The Climate Lens

As strange as it sounds in the face of the highest temperatures, the biggest wildfires we've ever encountered and the most smoke we've ever breathed, climate activism is said to be on the wane, that the best approach in 2026 is to stop saying the words climate change. To challenge all that Steve Bentley talks with his guest Seth Klein, one of Canada's prime minds and voices when it comes to climate change and author of the book, A Good War: Mobilising Canada for the Climate Emergency.Transcript: http://bit.ly/4lPEmNySources: https://bit.ly/4bEYnTHCalgary Climate Hub: Join, Donate, Volunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/Support us on Patreon!

Some of us are old enough to remember the lead up to the Iraq War in the early two thousands in which America had a series of ever-shifting reasons for their invasion, all of which proved either false or irrelevant, and none of which mentioned oil, which is the prime reason America has ever cared about the Middle East. For America's invasion of Venezuela in 2026, though there's the thinnest patina around it being the latest front in the war on drugs, just about nobody in the world is fooled by that this time, thanks in no small part to President Trump himself who says it's about oil several times a day. So as the world burns around us due to climate change and many countries have joined the global energy transition in taking their first steps to becoming electro states rather than petro states, might Trump’s be the biggest oil war yet, or is the larger war the end of oil forever? And if so, which side exactly is Canada on? With me today to break this down, the heaviest of topics is Canada's most prolific and best energy writer, the indefatiguable Markham Hislop of Energy Media.*****Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kw0BUSnYD8qG5c4e0rrWdXnPiGMzbAivUrZ5QUsKFHM/Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q7av2NRp-QKhc9o3pq5OHiPH3DFzLzsRTsNJ1UZlHF8/*****Markham Hislop and Energi MediaWebsite: https://energi.media/Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnergiMedia*****If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219****Calgary Climate HubWebsite: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.caBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.socialMastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calgaryclimatehubVolunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteerBecome a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membershipDonate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donateSupport us on Patreon!

We've never felt the ramifications of climate change more than over the last few years and yet in 2025 much of the world seems reluctant to even say its name any more and yet China continues to lap the rest of the world on energy transition, Australia is now generating so much solar power it's offering its citizens free electricity during peak hours and in South Korea there's a new law that parking lots beyond a certain size must now also become solar farms. And of course as we've hit up repeatedly here on the Climate Lens throughout 2025 there remains a rock solid consistent worldwide majority of humans that support more & bigger climate-smart policies.To help us dig into all this we're very happy to have on this month's show Caroline Brouilette, Executive Director for Climate Action Network or CANRAC, a network representing 140 organizations working for climate change from coast to coast to coast and fellow Calgary Climate Hub co-founder Dr Joe Vipond of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.*****Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G1cNrMsvzZM8mIfShGB6Bse_962EXJ1SggtQUxkhGUM/Transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y14mFS3IDaDwzMu0b_t0WInFebEEX6GsCqzYixSs6Fs/*****Climate Action Network (CANRAC): https://climateactionnetwork.ca/Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment: https://cape.ca/*****If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219****Calgary Climate HubWebsite: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.caBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.socialMastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calgaryclimatehubVolunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteerBecome a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membershipDonate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donateSupport us on Patreon!

Oil companies made the people of Alberta and specifically the landowners a deal, that if they come on to your land to drill you will be paid for it and the land will be returned to its previous state. Whatt we've been seeing for some time now with a muti-billion dollar price tag attached is a great many oil companies just taking the the profits and skipping out on those cleanup costs, leaving them instead to the landowners themselves, and to you the Albertan and/or Canadian taxpayer. We've got a powerhouse panel featuring Phillip Meintzer, a co-founder and campaign organizer with the Coalition for Responsible Energy, affected landowner Dwight Popowich, Alberta land rights advocate and Vice Chair of the Polluter Pay Federation Mark Dorin and finally Susanne Callabrese from Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity.Episode 38 TranscriptEpisode 38 SourcesSupport us on Patreon!

