca/west-coast-pipeline-sovereignty/ https://www.sierraclub.ca/canada-climate-movement-win/https://www.sierraclub.ca/the-real-deep-state/https://www.sierraclub.ca/oligarch_social_media_platforms/https://www.sierraclub.ca/united-states-oligarchy-oil/https://www.sierraclub.ca/sovereignty-democracy-canada-annexation/Call your MP and take action by calling for renewable solutions: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/enSupport the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    11 min

  8. JAN 8

    No Safe Level: Lead, Industry Influence, and What We Can Do

    Melody Li speaks with Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a physician and public health scientist whose research has reshaped how we understand the health effects of low-level chemicals such as lead, air pollution, fluoride, and pesticides. For more than three decades, his work has shown that small exposures can have large, lasting effects on children’s development and population health, and has helped drive prevention-focused policy around the world.  In this episode, they take a deep dive into the hidden ways toxic chemicals shape our health, our communities, and our policies: why there is no safe level of lead, how industry has influenced environmental science and regulation, and what decades of on-the-ground work with impacted communities reveal about environmental injustice and the global export of harm. They also explore how personal experience intersects with scientific research, why prevention must take priority over treatment, and what practical actions—both individual and systemic—can reduce toxic exposures and better protect future generations. Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/ And don't forget to take action: https://www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs. Support the show Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

    46 min
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About

A podcast about the environment in Canada (and sometimes elsewhere) by Sierra Club Canada. Topics include climate change, biodiversity, pollution, renewable energy democracy, and the Rights of Nature. Tune in and take action!

Information

  • Creator
    Sierra Club Canada
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Environment in Canada Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Environment in Canada Podcast

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