🐘 Good News: What if wildlife isn’t just impacted by climate change, but part of the solution? From forest elephants and sea otters to whales, penguins, and beavers, animals help store carbon, cool the planet, and keep ecosystems functioning. Protecting biodiversity isn’t separate from climate action: it’s central to it.

🐧 Not-So-Good News: Climate change is exacerbating the biodiversity crisis: skewing sex ratios in reptiles, shifting breeding seasons for penguins, and unraveling food webs species have relied on for millennia. These aren’t distant risks; they’re happening now.

💪 What We Can Do: Personal choices matter—not because they “fix” climate change on their own, but because they shift norms, start conversations, and inspire collective action. This month, choose sustainable habits that fit your life, share why they matter, and help catalyze systemic change.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

This week’s Talking Climate is a mega-edition, a deep dive into the hot and contentious topic of AI and climate.

💚 Good news: AI and machine learning are already helping scientists process vast amounts of data, improve climate and energy modeling, protect wildlife, detect wildfires, and more. It can even accelerate the low-carbon transition, if used wisely.

😡 Not-so-good news: Today’s AI systems are driving rapid growth in energy and water use, are largely powered by fossil fuels, and are concentrating pollution and health burdens in vulnerable communities ... all while operating with little transparency or oversight.

⚖️ What you can do: The deeper I go, the more I realize the real issue isn’t whether individuals choose to personally use AI nor not. Rather, it’s how these systems are built, powered, and regulated -- because AI isn't going away and tech won’t regulate itself. 

✊🏼 Bottom line? Public pressure and smart policy are essential if AI is going to support, rather than undermine, a livable climate. Which means that, once again, our voices are the most powerful force we have to shape the future we want to live in.

If you’ve been wondering whether AI is a climate villain, a climate tool, or both, this edition’s for you. I've included many links to other resources, references and experts so you can go as deep as you'd like. 

As always, share what you learn - and let me know what you think!

Find Sasha Luccioni's TED Talk here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

The clean energy transition is moving faster than many people realize—but it can also be slowed more easily than most of us expect.

🚘 Good news: More than one-quarter of vehicles sold globally are now electric, and some of the biggest growth is being seen in countries like Vietnam and Turkey.

✋ Not-so-good news: Clean energy progress can be slowed by just one determined opponent and the resulting delays can be costly. A four-year delay in a single wind project opposed by one adamant retiree resulted in emissions equivalent to those of 2 million gas-powered cars in a year 🤯

🏘️ What you can do: Local decisions matter. Town halls, hearings, and public comments shape our future: and they only work if people show up. You don’t need to be an expert; your voice can make a real difference.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

This has been an extraordinarily hard year for science both globally, and especially in the United States.

In this week’s Talking Climate, I unpack why recent cuts to scientific programs and data don’t only affect climate research in the U.S. They weaken the knowledge infrastructure we rely on to protect public health, manage risk, and make good decisions around the world.

I also share good news from Sweden, where smart policy has turned waste into heat and power, reminding us that the most effective solutions often solve multiple problems at once.

And, as always, there's a "what you can do" ... which this week is to start a conversation about how weather and climate science supports our everyday lives. And NCEI director Deke Arndt is ready to help!

Why is this so important? Because when we take science for granted, we're witnessing in real time how much easier it becomes to lose it.

Find Deke on LinkedIn here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

This week, I’m setting aside Talking Climate’s usual format to share joyful stories of people taking action for climate and nature—because sometimes what we need most is a reminder that solutions are already underway.

🇿🇦 In South Africa, SeaH4 is producing sustainable biofuel from algae that can be used in conventional combustion engines to help decarbonise shipping and aviation.

🇮🇳 In India, faculty and students at Azim Premji University are turning climate data into an embodied experience by performing the story of India’s heat waves in dance.

🇦🇱 In Albania, after 12 years of tireless advocacy, two activists succeeded in protecting the entire Vjosa River, creating Europe’s first Wild River National Park.

🇦🇺 In Australia a humourous new series, The New Joneses, follows the hosts as they travel around the country by EV, exploring climate solutions.

