What on Earth?

As parliament gets back in session, there’s a lot going on: a trade war, talk of Alberta separation, and international alliances being redrawn. Prime Minister Mark Carney has been clear: he doesn’t think the old climate plan he inherited from the Trudeau government holds up to Canada’s new reality.So, where does climate fit in what Carney calls the next “world order?” Two of our political journalists break down what we know so far, and what they’re watching for next.Guests:David Thurton is a senior reporter with CBC’s parliamentary bureau in OttawaAaron Wherry is a senior writer with CBC’s parliamentary bureau in OttawaVideo:Are Canada’s climate plans cooked?Other What On Earth? episodes you might like:Critics say the math isn’t mathing on Ottawa’s climate plansIs Canada really a climate leader?Background reading:Liberals remove layer of review process for energy projects, backing off bypassing at-risk species protectionsCanadians should prepare for a 5 C hotter future, report warnsCarney says Trudeau-era climate plan was 'too expensive' and 'divisive'Have you got something to say about this episode? Email us at [email protected]

It’s gonna be a record-breaking few months of weather. A natural surge of warm ocean water is colliding with a planet hotter than at any point in human history – meaning more heat, more floods, more droughts. Some think this Super El Niño offers a window into what climate change will bring, and that it could help us prepare for the decades to come.Scientist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza takes us to Peru, where the phenomenon begins, and where officials have already declared a state of emergency due to heavy, unseasonal rains causing devastation for communities in the Andes and elsewhere. Then, we hear from Andrew Dessler, climate scientist at Texas A&M University, about how this Super El Niño is interacting with climate change and what this year’s weather could teach us about how to adapt to a warmer world.And we wrap with what this all means for Canada. Bill Merryfield from Environment and Climate Change Canada answers pressing questions about the season ahead – such as, “should I buy a ski pass?”Guests:Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, founder of Amazon Research InternacionalAndrew Dessler, Director, Texas Center for Extreme Weather at Texas A&M UniversityBill Merryfield, research scientist with Environment and Climate Change CanadaVideo: I’ve tracked El Niño for years. I’ve never seen this beforeBackground reading:'Super' El Niño didn't cause this year's fires and heat waves, but it's about to take us on a 'wild ride'This episode features a clip from Saturday Night Live, created by Lorne Michaels, performed by Chris Farley, 1997, SNL Studios.

She's a CBC science journalist, meteorologist and seismologist. Now she’s taking the helm as the host of your favourite climate change podcast. All summer long, Jo and the team have been cooking up new ideas and stories to help you make sense of our changing world, at a time when the climate is warming and everything else can feel like a hot mess. Have we piqued your interest yet? Good. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect from the new season.  

Stephen Nelson tried to keep his friend Mario safe in the 2021 heat dome. But tragically, his friend died – in an old building that wasn’t designed for our warming world. This galvanized Stephen to do more to keep his community safe during extreme heat. We visit Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to meet the tenants, like Stephen, working together to keep each other cool in a changing climate. 

From the best of What On Earth: A warmer world is great for rats. (Not so much for us). That’s why cities are seeing a climate-linked rise in rodents. Can birth control reverse that? Producer Molly Segal finds out how Chicago, Manhattan and Vancouver are all trying to make things a little less rattier.