Earth Matters

Earth Matters heads to arid central Australia to explore the systemic structures driving hot weather impacts on remote First Nations communities: poor housing and energy affordability. We hear about power imbalances between landlords and renters, and a colonial history of  land injustice disrupting daily life today.Guests:Gloria Baliva and Dr Manoj Bhatta, Menzies School of Health ResearchKellie Caught, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)Rebecca Jones, environmental historianProduced by Claudia CraigImage credit: Manoj BhattaListen back to Episode 1: Hot Histories here.Listen back to Episode 2: Mental health impacts of heat here.Epsiode 4 coming soon!

Cultural Landscapes, Connecting Nature and Culture  This week's show unpacks the deep entanglement of nature and culture.  Lana Nguyen from A Climate for Art speaks with Emeritus Professor Lesley Head where she challenges the Western divide that separates urban life from the natural world. She critiques the notion of a "pristine" wilderness as a colonial fantasy, advocating instead for a recognition of landscapes as culturally shaped and historically layered.  Reflecting on Indigenous sovereignty and intergenerational responsibility, Lesley reframes hope not as passive optimism but as an active, grounded practice of strengthening social fabric and caring for the present to nurture future possibilities. Lana Nguyen: is a part of A Climate for Art, and is an independent curator, organiser and producer on projects that stem from the politics and cultures of place. Dr Lesley Head: is a geographer whose research examines human-environment relations, both conceptual and material. Her current focus is on the cultural dimensions of climate change and sustainability issues. Thanks to A Climate for Art and the Science Gallery for their Radio Climate installation, that was a part of the EMERGENCE[Y] exhibition  Earth Matters #1581 was produced by Hannah York on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

Conversation with a Climate Scientist; A Supercharged World This week's show is all about climate science, how things like drought, floods and fires impact rural Victoria.  Lana Nguyen from A Climate for Art chat to Dr. Linden Ashcroft, who explores the convergence of climate science, cultural memory, and Australian regional identity. She examines how extreme weather reshapes community narratives and stresses that effective climate communication must transcend data to resonate with lived experiences. Emphasizing storytelling and media literacy as vital tools for resilience, Linden advocates for diverse, multi-scale responses to the crisis, highlighting narrative's power to bridge divides and inspire collective action. Dr Linden Ashcroft: is a senior lecturer in climate science and science communication at The University of Melbourne who grew up in rural Victoria on Yorta Yorta Country.  Lana Nguyen: is a part of A Climate for Art, and is an independent curator, organiser and producer on projects that stem from the politics and cultures of place.  Thanks to A Climate for Art and the Science Gallery for the upcoming Radio Climate installation, that is a part of the EMERGENCE[Y] exhibition at the Science Gallery on Friday the 30th of October  Earth Matters #1580 was produced by Hannah York on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

Janet Salisbury in conversation with Tzeporah Berman and Dr Amanda Cahill continues evaluating the  "Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels" conference held in Santa Marta, Colombia. This conference represents a significant multilateral process outside the conventional UN climate negotiations, aiming to develop an international roadmap for a just transition from fossil fuels, with a focus on phasing out fossil fuel production."It's not a lack of money, it's not a lack of technical know-how, this is about power and how we tackle it." – Amanda CahillEarth Matters #1578  was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Women’s Climate Congress