Doug Clark, a Bike Calgary advocate dedicated to cycling infrastructure, and Alyssa Quinney, a passionate year-round cyclist, reveal the importance of bike lanes in urban mobility. They discuss the Ontario court ruling that protects bike lanes and how misinformation fuels political attacks against them. Their personal cycling stories highlight the benefits of safe, protected lanes, while they also suggest ways for Calgarians to get involved through advocacy and community rides, emphasizing the need for honest discussions about transportation and climate.

Brent Toderian, a leading Canadian urbanist, has influenced the future of sustainable city planning for decades. In this discussion, he emphasizes the critical role of urban development in achieving climate goals, especially with the upcoming COP30 summit. Toderian breaks down the innovative '15-minute city' concept, debunking myths and advocating for accessible neighborhoods. He also stresses the importance of civic engagement in local climate action, urging citizens to hold politicians accountable during elections for a prosperous, climate-smart future.

Geoff Dembicki, an investigative journalist and author of The Petroleum Papers, dives deep into Big Oil's deceitful history regarding climate change. He reveals the industry's internal knowledge versus its public stance, highlighting their sabotage of effective reforms. Dembicki critically analyzes the contentious carbon capture technology, particularly a significant $16.5 billion project in Alberta, questioning its effectiveness and true motives. The discussion emphasizes the need for active citizen engagement, stressing that real change requires collective action beyond just political promises.

Dr. Joe Vipond, a medical doctor and co-founder of the Calgary Climate Hub, discusses the pressing issue of wildfires in Canada amid the push for fewer regulations on oil and gas development. He emphasizes the need for the climate movement to stay active and reshape narratives away from a petrostate perspective. Vipond critiques the media's ties to the oil industry, urging for independent journalism. He also highlights the importance of public involvement in climate policy and advocates for community initiatives to combat climate change effectively.

In this episode of The Climate Lens, we feature Hannah Muhajarine from Climate Reality Canada about the National Climate League, a volunteer-driven report that tracks and compares how Canadian cities are tackling the climate crisis.From innovative policies in Nanaimo and Halifax, to Calgary’s strengths and weaknesses, the NCL provides a clear, data-backed snapshot of municipal climate progress. Learn how local action stacks up across Canada, why cities are critical to climate solutions, and how you can use this report to spark real change in your community.*****Sources used in this episode:Climate Reality Canada: https://www.climatereality.caThe National Climate League 2024 Standings: https://theclimaterealityproject.app.box.com/s/jw30lpua7r7wsl53wxoaopwm5tx35zdhTranscript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QFx0zJZt4WnKiMUYmsRQKB8HWSi6As6IYki7jxvXSWY/edit?usp=sharing Hannah MuhajarineCalgary Climate Hub: Join, Donate, Volunteer!*****If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219****Calgary Climate HubWebsite: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.caBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.socialMastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calgaryclimatehubVolunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteerBecome a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membershipDonate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donateSupport us on Patreon!

It's always easy to shrug things off by saying "well that's just how things have always been" except, when it comes to our entirely human constructed global economic system it's categorically untrue. It has NOT always been like this. Our current model which is increasingly shrinking the world's middle class, making the poor poorer, the rich richer and the world increasingly on fire is just ONE now demonstrably failing human made system. Others economic systems systems have existed before and will exist on this planet again. In 2025 it's way past time we started exploring them. This month's guest is Lindsay McLaren, Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and a Research Associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and member of the Advisory Board of the Parkland Institute.*****Sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p-y5HrsyYbvbzpu_7povU725OyCw7Pc_N90PGZCmTZE/edit?usp=sharingTranscript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8Zqp9ti9WZlzB2y7CFVSIJxdngiQaIrpPHOi8ob_RU/edit?usp=sharing*****Linday McLaren: https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/lmclaren*****If you appreciate what we're doing here at the Climate Lens one way you could help out is become a member of our Patreon for just 5 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/TheClimateLens or make a one time donation via the Calgary Climate Hub website at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/92219****Calgary Climate HubWebsite: https://www.calgaryclimatehub.caBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/climatehubyyc.bsky.socialMastodon: https://campaign.openworlds.info/@ClimateHubYYCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryclimatehub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calgaryclimatehub/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calgaryclimatehubVolunteer! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteerBecome a Member! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/membershipDonate! https://www.calgaryclimatehub.ca/donateSupport us on Patreon!