

Break In Case of Emergency
Climate Emergency Unit
A Canadian podcast about audacious climate solutions rooted in justice and workers’ rights — from the team at the Climate Emergency Unit.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 17, 2025 • 19min
What you need to know about immigration and unemployment (w/ Karina Villada & Juan Vargas Alba)
Karina Villada, a community organizer dedicated to migrant worker rights, joins Juan Vargas Alba to tackle the misconceptions surrounding immigration and unemployment. They discuss how migrants are unjustly blamed for social issues like housing and job scarcity. Villada sheds light on the Temporary Foreign Worker system that often exploits employees, and they both highlight the grim realities of employer-controlled housing. The duo calls for solidarity between the climate and migrant rights movements, linking these struggles to broader issues of colonialism and land dispossession.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 14min
Emergency Marker 6: Centre Indigenous Rights & Leadership (w/ Janelle Lapointe, Serena Mendizabal & Seth Klein)
Seth Klein, a climate policy analyst and author; Serena Mendizabal, director of an Indigenous-led climate nonprofit; Janelle Lapointe, a grassroots organizer and community advisor. They discuss centring Indigenous title and leadership in climate responses. Topics include Indigenous-led energy and food sovereignty, cultural and language revitalization, barriers from extractivism, and the gap between government rhetoric and true consent.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 10min
Emergency Marker 5: Leave No One Behind (w/ Jim Stanford, Anjali Appadurai & Seth Klein)
In this insightful discussion, economist Jim Stanford, climate justice organizer Anjali Appadurai, and strategist Seth Klein tackle the critical need for a just transition in climate action. They highlight that connecting climate initiatives to economic fairness is essential, emphasizing solidarity and support for workers in fossil fuel sectors. Anjali stresses Canada's global responsibilities, while Jim debunks myths about job losses, asserting that renewable investments will create millions of new jobs. Their conversation underscores that justice must be central to climate solutions.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
Emergency Marker 4: Tell the Truth (w/ Donya Ziaee, Chris Hatch & Seth Klein)
Donya Ziaee is a seasoned communications strategist with a focus on climate journalism. Chris Hatch, a climate columnist and former executive director, brings insights on public understanding of environmental issues. Seth Klein, director at the Climate Emergency Unit, sheds light on emergency communication. They discuss the critical role of truth-telling in climate crises, the failures of mainstream media, and the rise of independent outlets. The conversation emphasizes the need for context in reporting and explores how honest communication can mobilize society for climate action.

Dec 3, 2025 • 53min
Emergency Marker 3: Make It Mandatory (w/ Dr. Melissa Lem & Seth Klein)
Dr. Melissa Lem, a family physician and advocate for planetary health, joins Seth Klein, a climate strategy expert, for an urgent conversation about climate mandates. They address the health impacts of climate change, including the deadly 2021 heat dome, and emphasize that voluntary actions are inadequate. The duo discusses the necessity of banning fossil fuel advertising and phasing out gas in new buildings. They highlight the power of community-led initiatives and the role of health professionals in pushing for decisive action in this climate emergency.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 14min
Emergency Marker 2: Create New Institutions (w/ Alex Himelfarb, Linda McQuaig & Seth Klein)
In this engaging discussion, Alex Himelfarb, a former senior public servant, Linda McQuaig, an award-winning journalist, and Seth Klein, director at the Climate Emergency Unit, explore the urgent need for new public institutions in Canada. They critique the failures of market-driven solutions to climate change and emphasize the potential of crown corporations. Their vision includes innovative ideas like a Youth Climate Corps and public ownership in renewable energy and EV manufacturing. Together, they call for a revival of democratic accountability and collaborative public responses.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 4min
Emergency Marker 1: Spend what it takes to win (w/ Caroline Brouillette & Seth Klein)
Seth Klein, Director of the Climate Emergency Unit and author of 'A Good War,' and Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, dive into transformative climate investments. They argue for a WWII-style mobilization to commit at least 2% of GDP annually. The duo highlights the urgency of ending fossil fuel subsidies and discusses public versus private funding for climate infrastructure. With a focus on economic benefits, they emphasize the importance of strategic public investments and the moral case for divesting from fossil fuels.

11 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 45min
The 2025 budget, unpacked
In this discussion, expert Alex Hemingway, a Senior Economist at BC Policy Solutions, helps unravel the complexities of the 2025 federal budget. He highlights contradictions between lofty goals and cuts to public services. They delve into the limitations of the Climate Competitiveness Strategy and question the effectiveness of private investments in housing. Additionally, they explore untapped revenue potentials like wealth taxes, suggesting that a targeted tax could raise $40 billion in the first year. Political strategies to drive change also come into focus.

Sep 8, 2025 • 1h 9min
Parallel emergencies: the poison drug crisis and climate breakdown (w/ Garth Mullins)
Garth Mullins, a prominent harm reduction activist and broadcaster, discusses the overlapping crises of climate change and the overdose epidemic. He emphasizes the necessity for solidarity among social movements to tackle systemic issues. Mullins critiques drug prohibition and highlights the importance of community organizing, advocating for compassionate emergency responses to both crises. The conversation underscores the need for radical reforms and the role of grassroots movements in fostering genuine change and resilience in society.

14 snips
Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 2min
The costs of LNG (w/ Kiki Wood and Clark Williams-Derry)
Kiki Wood, a Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner at Stand.earth, and Clark Williams-Derry, an Energy Finance Analyst at IEEFA, dive into the intricacies of LNG's environmental and financial costs. They tackle the myths of LNG as a cleaner transitional fuel, exposing the environmental toll of fracking and the dangers posed to Indigenous communities. The discussion also covers the financial risks of LNG projects and their potential to raise domestic energy prices. Advocacy and grassroots movements against LNG expansion are emphasized as crucial steps for change.