October is History Month around Australia! Earth Matters listens back to the first episode of the Exploring Extreme Heat series – Hot Histories. We delve into the near past to discover how Australians of European background lived through heatwaves in the 19th and 20th centuries, and what their experiences mean for Australians today. We hear from settler Australian environmental historians Rochelle Schoff and Mandy Paul who spoke at a History Council of Victoria Making Public Histories event last year. The event was convened by Margaret Anderson, manager of the Old Treasury Building in Naarm/Melbourne. Rochelle Schoff is a La Trobe University PhD Candidate and member of the Parched research project team. Mandy Paul  is a public historian researching the history of heatwaves in Tarntanya/Adelaide and Head of Collections at the History Trust of South Australia. Thanks to the History Council of Victoria for providing access to the recording of Making Public Histories—Thinking about the weather: Heatwaves and history in twentieth century Australia event held on 27 November 2025. You can watch the full event here. Note: Statements made by Anangu community members shared by Rochelle Schoff were sourced from the following research paper, Bardsley, D. K., & Wiseman, N. D. (2016). Socio-ecological lessons for the Anthropocene: Learning from the remote Indigenous communities of Central Australia. Anthropocene, 14, 58–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2016.04.001 Earth Matters Exploring Extreme Heat series explores what intense heat events mean for Australians across the continent. We hear from settler Australians, migrant communities and First Nations people living in different parts of so-called Australia to understand how heat affects us, and whether current adaptation practices are sufficient to equip us for a hotter future. Part One – Hot HistoriesPart Two – The Mental Health Impacts of HeatPart Three (coming soon) – Hot houses in remote arid central AustraliaPart Four (coming soon) – Hot Futures: adaptation and education This week’s show is episode #1578 produced by Claudia Craig.

Unpack the  "Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels" conference held in Santa Marta, Colombia. This conference represents a significant multilateral process outside the conventional UN climate negotiations, aiming to develop an international roadmap for a just transition from fossil fuels, with a focus on phasing out fossil fuel production."What I consider to be a major gap in international climate policy is that for 30 years we've talked about reducing emissions and not production." – Zipporah Berman"It's not a lack of money, it's not a lack of technical know-how, this is about power and how we tackle it." – Amanda CahillEarth Matters #1578  was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Women’s Climate Congress

Join this Women's Climate Congress yarn exploring the many ways First Nations women are leading change through culture, community, governance and Country.Explore the profound, spiritual connection between Indigenous identity, language, and ancestral lands.Emphasizing the urgent climate threats facing frontline communities, particularly the Torres Strait Islands, advocating for community-led solutions, truth-telling, and collective healing."To tell someone who is inherently spiritually, culturally and through identity and through everything in the world is connected to something that you've got to detach from traumatic. Ours is a slow, traumatic burn." – Barbara EbuaiPassionate, deeply personal, and urgent, underscoring the universal human responsibility to protect our shared planet through Indigenous wisdom and collaborative action.Co-hosted and facilitated by Janet Salisbury, Founder of Women's Climate Congress, and Celeste Ackerly, Trawlwoolway woman, conservation and First Nations governance and engagement practitioner, this webinar brings together remarkable First Nations women whose leadership reflects the strength, resilience, and responsibility carried by women across generations. Conversationalists: Polly Cutmore – Gamilaroi/Wiri/Anaiwan Elder, Traditional Owner and nationally respected advocate for Aboriginal water rights and cultural governance. Sandra Woosup – Angkamuthi Traditional Owner, Chairperson, language keeper and community leader dedicated to strengthening culture, language and women-led leadership on Country. Barbara Ibuai –   a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) climate advocate, Saibai Koedal woman, and founder of Climate Collective Zenadth Kes (CCZK) – a civil society response to climate adaptation in her region.Earth Matters #1576  was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Women’s Climate Congress

What does leadership look like when it begins with responsibility rather than authority?How do First Nations women continue to care for Country, strengthen language, advocate for water, preserve culture in the face of increasing climate change impacts, and create spaces where communities can heal, lead and thrive? Join Women's Climate Congress for an evening of yarning that explores the many ways First Nations women are leading change through culture, community, governance and Country. Co-hosted and facilitated by Janet Salisbury, Founder of Women's Climate Congress, and Celeste Ackerly, Trawlwoolway woman, conservation and First Nations governance and engagement practitioner, this webinar brings together remarkable First Nations women whose leadership reflects the strength, resilience and responsibility carried by women across generations.Speakers: Polly Cutmore – Gamilaroi/Wiri/Anaiwan Elder, Traditional Owner and nationally respected advocate for Aboriginal water rights and cultural governance. Sandra Woosup – Angkamuthi Traditional Owner, Chairperson, language keeper and community leader dedicated to strengthening culture, language and women-led leadership on Country. Barbara Ibuai –   a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) climate advocate, Saibai Koedal woman, and founder of Climate Collective Zenadth Kes (CCZK) – a civil society response to climate adaptation in her region.Through this yarn, we'll explore:Caring for Country through water, language and cultural responsibility.The unique role of First Nations women in leadership and decision-making.Women-led approaches to caring for community and future generations.Cultural authority, self-determination and governance.Building genuine partnerships that honour First Nations knowledge and leadership.Earth Matters #1575 was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Woman’s Climate Congress

