What on Earth?

For more than 35 years, the outspoken American environmentalist has been raising the alarm about the climate crisis, starting with his groundbreaking book The End of Nature. Now Bill McKibben says, for once in his life, he is spreading good news. In his latest book, Here Comes the Sun, Bill explains why the recent boom in solar and wind power has given him hope for the planet's future, and he implores everyone to buy in.

For over a decade, Alberta’s capital has been building a groundbreaking sustainable neighbourhood, right in the middle of the city. But some say the development has moved too slowly and is costing too much. With a municipal election looming, one mayoral candidate says the city needs to change course with this prime piece of real estate.

From the Best of What On Earth – They can be noisy. And smelly. And, as Cate Blanchett (yes, Cate Blanchett!) complains, don’t they just move “leaves from one place to another, only for them to be blown back again"? Gas-powered leaf blowers create a lot of opinions and a lot of emissions. Molly Segal takes us through why they're so particularly polluting and unhealthy. And, she explores the solutions underway — from political bans to incentives for switching to electric.

A hiking ban in Nova Scotia is getting lots of attention this summer, from Joe Rogan to former Freedom Convoy supporters. Although the ban has now been lifted for parts of the province, the rules have ignited an international debate about government overreach during fire season. Some Nova Scotians are calling the criticism fearmongering and want outsiders to butt out of the province’s affairs. We hear from an emergency management expert who says governments should prepare for more backlash against wildfire rules as the climate changes and summers become potentially more restricted. 

From the Best of What On Earth - A tale of two First Nations pushed to live on lands that face increasing flooding risks as the climate changes. We hear their stories of survival and their fight for justice and a safe place to live. Also, want to travel cargo? As in cruising onboard a cargo ship? It may just make for a greener vacation. 

Communities on Reddit and elsewhere are crowdsourcing reviews and recommendations in an effort to find the “best” version of, well, everything. It’s partly an ode to items that have withstood the test of time, and partly a quest for durability, longevity and repairability – all in an effort to save money, and the environment.

From the Best of What On Earth – The coastal city of Aberdeen, Scotland, has long made its living off the North Sea, first from fishing then oil and gas. Now, a new transition is underway: offshore wind. But who wins and who loses? Laura Lynch has some surprising conversations on the windy shores.

Shutting off the electricity to prevent wildfires is becoming the new normal in some west coast states, leaving thousands living through extreme heat without air conditioning or medical devices. Now, policies allowing this to happen are coming to B.C., Alberta and possibly other parts of Canada. We hear from people who say this could put their lives at risk, and get some advice on how to cope.

From the Best of What On Earth - A CBC News investigation found unsafe temperatures in homes across Canada during the summer, with people often living in dangerous heat for long stretches of time with no relief. Reporter Tara Carman shares stories of people who suffered, including a man who died after his home was close to 30 degrees for several weeks. 

Polar bears, bowhead whales, melting sea ice – the students on these ships see it all. We hear from two students sailing across the Davis Strait from Nunavut to Greenland about what life is like onboard the Students On Ice ships. We also hear from a former student about how her trip sparked her career in climate solutions, and from the founder of the program about how the polar regions have changed since he started the expeditions 25 years ago.