Cities 1.5

University of Toronto Press
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Cities 1.5 is a podcast featuring progressive policy conversations with urban leaders taking action to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees. Hosted by David Miller and developed by University of Toronto Press, this podcast serves as a platform to discuss the most pressing policy and underlying economic issues facing cities in their effort to lead on transformational climate action. The podcast is an extension of the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy (https://jccpe.utpjournals.press), which publishes timely, evidence-based research that contributes to the urban climate agenda and supports governmental policy towards an equitable and resilient world. Join Editor-in-Chief and host David Miller as he speaks with mayors, city policymakers, economists, youth leaders, and scholars, among others, who are implementing and fighting for ambitious, near-term climate action.

  1. Season 8, Episode 1 Trailer

    TRAILER: Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis

    Climate change can feel frightening and uncertain - so much so, in fact, that sometimes hope can feel like an act of denial. But hope isn’t denial: it’s a recognition that we still have choices. In our new Cities 1.5 limited miniseries, Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis, we’re speaking to Canadians from coast, to coast, to coast, who are turning those choices into action. Featuring voices from politics, academia, activism, and municipal leadership - including Leader of Canada’s NDP Avi Lewis, Otipemisiwak Métis Government's Provincial Secretary of Women, Gender Equity & Inclusion Gabrielle Blatz, former Minister of the Environment Steven Guilbeault, Executive Director of Re.Climate Amber Bennett, Executive Director of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) Ian Mauro, Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology at University of British Columbia Okanagan in the Center for Wildfire Coexistence Dr. Jen Baron, writer and public policy researcher Seth Klein, and mayors from Yellowknife, Waterloo, Clearwater, Jasper, and more - we’ll be exploring the science, politics, and communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis across Canada. Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis is supported by Elbows Up for Climate, The C40 Centre, and the University of Toronto Press. This 6-part deep dive into the climate crisis through the lens of Canadians fighting to write a different story debuts on October 6, 2026, so make sure you tune in - you won’t want to miss it. If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    TRAILER: Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis

  2. 22 Sept ·  Bonus

    Be Hope: Cities 1.5 presents a special preview of Oh, Canada - Solutions for the Climate Crisis

    What if there are reasons to hope for a more resilient climate future in your own backyard - right here in Canada? Well, that’s exactly the question we’re asking in our new miniseries, Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis.  At Cities 1.5, we’re proud to join forces with voices around the world for the 2026 #BeHope Podcast Takeover. We’re coming together to prove that even in challenging times, hope remains a real force for progress - and we can all be part of it. This special preview features guests from our upcoming series speaking on what keeps them going in the mission to end climate breakdown. Oh, Canada: Solutions for the Climate Crisis is supported by Elbows Up for Climate, The C40 Centre, and the University of Toronto Press. This 6-part deep dive into the climate crisis through the lens of Canadians fighting to write a different story debuts on October 6, 2026, so make sure you tune in - you won’t want to miss it. Featured guests: Avi Lewis, Leader of Canada’s NDP Amber Bennet, Executive Director of Re.Climate Steven Guilbeault, former Minister of the Environment Ian Mauro, Executive Director of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) Dr Jen Baron,  Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology at University of British Columbia Okanagan in the Center for Wildfire Coexistence Gabrielle Blatz, Otipemisiwak Métis Government's Provincial Secretary of Women, Gender Equity & Inclusion Richard Ireland, Mayor of Jasper, AB Ben Hendrickson, Mayor of Yellowknife, NWT Dorothy McCabe, Mayor of Waterloo, ON Merlin Blackwell, Mayor of Clearwater, BC Seth Klein,  Author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency and “Seth Klein / Emergency Measures” on Substack Links: How Pakistan’s people-led solar boom is easing impact of Middle East energy crisis - The Guardian Key energy data for Pakistan - Ember Electrons In, Hydrocarbons Out: Pakistan’s Quest for Economic and Resource Efficiency - Renewables First Australia’s renewables transition is well under way – but meeting its 2030 target will be ‘extremely challenging’ - The Guardian Clean Energy Australia 2026 report - Clean Energy Council China's renewable energy boom has its own challenges. Here's what we can learn - World Economic Forum Yes, China has embraced renewables – but don’t call it a transition, expert says - The Harvard Gazette The European Green Deal - official EU website European Climate Law - official EU website 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy - Government of Canada website Canada's 2030 climate target far out of reach, according to federal data - CBC News ‘No way’ Canada can meet its 2030 climate target, researchers say - The Toronto Star Vingroup proposes scrapping LNG-powered plant plan for renewables amid Iran war, document shows - Reuters Quezon community, RE backers claim ‘victory’ against LNG - Business Mirror ‘Science under attack’: Top climate scientist Kate Marvel explains why she resigned from NASA - Scientific American Kate Marvel website If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    Be Hope: Cities 1.5 presents a special preview of Oh, Canada - Solutions for the Climate Crisis

  3. 20 Aug ·  Bonus

    HOT TAKE: "A Captain never leaves his ship."

    When the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, local leaders found themselves thrust onto the frontlines of both military defense and environmental catastrophe.  Coupled with untold amounts of human suffering, the war has inflicted deep environmental scars - from the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam to the corrosion of municipal water pipes - which many Ukrainian officials refer to as "ecocide." Yet, amidst daily bombardment, energy blackouts, and severed water supplies, city leaders and residents are demonstrating what true urban resilience looks like on the ground. In this special bonus episode, we hear from a mayor who refused to abandon his city when it was encircled in the early days of the war; a man who led the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv through eight months of near-daily missile attacks. Despite ongoing attacks,the city is using decentralisation, solar-powered infrastructure, microgrids, and real-time data analysis to keep critical municipal services running during wartime. These strategies keeping cities resilient against military aggression also offer vital lessons for surviving climate impacts globally, as well as forming the bedrock of plans to rebuild in a way that benefits people and planet, when the violence finally stops.  Featured guest: Oleksandyr Senkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv If listeners would like to further support Ukraine, the Cities 1.5 team encourages you to follow this link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/57852?v2=true Media:  https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-08/ukrainians-will-fight-until-last-person-is-left-and-ammunition-runs-out Links: For the Russians to cut off Ukraine's access to the sea, they must go through Mykolaiv. 'People are ready to fight until the last ammo,' said its mayor - Business Insider Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine, 1 December 2024 – 31 May 2025 - Ukraine OHCHR A Preliminary Environmental Risk Assessment of the Kakhovka Dam Flooding - Pax for Peace Ukraine: Rebuilding Mykolaiv's water supply - Danish Refugee Council First Person: Ukrainian ‘city of heroes’ plans post-invasion future - UN News BBS investigation: the Russians blew up the water pipeline to Mykolaiv on purpose. They are not allowing repair crews - Babel Ukraine Water for Mykolaiv - Nova Ukraine Decentralized Energy: A Pathway Toward Local Security and Ukraine’s Green Recovery - Heinrich Böll Stiftung A Calibrated Crime. Mykolaiv government building missile strike - Truth Hounds If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    HOT TAKE: "A Captain never leaves his ship."

  4. 6 Aug ·  Bonus

    HOT TAKE: Urban Legends - Sorting City Climate Facts from Fiction

    As the climate crisis accelerates, our information ecosystem has become a critical battleground. Coordinated climate disinformation - driven by fossil fuel interests - is increasingly targeting cities and urban leaders to stall transformative policy and manufacture public doubt. In this special Hot Takes episode recorded on the ground at London Climate Action Week, host David Miller examines how cities are actively defending information integrity and reclaiming the narrative. We look at why proactive storytelling and pre-bunking are far more powerful than traditional fact-checking, how mayors serve as vital trusted messengers in noisy digital spaces, and the stark reality of how disinformation threatens life and resilience on the frontlines of Ukraine. We will also be exploring how the C40 Centre itself incubated the recently launched City Climate Facts that aims to support cities in fighting disinformation, and cleaning up our urban information ecosystem. Featured guests: Adam Brzezinski, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science Chiara Morfeo, Senior Manager for Research and Communications at the C40 Centre Oleksandr Senkevich, Mayor of Mykolaiv, Ukraine To follow more of C40 and the C40 Centre’s work combating climate disinformation, please check out the following links:  The C40 Centre’s climate communications insights - Substack Previous episodes of Cities 1.5 covering different aspects of climate disinformation  Overview of C40’s disinformation work. If you would like a copy of the C40 disinformation and extreme weather playbook - available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese - please request one through the form at the bottom of this link.  Links: Big Oil's Real Agenda on Climate Change - InfluenceMap website Combatting Climate Disinformation: Comparing the Effectiveness of Correction Placement and Type - Environmental Communication Inoculation Theory as a Design Approach to Game-Based Misinformation Interventions - Taylor & Francis Disinformation in the City: Response Playbook - University of Melbourne & German Marshall Fund Disinformation in the Service of War - Center for European Policy Analysis Starving the Hydra: How Digital Platforms Profit from Misinformation - Center for Countering Digital Hate If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    HOT TAKE: Urban Legends - Sorting City Climate Facts from Fiction