🇨🇦 In Canada nineteen-year-old Fatih Amin, shaped by the climate impacts he witnessed growing up in Bangladesh, is catalyzing youth-led climate action.

🇵🇪 In Lima, Peru - one of the world’s driest cities - an engineer is using fog-catching nets to pull clean water from the air for communities that need it most.

We can’t fix climate change alone; but you know what? We don't have to! Millions of people are already working on it. And when we add our voice and our hands, action accelerates.

Don't forget to share what you learn here with your friends and family this week. Two great conversation starters are, "Did you know...?" or "You wouldn't believe what I read...?" Give it a try!

Find the dance video from Azim Premji University here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

This week’s Talking Climate newsletter is guest edited by my friend Bill McKibben — one of the most influential climate activists of our time and a lifelong voice for hope, honesty, and collective action.

In this issue, Bill shares:

🌞 Good news: Australia is rolling out free midday electricity thanks to a solar boom—an extraordinary glimpse of what a clean energy future can look like.

⚠️ Not-so-good news: Why the U.S. risks turning its back on that future, just as the rest of the world races ahead.

🤝 What you can do: How local and state action can help “simplify solar” and make affordable clean energy accessible to more people.

As Bill often reminds us: “The most important thing an individual can do right now is not be such an individual.” If you’re looking for clear-eyed honesty, big-picture hope, and practical ways forward, this one’s for you. 

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Climate action is happening all around us — in communities, classrooms, churches, and unexpected corners of the world. Here are a few stories of hope, concern, and practical choices we can make together.

🌱 Good News: Innovations in clean energy are accelerating every day, from a solar-powered heated blanket invented by a 12-year-old Scottish student to keep unhoused people warm, to more churches going carbon-free every week.

⚠️ Not-So-Good News: Experts in climate science, health, and risk recently issued the UK’s first-ever National Emergency Briefing on the climate and nature crisis, highlighting escalating risks to food, health, national security, and biodiversity and more.

✈️ What You Can Do: If you’re traveling this season, consider thoughtful choices like staying local, choosing lower-carbon options, or flying direct when necessary. For now, offsetting travel emissions can help support community-centered climate projects ... while we're waiting (and advocating for) for a comprehensive, long-term fix!

Find the climate-friendly gift-guide here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Holidays are often a time for decoration and giving — which means a massive surge in waste and emissions. But they also give us opportunities to choose differently.

In this week’s Talking Climate I explore B Corps doing good and the surprising toll of seasonal waste. I've also collected a host of ideas on how our choices can reduce waste, support communities, and restore nature-- from thrifted treasures to shared experiences, and giving that supports families and ecosystems around the world.

There’s no one “right” way to give; but there are so many ways to give well, and feel good doing it.

Find the list of certified B corps here.

Learn how to spot greenwashing here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

For me, 2025 has felt like a particularly heavy year ... and you might feel the same. So as we head into the holiday season, I wanted to share a few recommendations — books, podcasts, and newsletters — that encourage me, make me think, introduce me to new ideas and solutions, and remind me how hope begins with action.

The “what to do” this week is simple: share one of these resources! If you read one of the books, pass it along, give it to someone for Christmas, or recommend it to a book club. If you enjoy a podcast episode, share it with friends who love podcasts too. And if you find a newsletter you like, post it on social media, share why you appreciate it, and invite others to subscribe.

Have a climate-themed book, newsletter, or podcast you love that isn't listed here? Add it in the comments and share why you'd recommend it!

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Fires, floods, and fossil fuels - COP30 had it all. 

✅ Good news: Many countries brought a meaningful contribution to this "annual global climate potluck." For example, Brazil will tag 20 million cattle to stop deforestation, the $5.5 B Tropical Forest Forever Fund launched, and South Korea joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance.

 ⚠️ Not-so-good: A decade after Paris, we’ve made progress, but not enough. At COP30, a bloc of oil-producing nations led by Saudi Arabia and Russia prevented agreement on phasing out fossil fuels — and without that, we can’t meet Paris goals.

 💬 What you can do: COP30 reminded us that momentum comes from the ground up: from communities, cities, and individuals. And how do we get climate action started? By talking about it!

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca