What On Earth

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.

Flying emits a ton of greenhouse gases. So what's a climate-conscious traveler to do?What On Earth's climate justice columnist Chúk Odenigbo tells us about his sustainable beach vacation and shares some tips on how to plan your next getaway with the climate in mind.

Pop quiz! Who were the world's very first treehuggers? Story producer Jennifer Wilson hated history class, but she's giving it another chance. She has been studying up on the people and events that paved the way for today's climate movement and sits down with host Laura Lynch to discuss what lessons these stories hold for people taking climate action today.NOTE: This podcast has been edited to correct an error identifying Governor General Mary Simon as First Nations. She is Inuk.

Seafarers of old saw kelp as a danger, marking it on maps to avoid it. Today those maps are helping to restore kelp as a friend of the climate. Kelp sucks in carbon so the Tseshat First Nation is working hard to bring it back around the Broken Group Islands in BC.

Methane gas is the shortest lived, but most potent greenhouse gas. We hear from those who say reining in methane is needed to protect the climate and the health of Albertans. And we hear how a looming agreement on methane emissions in that province could make a big difference to Canada's climate goals.

A 3,700-year-old buried log still holding the carbon it had pulled from the air sparked a radical idea: bury dead trees before they release their stored CO2. Guest host Johanna Wagstaffe wades into the wonder with the scientist who made the ancient find – in Canada. Then, we hear from a company aiming to bury trees in a sort of carbon bunker, creating carbon credits to pay for reforestation. And we check in with a forest ecologist who explains why it's not one-size-fits-all when it comes to managing forests that have burned.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil trade, rattling global markets. Prices could remain high the longer the U.S. and Israel-led conflict with the Islamic Republic rages on. As countries scramble to shore up energy supplies, we're looking at whether it's time to ramp up the transition to renewables — for the sake of national security and the climate.

A coffee farmer shares the raw reality: climate change is shifting the world's "bean belt". CBC's Anand Ram and Inayat Singh introduce us to 5th generation farmer Chalo Fernandez who's using social media to let people know how increasing heat is affecting his beans. We'll break down what the science says and why these farmers are the most resilient innovators in the game.

Is it too late to stop climate change? Not according to data scientist Hannah Ritchie. We dive into her new book, “Clearing the Air,” where Ritchie answers all the tough questions – the ones she gets all the time and the ones you've probably asked yourself.

From the Best of What On Earth - Canada's oil and gas companies are hoping carbon capture and storage will be a big part of the country's net zero plans. But shipping CO2 through pipelines to storage facilities can come with risks. We go to rural Mississippi to hear about a rare carbon dioxide pipeline breach that was nearly deadly – and find out what Canada can learn from the incident

Country star Corb Lund should be rehearsing for back-to-back tours. Instead, he's wading deeper into the debate over coal exploration and development in the Rockies. It's been more than five years since the singer-songwriter first set aside his decades-long commitment to an apolitical public image in order to campaign against coal mining in Alberta's eastern slopes. He has lost fans and received pushback he calls “vile” and “abusive.” But as producer Molly Segal finds out, it's a fight the musician has no plans of giving up.

Nature gives us joy, wonder, and beauty. It also brings big bucks. Trillions of dollars, according to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. It says in a new analysis that tens of thousands of jobs are among the benefits when Canada's wilderness is protected. Plus, we do the climate a solid. But there are worries that Ottawa may not keep up the stable funding needed to protect enough of Canada's lands and water for future generations.

Clues to Earth's climate future lie buried in the ancient ice sheet covering Greenland. Climate scientists have been working for decades to uncover answers that can help us understand what's coming. But as the U.S. government continues to push for more control over the island, some are worried that a Greenland controlled by Donald Trump would put their access to the ice in jeopardy. Security expert Whitney Lackenbauer tells us why fears about a warming Arctic due to climate change are stoking the current geopolitical tensions, and glaciologist Martin Siegert explains why a politically stable Greenland matters for the whole planet.

Canada recently switched its approach to electric vehicles. But what impact do EVs really have on the world around us? Cleaner air? Less noise? CBC's Anand Ram walks us through the evidence and explains how satellite data is being used to measure air pollution in Los Angeles neighbourhoods.

Immigration raids and protests have dominated U.S. news lately. And one L.A.-based environmentalist says migration, climate and the federal crackdown are all linked.Many of those targeted come from countries that suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, connecting the movement for migrant justice to movements for climate justice.

Penguins are tougher than you think — and they're adapting to climate change in ways you may not expect. Researchers are keeping a close eye on Antarctic colonies to see what we humans can learn from the tuxedoed birds, as we learn to cope with the effects of a warming planet.

Nearly 100 per cent of Norway's new car sales last year were electric. That was achieved without a ban on gas-powered vehicles. As Canada scraps its EV mandate, it may want to bolster incentives and policy to be more like Norway. Plus, Chinese brand EVs are coming to Canada and potentially shifting the market into a different gear.

We hear you. Plastic is “upsetting, confusing, enraging.” But Judith Enck says there's hope. The Beyond Plastics founder says people and policy makers are finally clueing in to the toxins in these products. We hear about efforts to hammer out an international treaty to curb plastics production and pollution. And, there's been a key Canadian court ruling on banning single-use plastics.

Mark Carney's plan to shrink the civil service means slashing more than 800 jobs at Environment and Climate Change Canada. A retired scientist says this includes her colleagues who study the impact of microplastics, toxic chemicals and oil on wildlife. And a union president says the cuts could gut human expertise in weather forecasting, too, leaving Canadians more vulnerable to climate extremes.

Since January 2025, it's cost about nine bucks USD to drive in downtown New York City during peak times. A year later, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is heralding the policy as a success, with fewer cars downtown, a drop in pollution and even less honking. Alexa Sledge with Transportation Alternatives tells us about the policy's progress to date. Then – we check in with Mychal Johnson of South Bronx Unite about worries that his community may be facing unintended consequences as a result of the pricing.

Skier Marion Thénault wants Winter Olympic gold. She also wants a cooler planet. That means training hard but doing it in a way that cuts her own emissions. And calling on sports federations to do their part. We discover what else needs to change to ensure the winter games survive in a warming world – including keeping the competition to a select few cities – including Calgary.

As Hurricane Irma approached, doula Esther Louis helped a nine-months-pregnant client flee Florida to find safety in Georgia. At the time, she thought she was just being a “compassionate human being.” But that experience back in 2017 helped her recognize how people in her profession can help expectant families stay safe as the impacts of climate change accelerate. Esther tells us about a new program that's training other doulas to do just that. Then, we hear how the warming planet is posing a growing danger for newborns worldwide.

Resignations. Calls for a hiatus. The expert group tasked with helping Ottawa cut emissions faces an existential crisis. We hear from Catherine Abreu, who quit the Net Zero Advisory Body, because it wasn't consulted about the federal government's pipeline deal with Alberta. Meanwhile Michael Bernstein, one of the few remaining advisors, says the group can balance climate policy with political reality, but it needs a reset first.

Warming temperatures mean more rats. Is rodent birth control part of the solution? Join us on the streets of Manhattan, Chicago and Vancouver as producer Molly Segal meets the people trying to stop rats from overtaking our world.

If you're a frequent flier, you may have noticed flights have been getting bumpier lately. A potential culprit? Climate change. CBC producer Julia Pagel finds out how warming temperatures are making air turbulence worse, and what can be done about it. But first, she takes us back to 2019, when dozens of passengers were injured after an Air Canada flight bound for Australia hit severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing.

Even as the world warms, oil attracts conflict. Just look to Venezuela and Donald Trump's moves to control the country's vast reserves. We delve into the history of "petro-imperialism” and ask whether a planet powered by renewables would be any more peaceful.

From the Best of What On Earth – in remote northern communities, diesel is king. But breakthrough solar energy projects are underway that could begin to reduce fossil fuel reliance. We're taking you to Nunavut where people are adding solar panels to small off-grid cabins and others are working on community-scale solar projects — so the diesel generators can finally be turned off and communities can hear silence once again, like their ancestors did.

From the Best of What On Earth – Come with us to California where entrepreneurs are sending balloons full of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It's a form of solar geoengineering known as stratospheric aerosol injection, and the company Make Sunsets isn't waiting for scientific consensus before they launch. We hear about their business model, and then from the researchers who question both the science and ethics of the practice.

From the Best of What On Earth – Better transit service could help lower Canada's emissions. But can more people get on board with buses, trains and subways? We hear how policy changes and behaviour “nudges” can make it happen.

Power is pricey in the Yukon, and solar panels help some homeowners keep costs down. But two years ago, the government paused a program that allowed people to install solar on their roofs, use the electricity they generate and sell some of it back to the electrical grid. We find out what the roadblocks to renewables are in places like Whitehorse, and what the Yukon's struggle tells us about the challenges of transitioning to clean energy across the country.

In a year-end interview with the CBC's Rosemary Barton, the prime minister talks about why his plan for more pipelines will help the climate. He also gives his version of what happened behind the scenes when former minister Steven Guilbeaut quit cabinet over the new energy agreement with Alberta.

Why did Volkswagen employees keep mum about the Dieselgate emissions scandal? That's one of six crimes author Julia Shaw dives into in her latest book, Green Crime: Inside the minds of the people destroying the planet, and how to stop them. She asks, can environmental laws hold criminals accountable or do we need to get tougher?

They popularized, "OK, boomer" but when it comes to climate action, some Gen Z activists find they actually have much in common with their baby boomer counterparts. What On Earth columnist Aishwarya Puttur recently joined the Sue Big Oil campaign. While on the journey to get local governments to file lawsuits against big polluters, Aishwarya met fellow activist and retired journalist Erin Ellis. We get advice from both about overcoming generational stereotypes and uniting for change.

Ferocious fires, monster storms and epic floods. But there were some climate bright spots in 2025 as well. CBC meteorologists Johanna Wagstaffe and Ryan Snoddon break down the impacts of human-caused climate change and how it affected our weather this year. From the rapid intensification of hurricanes and typhoons to rivers and wells running dry in places not accustomed to drought, they explain how climate-charged extreme weather events are reshaping the world along with the way they talk about their forecasts.

Steven Guilbeault made room for compromise when he switched from climate activist to government minister. He was okay with that. Until Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement with Alberta that Guilbeault says went too far. In a frank interview, the now ex-minister defends his choices and voices his concerns about Canada's climate future.

Electric tricycles. Wagons. Bumming rides. Canadians are going to great lengths to live without a car. Yes, even people who have a disability, live in a rural community, or are terrified of biking. Our car-free correspondent Emily Chung shares their stories and solutions.

Can Canada build another oil pipeline AND hit climate targets? PM Mark Carney says yes. But some see the new energy deal between Ottawa and Alberta as a climate pivot by the federal government. While Canada tries to be a climate leader and pump out more oil at the same time, at least two dozen other countries – including Colombia – are now getting serious about weaning off fossil fuels.

The term "carbon capture" is getting tossed around a lot by Canadian politicians these days. What's actually being talked about is carbon capture, utilization and storage or CCUS. The technology is promoted as a way to help Canada reach its climate goals, even as the country keeps exporting oil. So what exactly is it? How does it work? And does it actually help reduce fossil fuel emissions?