Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe

Alberta may be known for its oil and gas, but it’s also home to some inspiring climate leadership. From award-winning innovation to climate equity efforts and the very real impacts of a warming world, here’s some of what I saw and learned while I was there on one of my bundled trips last month.

🌱 Good news: Calgary-based Carbon Upcycling recently won the prestigious Global Warming Mitigation Project Keeling Curve Prize for turning industrial waste into low-carbon cement, while the City of Calgary continues to lead with its Climate Implementation Plan and equity-focused programs like Climate Ready YYC.

🔥 Not-so-good news: Canada is warming at twice the global average which means that wildfires are becoming more intense and frequent and glaciers are receding -- even in winter, for the first time on record. And despite leading in renewables in 2023, Alberta’s provincial government is now pulling back on green energy support.

🤝 What you can do: Local groups like the Calgary Climate Hub are driving action and conversation on the ground. Wherever you live, there's likely a local climate action you can join, too. Show up, share their work, and bring someone with you to amplify your voices!

Find the real-time wildfire map here.

Find the list of climate groups 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

As the world faces intensifying climate extremes, voices of compassion are speaking out. This week’s newsletterexplores hope, heartbreak, and how each of us can help connect the dots.
🌿 Good news: Pope Leo XIV is carrying forward Pope Francis' legacy by elevating climate action as a moral imperative. From calling for a "conversion of hearts" at aspecial Mass to approving a new liturgy "for the care of creation," his leadership echoes the calls of Catholic bishops from the Global South for climate justice and systemic change.
🌊 Very bad news: Tragic flooding in Texas has claimed the lives of over 135 people and left many more still missing, two weeks later. As climate change fuels stronger and more frequent extremes, to keep people safe we need more investment in weather and climate services— not less.

💡 What you can do: A global study shows that people don’t automatically link extreme weather to climate change—but when someone they trust explains the connection, their support for solutions grows. That messenger could be you!

Flood relief efforts:

Kerr County Flood Relief Fund

Texas Search and Rescue

Mercy Chefs

Spirit of Giving Fund

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

Cleaning up the minerals we need for clean energy, record-breaking carbon pollution, and how each of us can scale clean energy adoption--this week's newsletter connects the dots between science, policy, and action.

🌱 Nickel, but make it low-carbon! Scientists in Germany have developed a new way to extract nickel, cutting emissions by 84%—a major step forward for the clean energy supply chain.

📈 Another year, another record (and not the good kind). CO₂ levels at Mauna Loa just surpassed 430 ppm for the first time in recorded history—as, just last week, the new US budget defunds the entire national greenhouse gas monitoring network.

☀️ Could your property help power the future? Leasing rooftops, parking lots, or open land for solar energy can be a win-win for climate and your organization's wallet. It's worth finding out if your property qualifies.

We can’t fix climate change alone—but we can, together. Now, more than ever, we need to share what we know with others, so they too can be part of the solution.

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 delighted to welcome guest editor Dr. Kate Marvel. She's a theoretical physicist turned climate scientist whose brilliance, honesty, and humour shine through everything she writes.

In this edition of Talking Climate, Kate reflects on the role of emotion in science, the very real threats to climate research in the U.S., and why embracing our full humanity is essential to building a better future.

She also offers tangible ways to stand up for science and take climate action, from calling elected officials to joining local efforts for resilience and justice. Kate's thoughts are timely, powerful, and deeply human. I hope you’ll give them a read and, as always, share what you learn with people you know!

Find Kate on Bluesky or on her website!

Listen to Kate's Becoming a Genius story here.

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

Music by Bradley Myer.

What do a football jersey, a ski suit, a beach towel, and a scarf have in common? They all show the warming stripes—and open the door to talking about climate change.

Here’s more on how you can join in, and start a conversation today without saying a word!

Find your local warming stripes here.

More about Ed here.

Check out my video with Climate Adam here.

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

Music by Bradley Myer.

Climate resilience isn’t just smart—it’s profitable and, as climate impacts accelerate, it's rapidly becoming essential as well.

💡 Good News: A new World Resources Institute study finds that for every $1 invested in climate adaptation, we get more than $10 in benefits — even if the disaster doesn't occur!
🌍 Not-So-Good News: The cost of inaction is rising fast. From glacier collapses in Switzerland to deadly floods in Nigeria and record wildfires in Canada, climate-fueleddisasters are becoming more intense and more frequent around the world.
💪 Inspiring News: In British Columbia, My Climate Plan helps people prepare for climate emergencies by providing the resources, information, and connections people need to stay safe and build stronger communities.
We all need to understand what’s happening, why itmatters, and what we can do. That’s true everywhere, but especially true now in the U.S., where essential resources like NOAA’s Billion-Dollar Disasters database and FEMA are being cut.
As climate extremes grow, losing this information makesus more vulnerable. That's why it's more important than ever to stay informed — and to talk about it. The bottom line is clear. Investing in climate resilience is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity — and it pays off!

See the massive smoke plume from Canadian wildfires stretching across the Atlantic Ocean here and 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

These days, I’m often accused of being a “hopium peddler” -- a person who offers false comfort or even delusional solutions to climate change -- by some who are so worried about climate change, they've decided there's nothing we can do about it. They've given up, and they want everyone else to, too.

But as a climate scientist who’s spent two decades warning about the very real risks we face, I know that despair is just as dangerous as denial. That's why, in this special edition of Talking Climate, I take a fresh look at the rise of climate doomerism—why it’s spreading, what the science says, and why giving up is the only thing that will guarantee our failure.

So if you’ve ever wondered, is it too late? -- 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 change is already disrupting farming, healthcare, and even our summer vacations—but there are smart, hopeful ways we can respond. From heat insurance for cows to climate-conscious travel, here’s this week’s roundup of risks, resilience, and what we can do.

🐄 Good news: India’s smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of climate change and agritech company DeHaat is helping them adapt by offering heat-stress cattle insurance.

🩸 Not so good news: Climate change is putting the global blood supply at risk. Extreme weather disrupts donation, storage, and delivery, as disasters increase demand.

✈️ What you can do: Summer travel? Great. Carbon footprint? Not so much. What can you do about it? Fly less, stay local, stay longer, and share your choices to inspire others!

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

Music by Bradley Myer.

What does climate change have to do with your skin? More than you might think—and the good news is, you can do something about it.

💄 Good news: Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable, safer cosmetics, and that pressure is paying off. From refillable packaging to carbon-neutral pledges, major brands and newer companies responding.

😵‍💫 Not-so-good news: Climate change impacts our health, including our skin. Rising temperatures, air pollution, and longer allergy seasons are linked to rashes, eczema, premature aging, and even DNA damage.

✅ What you can do: Look for reliable sustainability ratings like Good On You, learn to spot vague, meaningless claims, and take advantage of take-back programs from Sephora, Lush, Body Shop, and more.

Most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of your voice. Whether you're talking to friends or writing to your favorite brands, individual actions can spark collective change.

Check out Maura White's newsletter Climate Drift here.

Find Emily Atkin's newsletter Heated here.

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

Music by Bradley Myer.

🐔 Good news: In Zambia, a resilient new chicken breed called the Zambro is helping farmers adapt to extreme heat and drought. These hardy birds grow quickly, lay plenty of eggs, and require less food and water.

🍚 Not-so-good news: In Japan, a rice shortage two years after a record-breaking heat wave is a stark reminder of how climate change affects even the most basic foods. Japan may import 20x more rice this year than in 2024, raising concerns for both food security and local farmers.

🥕 What you can do: Nearly 40% of the world’s food is wasted as nearly 2 billion people go hungry--and it's a big source of heat-trapping gas emissions, too! From smarter storage and meal planning to food-sharing apps and policy advocacy, reducing food waste is an effective climate action we can all be part of.

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

Music by Bradley Myer.