The global climate crisis is a pressing issue for all of us. Rising temperatures and sea levels, natural disasters like fires, floods, and typhoons, and environmental destruction wreak havoc on the entire planet. But it’s a myth that the climate crisis presents an equal threat to everyone. Existing vulnerabilities and marginalization mean that some people experience the effects more acutely than others. And, to really understand this disparity, we need to explore how closely our economies are tied to climate. In this episode, we’ll discuss why the climate crisis is an equity issue, and how we can apply that knowledge to build more resilient, equitable, and sustainable economies that centre the well-being of both people and planet. 

GATE’s Busted podcast is made possible by generous support from BMO.

Featured guests:  

Dr. Maria Floro, Professor Emerita, Economics, American University Washington

Dr. Lewis Williams, Associate Professor, Joint Appointment with Geography and Environment and Indigenous Studies, Western University

Resources:

Floro, M. (2026). Climate change, care provisioning, and inequality: transitioning towards a sustainable economy. Oxford Review of Economic Policy. Vol 41(3-4), 1020-1032. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/graf032

Williams, L. Awasis, S., & Ranmarine, J. (2025). Disrupting climate emergency through Indigiqueer futurities. Journal of Indigenous Social Development. Special Issue in Indigenous Resurgence amongst climate disruption. Vol 13(1), 1-14. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jisd/article/view/81110

Williams, L., Fletcher, A., Hanson, C., Neapole, J., & Pollack, M. (2018).  Women and Climate Change Impacts and Action in Canada Feminist, Indigenous, and Intersectional Perspectives. Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. https://www.criaw-icref.ca/publications/women-and-climate-change-impacts-and-action-in-canada/

Produced by: Carmina Ravanera and Dr. Sonia Kang 

Edited by: Ian Gormely