  5. 23 Jul ·  Bonus

    HOT TAKE: Can Cities Clean Up the Cloud?

    As the AI boom drives an unprecedented rush for computing power, cities face a critical question: how do we support digital expansion, without derailing net-zero climate goals? Left unregulated, data centers can consume staggering amounts of energy and water, threaten to destabilise power grids, strain local resources, and alienate communities. But it doesn’t have to be like this: city leaders are stepping up to demand both climate-friendly solutions and accountability for big tech. In this Hot Take, we explore how local leaders are moving to prevent a digital “wild west” through international collaboration. We examine the launch of the Global Urban Data Centers Pact - a landmark commitment from 41 mayors across six continents, representing 90 million people - which aims to enforce clean energy mandates, water stewardship, and tangible community benefits for future data center development. Featured guests: Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy at University College Cork Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, United States of America Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia Links: The Cloud vs the Climate? Lessons from Ireland on the data centre debate - Cities 1.5 podcast Wyoming tightens wastewater rules after Meta datacenter contractor flushed contaminated water - The Guardian Mayors from around the world unite in call for sustainable urban data centres - C40 website Urban Data Centres - C40 website Data centers and the climate landscape: An actionable resource for US mayors - C40 Knowledge Hub Thirsty for power and water, AI-crunching data centers sprout across the West - Stanford University Stockholm, Sweden : Heat recovery from data centres - EU Covenant of Mayors Inside the C40 World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth, and a fossil-free future at COP30 and beyond - Cities 1.5, featuring Lord Mayor Nick Reece on data centres Seizing the opportunity to do data centres right - Climate Council Australian government announces plan for new AI and data centre regulations - Architecture AU If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    HOT TAKE: Can Cities Clean Up the Cloud?

  6. 19 May

    The Shipping Forecast: Climate Edition

    The winds of change are blowing through the world’s maritime hubs…despite some national governments’ efforts to the contrary. While the shipping industry carries 90% of global trade, it also leaves a heavy carbon trail in its wake. In this episode of Cities 1.5, we explore the high-stakes transformation of our global ports: once seen as industrial hotspots of pollution, these urban harbours are emerging as the front lines of the green transition. We dive into the groundbreaking "Green Shipping Corridors" that are linking sustainable cities, and the bold shift toward zero-emission fuels. From local air quality to global supply chains, discover how cities are turning the tide on emissions and steering the industry toward a 1.5°C future. It’s time to rethink the horizon: clearer skies and smoother sailing ahead. Featured guests:  Eric Garcetti, C40 Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy and former Mayor of Los Angeles Alisa Kreynes, Director of Ports and Shipping at C40 Featured clips: The Shipping Forecast - BBC Radio 4 Global shipping emissions vote on a knife edge at IMO - BBC Business Today Links: Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from global shipping, 2016–2023 - The International Council on Clean Transportation A guide to the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework - Global Maritime Forum Landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions in tatters after US pressure - BBC News Ports and Shipping - C40 Knowledge Hub Green shipping corridors programme - C40 Cities website From Los Angeles to Shanghai, the port cities collaborating to cut shipping emissions - Reuters Green Ports Forum - C40 Cities website Why should we talk about a 'just and equitable' transition for shipping? - UN Trade and Development Rescuing shipping's Net Zero Framework - Climate Analytics Cities take the global stage to showcase climate action at the IMO for the first time - C40 Cities website If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    The Shipping Forecast: Climate Edition

  7. 5 May

    Creating ecosystems of climate truth: How can cities defend information integrity?

    From fossil fuel lobbying to coordinated political disinformation campaigns, vested interests have built a profitable disinformation infrastructure designed to spread confusion, polarize debate, and exhaust the public. The good news is that the world is waking up. For the first time in the history of the COP, a Declaration on Information Integrity was agreed upon, with governments committing to address climate disinformation and promote accurate, evidence-based information globally. But we need to go further upstream - instead of simply fighting falsehoods, we need to build ecosystems where truth can take root and flourish. In this episode, we look to Brazil and speak to an individual who was integral in bringing information integrity both to COP and the international agenda. She makes the case for cities as one of the most powerful forces in reclaiming the narrative, building the infrastructure of truth from the ground up - one community at a time. Featured guest:  Thais Lazzeri, Investigative Journalist and Founder of FALA Links: Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change - UNESCO Integrity Information Observatory - Oii Mentiro Tem Preco (Lies Have a Price) Climate Information Integrity 5 Million Acts for Truth - FALA Tomorrow is today - YouTube (Portuguese) 500 Grams of Life - Thais Lazzeri (Portuguese)  ‘Democracy on the line’: Brazil’s election and the Bolsonaro disinformation ecosystem - Columbia Journalism Review Environmental and Climatic Disinformation in Northern Brazil: Dynamics and Impact in the Context of COP-30 - Heinrich Boll Stiftung Environmental journalism and the struggle against disinformation in Brazil - Frontiers in Communication If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    Creating ecosystems of climate truth: How can cities defend information integrity?

  8. 21 Apr

    The Cloud vs the Climate? Lessons from Ireland on the data centre debate

    As our lives become increasingly digital, the infrastructure powering them is sparking a global debate: we need data centres, but at what cost to the climate and our access to energy? These massive facilities are the backbone of everything from streaming to AI, yet they consume staggering amounts of electricity and water, often straining local grids and and in some cases, threatening to derail decarbonisation efforts. In this episode of Cities 1.5, we explore how Ireland became the "canary in the coalmine" for this issue. With data centres projected to consume nearly 30% of the nation’s electricity by 2030, the Irish experience serves as a critical warning – and a roadmap – for cities worldwide. We examine the tension between economic ambition and climate mandates, questioning how urban leaders can manage the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure without derailing net-zero goals. Join us as we dive into the lessons learned from the frontlines of the data centre boom and what they mean for the future of sustainable cities. Featured guest:  Professor Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy at University College Cork Links: Ireland’s data centre boom is driving up fossil fuel dependence - The Irish Times, by Professor Hannah Daly Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2024 - Central Statistics Office Energy for who? Data centres and the grid - Friends of the Earth Ireland How Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide environmental toll - The Journal Investigates What Ireland’s Data Center Crisis Means for the EU’s AI Sovereignty Plans -  AlgorithmWatch Ireland’s data centre policy reset: The end of the blanket moratorium -  KPMG Ireland Google’s Dublin data centre blocked amid energy usage concerns - Tech Monitor Data Centres Ireland – Energy, Growth and the Grid Debate - Enable Research If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo. Our Associate Producer is Rachel Schneider. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

    The Cloud vs the Climate? Lessons from Ireland on the data centre debate
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Trailers

About

Cities 1.5 is a podcast featuring progressive policy conversations with urban leaders taking action to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees. Hosted by David Miller and developed by University of Toronto Press, this podcast serves as a platform to discuss the most pressing policy and underlying economic issues facing cities in their effort to lead on transformational climate action. The podcast is an extension of the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy (https://jccpe.utpjournals.press), which publishes timely, evidence-based research that contributes to the urban climate agenda and supports governmental policy towards an equitable and resilient world. Join Editor-in-Chief and host David Miller as he speaks with mayors, city policymakers, economists, youth leaders, and scholars, among others, who are implementing and fighting for ambitious, near-term climate action.

Information

  • Creator
    University of Toronto Press
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 University of Toronto Press
  • Show Website
    Cities 1.5

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