What on Earth?

Water is scarce – especially in Gaza because of war and climate change. We speak to the executive director of the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies about how climate solutions can help build peace in a climate hotspot like the Middle East. And, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea delivered a historic opinion this week about climate impacts on small island states. We hear an update from a Tuvaluan lawyer.

Could letting young people vote be a climate game changer? We hear from Vancouver teens on whether or not they think they’re ready to vote and whether climate would shape their choice at the ballot box. Then, a Canadian senator and a 17-year-old student share why they’re fighting for a proposed bill making its way through parliament.

In Alaska and Barcelona, money from visitors is paying for heat pumps. What do we owe to the places we go on vacation? We hear how travellers can contribute to climate solutions. And, we answer a listener’s question about whether our beloved maple syrup will disappear in a warming world.

As wildfires rage across the country, we hear how to harness the power of community in the face of danger. And, we share listeners’ response to our interview with two long-time wildland firefighters in Alberta about what they say is a crisis in the ranks.

Soon, a little-known international tribunal will release a precedent setting decision that could force developed nations to do more to protect small island states from the ravages of climate change. A Canadian lawyer represented those tiny countries at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. He shares what’s at stake, along with another member of the legal team - Naima Te Maile Fefita of Tuvalu. Then our listeners get into a lather about the dishes. Hand wash or dishwasher?

Wildfire fighters say working conditions threaten the safety of crew and the public in that province. As climate change leads to more intense forest fires, the people on the front lines say they’re losing team members to other employers and something needs to change.

An Indigenous-owned company in Ontario is making sure evacuations are culturally appropriate, including supporting people to seek refuge on their traplines instead of hotels. Then we ask Canada’s Indigenous Services Minister how Ottawa can make climate emergencies less traumatic for Indigenous communities, and why members of the Peguis First Nation remain displaced two years after a major flood.

Come underground to glimpse new technology providing low carbon heating and cooling to downtown Toronto buildings. CBC climate reporter Emily Chung is our guide – to see this first of its kind project in Canada. Proponents say it's key to cutting emissions from buildings around the country.

Climate change may be last on your mind when you're dealing with discrimination, insecure housing and other barriers. But marginalized communities are hit harder than most by the impacts of climate change. Our columnist Chúk Odenigbo and activist Shelly-Ann Skinner walk us through how to meet Black, queer folks where they're at in order to include them in climate justice work. Then, we hear from an Ontario woman who's being recognized for her fight against climate change – and city hall – one lawn sign at a time.

Yep, we’re naming names! We meet a researcher who combed through millions of pieces of plastic trash and traced half of the branded items back to just 56 companies. We hear the case for why manufacturers should be responsible for their plastic products and how addressing this can help lower CO2 emissions to tackle the climate crisis. And – we dish the dirt on cleaning your plates, cutlery and more after a listener wrote in to ask: is the dishwasher or washing by hand better for the planet?