Many of us talk about nature as something that exists away from people, outside cities. For the vast quantity of us who call urban environments home, this makes it hard to appreciate, connect with, and work to protect the complex and remarkable web of life that surrounds us. What other stories can we tell, that embrace the multispecies liveliness of the urban community? How might you fight for its health and biodiversity? On this show, Mia interviews Dr Kylie Soanes, a research fellow based at the University of Melbourne who’s finding innovative ways to encourage urban biodiversity. Then, we hear a group of children from Camp Kinderland—a summer camp in western Massachusetts—reflect on their relationships to nature in New York City.  Banner image by Ana from Camp Kinderland. -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Kylie Soanes is a conservation biologist with her sights set on saving species in cities and towns. Kylie is based at the University of Melbourne where she completed her PhD in 2015, building rope bridges to help endangered possums cross busy highways. A skilled science communicator, Kylie shares her passion for nature conservation with broader audiences through the media such as The Conversation, The Guardian and ABC Radio National, public talks and her research blog. Ana, Juniper, Eliza, Huxley, Sima and Kayden are attendees of Camp Kinderland, a summer camp in western Massachusetts with a Communist history and a unique political education program. Information on the Chipko movement, which Eliza mentions during her story: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chipko-movement  John Oldham Park, which Kylie mentions as a favourite urban nature spot: https://visitperth.com/see-and-do/parks-gardens-and-reserves/venues/john-oldham-park More on the Birarrung trial floating wetlands: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/birrarung-trial-floating-wetlands  Earth Matters #1573 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

Off the back of part one—an interview with independent climate expert Ketan Joshi last month—Mia brings in other perspectives on the data centre boom.  You’ll hear from Professor Priya Rajagopalan of RMIT Univeristy; Dr. Thomas Nann, CEO of Allegro Energy and a globally recognised expert on long-duration energy storage.; and Britney Henderson, Greens candidate for the western metropolitan region in Victoria’s upcoming state election and a vocal opponent to the major data centre expansion in Narrm/melbourne’s west. Guests: Professor Priya Rajagopalan is the Director of the Post Carbon Research Centre for Infrastructure and the Built Environment and Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) in the school of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University. She is a building scientist with extensive experience in energy and indoor environmental quality of buildings and urban climatology. Dr Thomas Nann is a globally recognised expert and pioneer on micro-emulsion storage technology. He can speak about long-duration energy storage, climate policy and data centre energy profiles as well as Australia’s clean energy future. Britney Henderson is the Greens’ Lead Candidate for Western Metropolitan in Victoria. She is a Bunurong person living and raised in Narrm (melbourne)’s West, by a big, staunch queer Aboriginal family. Links: Wiki community for the campaign for a data centre moratorium: https://datacentremoratorium.net/index.php/Data_Centre_Moratorium_Wiki:About(link is external) Western Warrang (sydney) resistance: https://swelteringcities.org/2026/04/21/data-centres-ai-urban-heat-and-community-action-comes-together-in-western-sydney/(link is external) Petition: Stop the expansion of data centres in New South Wales: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/halt-the-expansion-of-data-centres-in-nsw Petition: Stop the AI Data Centre Frenzy: https://greens.org.au/vic/campaigns/stop-ai-data-centre-frenzy  Earth Matters #1572 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.