DiscoverTalking Climate with Katharine HayhoeCan a coal town become a climate leader?
Can a coal town become a climate leader?

Can a coal town become a climate leader?

Update: 2025-08-27
Share

Description

This week, Global Citizen co-founder Michael Sheldrick, takes us to Western Australia—a region facing both inspiring progress and serious setbacks on climate.


💚 Good News: In the former coal town of Collie, a just transition is taking shape. As coal phases out, nearly $700M is being invested in clean energy projects like large-scale batteries and green steel, with job retraining and community revitalization at its core. It’s an inspiring example of climate progress rooted in local collaboration between workers, governments, and activists.


🔥 Not So Good News: The Australian government just extended a major methane gas project through 2070—potentially locking in over 4 billion tons of emissions and casting doubt on Australia’s climate commitments.


🤝 What You Can Do: Climate solutions work best when they’re built with—not for—communities. Collie’s story shows what’s possible when individuals are willing to spend the time to talk to each other and build trust. That's how change happens!


If you feel stuck on how to make an impact, Mick’s book "From Ideas to Impact" is full of practical examples of how to take good intentions and use them to make a difference in tackling devastating and unjust global challenges including climate change, poverty, disease, and more. Highly recommended!


Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate.


Music by Bradley Myer.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Comments 
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Can a coal town become a climate leader?

Can a coal town become a climate leader?

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe