What On Earth

Donald Trump claimed on social media that climate scientists were “WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!” about their global warming projections. But climate scientist Zeke Hausfather says the experts were not wrong, and the new projections are not entirely bad news. The world has made some progress in reducing emissions, though he says we still have a long way to go when it comes to stabilizing the climate. Then, tips on how to protect yourself – and your home – from heat, smoke and wildfire while not breaking the budget.

Twelve-year-old Kiké Dueck once had such bad climate anxiety that they didn’t want to eat or go to school. But then they found a solution. Kiké got involved in lobbying Regina city hall for greener transit and even joined a legal case to try to stop Saskatchewan’s support of coal plants. Kiké is not the only child taking the government to task - and to court. In fact, Kiké is part of a group led by What On Earth’s mental health columnist, Abhay Singh Sachal, that teaches young people how to understand their emotions about climate change and channel them into organized activism and community action.

Ten years ago this month the Horse River Wildfire burned through Fort McMurray and into the Canadian consciousness. We hear why experts say it’s the fire that taught us nowhere is safe, even busy urban centres. And, from the best of What On Earth: The Yukon government is betting on a first-in-Canada solution to help protect Whitehorse from wildfire: a permanent fuel break made of trees. But, the process takes a lot of work, starting with harvesting tiny seeds.

Hop on board an electric school bus in Richmond B.C. and meet a driver who says “once you start driving them, you don’t want to go back.” So why aren’t more kids across Canada riding to school on these quieter and cleaner buses? Producer Nick Logan takes a spin through the successes and ongoing challenges with electrifying Canada’s school bus fleets. Then, we hear from an EV advocate about the policy changes needed to speed the transition.

Backcountry skier Hannah Hughes realized she couldn’t fight the wall of snow when it hit her. She survived but the experience has her rethinking her relationship with risk, and she isn’t alone. The 2025-2026 ski season has been a brutal year for avalanche-related deaths in parts of the world. Some scientists say climate change is now one more factor to consider when heading out into the backcountry. What On Earth’s Molly Segal explores how climate is colliding with the increasingly popular sport of backcountry skiing.

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.

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.

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.