Jessica Murray talks with Juliet Rennick about Black History Month and its multiple meanings. They also discuss environmental racism and the story of Africville in Nova Scotia, how cities consult on environmental matters, the work of environment and social activist Wangari Maathai, how to be a better ally, and what it means for environmental organizations to truly engage in a dialogue on these issues.

Plus we answer your Q&A question: Why does Canada not have an effective investigative mechanism to constrain their overseas extractive firms involved in human rights abuses?

The end of each episode of our podcast is dedicated to answering your questions. Write us an email with your questions on environmental issues at [email protected]

And don't forget to take action!

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Roberto Dobles was former Minister of Environment and Energy between 2006 and 2009 in Costa Rica. Following his time as minister he cut a deal with an American company, Black Hills Energy, for a huge share of oil and gas profits from the company’s proposed oil and gas plans in Costa Rica. After those plans fell through he sued Black Hills for the compensation he said he is owed (more money than Costa Rica itself would have made in royalties had Black Hills’ plans proceeded).

Recently ex-minister Dobles attended a meeting between the current Costa Rican government and the Norwegian government about Norway helping Costa Rica explore for oil and gas in the country. 

Dobles and the Main Business Association brought before Costa Rica's Government data from the very company he is suing to try to convince the authorities and the public there’s a lot of oil and gas in Costa Rica. Under those claims, Costa Rica asked Norway to help in a diplomatic meeting with Dobles' attendance. Not being a Costa Rica official, the presence of Dobles in that diplomatic meeting is difficult to explain, and the Costa Rican Government’s push and Norway’s participation in the meeting could benefit Dobles' lawsuit for compensation from Black Hills.

Sound above board?

The question remains why would Norway work with someone like Dobles, and is Norway promoting oil and gas in Costa Rica?

Promoting oil and gas in Costa Rica would be at odds with Norway’s insistence that they are climate champions. At the recent UN climate conference the Norwegian Environment Minister said that ‘the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in our energy systems is groundbreaking and cannot be misunderstood: not by governments, not by markets, not by anyone.’

Conor Curtis talks with Carolina Sánchez, a climate change communications professional in Costa Rica about what’s happening, how Norway is involved, and what you can do in Canada to help shine a light on this issue.   

For context to the above: Sierra Club Canada is part of an international campaign against the plans of the Norwegian state oil and gas company, Equinor, to expand oil and gas production overseas. In Canada Equinor is proposing the Bay du Nord oil project, which if it succeeded could do irreparable damage to local ecosystems.

You can find out more about Equinor Out here: https://www.equinorout.com/

As part of that international campaign, and this podcast we are looking into the Norwegian government and their majority state-owned oil and gas company Equinor’s actions and climate hypocrisy.

Tune in to the end to hear our Q&A responses to the questions you've sent us since our last episode! Send your questions for the next episode to [email protected]

And don't forget to take action!

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Jessica Murray talks with Ole Hendrickson about Government of Canada's decision to allow 80 years’ worth of its accumulated radioactive waste to be put in a gigantic landfill surrounded by wetlands that drain into the Ottawa River, 1 kilometer away. They discuss the history of Canada's nuclear industry and what to do about our nuclear waste.

Ten Algonquin First Nations, on whose unceded land this Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) would be built, have registered their objections in the strongest possible terms. They note that section 29(2) of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples requires the Government of Canada to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before disposing of hazardous waste in their territory.

The NSDF’s proximity to the Ottawa River would also ensure that detectable quantities of long-lived, man-made radioactive substances and other toxic wastes will pollute the river in perpetuity. Indeed, the location was chosen to minimize costs of hauling waste from the dozens of radioactively contaminated structures in the “Active Area” at Chalk River.

To build the NSDF, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories would additionally destroy 35 hectares of near old-growth forest adjacent to the Perch Lake wetlands. The forest, unlogged for 80 years, is home to bear dens, a wolf pack, beaver, moose, and turtles.

Tune in to the end to hear our Q&A responses to the questions you've sent us since our last episode! Send your questions for the next episode to [email protected]

And don't forget to take action!

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

Conor talks with Jason Ruochen Wang, a senior analyst working on the Pembina Institute's electricity program in Alberta and Mitchell Beer, founding publisher and managing editor of The Energy Mix, about whether renewables really harmed Alberta during recent energy grid issues.

We discuss whether clean energy regulations would harm the electricity grid, the role renewable energy and energy efficiency can play in giving people more control over their energy. We also discuss how the media have covered this story of this week's Alberta electric power grid issues and why more questions need to asked about statements made on environmental issues and what facts actually exist to support those claims.

Because some topics are definitely getting too often left out of news coverage like:

• The huge roles renewable energy like solar and wind, and battery storage, played in helping to solve the extreme cold temperature power crisis in Alberta this week.
• Grid flexibility and energy democracy and monetary renewable benefits to municipalities as oil and gas revenues dry up.
•  The cost reductions associated with renewables, storage, and energy efficiency for the consumer.
• Facts on clean energy regulations and Alberta's energy future.
• Reporters who are breaking ground on climate coverage in smaller scale and larger scale media.
• Stovetops... yes you read that right, stovetops...

Get answers to your questions in the podcast and hear our Q&A responses to the questions you've sent us since our last episode! Send your questions for the next episode to [email protected]

And don't forget to take action!

Host: Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club Canada

Please note: The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, our chapters, or programs.

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

For those who see oil and gas as the future for Newfoundland and Labrador Norway is often held up as an example: a place where oil and gas has brought prosperity and economic stability.

But in Norway questions are being raised about that stability, the future of the oil and gas industry, and the direction of Equinor as the world transitions more and more rapidly to renewable energy.

We’re also seeing the increasing impacts of climate change on communities across both countries, both gradual and rapid, from flooding to the erosion of local economies.

I talk to Erlend Tellnes (pictured), the new coordinator of the international Equinor Out campaign to which Sierra Club Canada belongs, about changing times in Norway, what Norwegians think about the majority state-owned energy company Equinor, the campaign to get Equinor Out of oil and gas, and the similarities and differences between Norway and Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic situations.

Find out more about Sierra Club Canada and take action at www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ and find this episode on our website here. 

It’s important to note that since we recorded this episode a UK advertising watchdog has banned Equinor from repeating green claims.

Being from Newfoundland and Labrador this is a subject that’s close to home for me and what Erlend has to say is very enlightening.

Listen to our previous episode of The Environment in Canada Podcast Equinor’s Rosebank, Divestment, Energy Bills, and COP28, here – also part of a sub-series we are doing on Equinor Out.

You can also find out more here: https://www.equinorout.com/

Links to other ways you can find out more and support Equinor Out!

Greenpeace Norway’s website.

The Truth about Equinor’s Global Fossil Fuel Projects.

More on the Equinor Out campaign and Bay du Nord in Canada.

Host: Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club Canada

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/

From December 2023: We’re happy to announce in time for COP28 that we have launched a new podcast: The Environment in Canada Podcast is a podcast about the environment in Canada. Pretty self-explanatory. Our first episode is all about an oil and gas project in… the United Kingdom. Confused? Understandable.

Episode one, Equinor’s Rosebank, Divestment, Energy Bills, and COP28 is about our friends at the StopRosebank campaign in the UK.

As part of our work against Equinor’s proposed Bay du Nord project in Canada we have also been helping to coordinate an international campaign against Equinor’s oil and gas projects in Argentina, Brazil, Norway, and the UK as well. These first few episodes will feature stories from each country. In the UK activists and concerned citizens are fighting against Equinor’s Rosebank oil field, we talk to Stine Wilhelmsen (pictured) about the StopRosebank fight, the ongoing impact of fossil fuel divestment, and similarities to the fight against Bay du Nord in Canada. We also talk about politicians and ‘factual inaccuracies’ that hide the truth about climate change.

Find out more about Sierra Club Canada and take action at www.sierraclub.ca/take-action/ and find this episode on our website here.

You can also find out more here: https://www.equinorout.com/

Find out more and take action to help #StopRosebank:

• Website
• Petition
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Host: Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club Canada.

Support the show

Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/