The Yukon government is betting on a first-in-Canada solution to help protect Whitehorse from wildfire: a permanent fuel break made of trees. Replacing conifers with the more fire-resistant, deciduous aspen trees, the community hopes it will keep fire from encroaching on the city. But, the process takes a lot of work, starting with harvesting tiny seeds.

Bike lanes equals “bikelash” in parts of Canada. Why? And what is Paris doing right? We travel the path to the heart of the debate about making cities more bicycle friendly, finding out what difference they make to cutting emissions. Then we’ll hear about one Calgary man’s cycling adventure in Paris (croissants by the Seine anyone?) and what he learned about the city’s campaign to build better routes for bikes. We’ll also head to a neighborhood meet-up where one enthusiast is trying to teach the youngest to safely ride on Vancouver city streets in hopes of building a stronger cycling culture and community. 

They’re popping up on balconies across Europe. You can even buy them at IKEA in Germany. Solar panels designed to hang over a railing and plug into your wall. We hear about what’s driving the trend, and what’s standing in the way of bringing balcony solar to Canada.

The debate over EV adoption reached its peak after the PM put the mandate on ice. Now auto industry leaders want to scrap the rules altogether, while advocates say Canada risks falling behind if it doesn't aggressively pursue electrification. We trace the politicization of EVs over the years with an industry reporter, and ask Electric Mobility Canada whether their goal of more EVs on highways is falling by the roadside. 

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.