Claim OwnershipSmart Prosperity: The Podcast
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© 2022 Smart Prosperity: The Podcast
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Fresh takes on the current affairs, business, technology and ideas behind the green economy. With a decidedly Canadian twist. New episodes every two weeks.
34 Episodes
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Are electric vehicles at a tipping point?The price of gasoline is spiking and suddenly so is demand for electric vehicles. Though Canada has been behind its peers when it comes to EV adoption, with only 5% of new vehicle purchases being electric in 2021, that could change quickly. Are we at a tipping point? This episode shares the latest data on market trends, cost comparisons, supply shortages, charging installation and equity issues. With: Joanna Kyriazis (Clean Energy Canada) & Jonathan Rubin (University of Maine).For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
How did solar get so cheap?This episode comes courtesy of the smart folks at Energy vs. Climate podcast. Solar energy is the good news story of the 21st century so far. How did a clean energy technology drop from costing 105 dollars per watt of electricity down to just 20 cents over the span of a few decades? And how can other clean technologies ride the same curve? Here the team at Energy vs. Climate – Ed Whittingham, Sara Hastings-Simon and David Keith – interview the guy who wrote the book on it. For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Canada's conservative party is back to the drawing board to come up with a climate plan. What does a credible conservative climate agenda look like in 2022? Is carbon pricing part of the package? Conservative insider Ken Boessenkool talks about the state of his party and how to mend a climate rift spreading in the rank and file. w/ Ken Boessenkool (Conservatives for Clean Growth).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Despite being the world's second-biggest cause of climate change, most projections tell us that oil can be part of a climate friendly future. How so? The answer lies in a technology called Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage - or CCUS. But not everyone agrees that CCUS is a climate solution. This episode hears from both sides of the debate, and whether or not CCUS should be getting favourable treatment in Canada through a proposed investment tax credit. w/ Susannah Pierce (Shell Canada), Ed Whittingham (Energy vs. Climate) & Christina Hoicka (Univ. of Victoria).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Phew, we did it, one more year of survival for the human race! To celebrate, we bring you the best and worst of the green economy in 2021. Four of Canada’s top journalists join host Eric Campbell for a fun retrospective on the year’s top stories: the triumphs, the failures, the surprises and the cruel ironies. And, because there’s a lot riding on the next calendar year, we also dabble in some predictions for 2022. Guests: Heather Scoffield (Toronto Star), Adam Radwanski (The Globe and Mail), Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press) & Shawn McCarthy (Freelance) For info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
The post-covid fossil fuels boomDon’t look now but the world is in a fossil fuels boom. As the economy bounces back from covid-19, the global demand for oil, gas and coal is skyrocketing. Yet didn't international leaders just make new climate pledges that promise to cut out these fossil fuels? How do we make sense of this contradiction? How long will the fossil fuel boom last? And will it send our climate goals out of reach?Guests: Tim Gould (Chief Energy Economist, IEA), Jackie Forrest (Executive Director, Arc Energy) & Aaron Cosbey (Sr. Associate, IISD)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Are your savings fuelling climate change?Canadians are sitting on record levels of savings. These household savings are being leveraged, in turn, by banks and pension funds to make major investments. But what kinds of investments? Are your savings being used to finance major fossil fuel projects? What is your bank and your pension fund doing with your savings behind your back? w/ Barbara Zvan (President and CEO at University Pension Plan) & Toby Heaps (Publisher & Editor-in-Chief at Corporate Knights).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
How to spend $2-trillion on climate changeA new report says it will cost $2 trillion for Canada to transition to net-zero carbon pollution by 2050. What does the money get spent on? Who's going to pay? How big is the return on investment? And what does Canada’s biggest bank plan to do about it? w/ John Stackhouse (RBC)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Catherine McKenna on the upcoming Glasgow climate talksCanada’s former environment minister takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Glasgow: what are the big issues, who are the key players, who’s doing the arm twisting, who’s getting their arms twisted, and can the international community get the job done. w/ Catherine McKenna (Canada’s second longest-serving environment minister)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Why the housing crisis is an environmental problem Canada’s severe housing shortage is driving up prices for wannabe renters and homeowners. Yes it’s an economic and equity problem, but is it also an environmental problem? On this episode, three experts expose the environmental angles of the housing crisis, including how it fuels urban sprawl, stifles the green workforce and shortchanges Canada’s cleantech sector. With: Tim Gray (Environmental Defence), Hannah Teicher (Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) & Mike Moffatt (Smart Prosperity Institute)For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Is climate change a ballot box issue? With Canada’s 44th federal election looming, we dig deep into Canadian attitudes on climate change. How high a priority is it for Canadians? Is that being reflected in the various leadership campaigns? How have Canadian attitudes evolved over the past ten years? And how do we explain the seismic shift in party positions on the issue? w/ David Coletto (Abacus Data)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
A conversation with Katharine Hayhoe Katharine Hayhoe is the most influential climate scientist on the planet. She’s also one of the most plain-spoken and down-to-earth. On this episode, she sits down with Eric Campbell to talk about conservative America, the UN’s new climate report, her new book, and why she wants you to talk to your friends about climate change. w/ Katharine Hayhoe (Climate scientist extraordinaire, too many affiliations to list here)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
The carbon footprint of cryptocurrency What do Sweden, Argentina, Norway, Belgium, Ukraine and Chile have in common? They all consume less electricity in one year than Bitcoin does. Yes, Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency that is shaking up the financial world, is a massive energy hog. In fact, Bitcoin “miners” have been responsible for bringing retired coal and natural gas plants back online in order to satisfy their energy needs. Why is Bitcoin so dirty? Can cryptocurrencies go green? Guest: Alex de Vries - Economist and founder of Digconomist.comFor more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
The environmental impacts of space tourism Who has the greener rocket, Jeff Bezos or Sir Richard Branston? Or is it Elon Musk’s Space X?! From the rocket fuel to the emissions to the material waste, we ask what the rise of space tourism means for climate change and the environment here on Planet Earth. With astrophysicist Dr. Parshati Patel (University of Western) & atmospheric scientist Dr. Eloise Marais (University College London).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
The high price of wildfires It’s the middle of July and hundreds of deadly wildfires are already on our doorsteps, many of them being described by authorities as out of control. This is the kind of runaway “megafire” season scientists have been warning about. Can we afford it? From paying for migrant firefighters to covering billions in insurance claims, this episode looks at what wildfires cost us. With Edward Struzik, Author of "Firestorm: How Wildfire will Shape our Future".More info and links at: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
The costs of extreme heat As temperature records were melted around the world over the past few weeks, what do we now know about the costs of extreme heat to our economy, our critical infrastructure and our health? w/ Sarah Gibbens (National Geographic), Jan Polderman (Village of Lytton), Rick Smith (Canadian Institute for Climate Choices)More info and links at: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Paying for nature Everybody agrees we should protect more nature. But nature protection doesn’t come cheap. Experts warn that Canada and the world have a multi-billion dollar funding gap. Here are 3 experts on how to close that gap by drawing in capital from unusual suspects.For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
COVID’s environmental impact The drop in global economic activity due to COVID has had some upsides for the environment. But how big have those upsides been? And how long will they last? The brainiacs at the OECD have some new answers. With Rob Dellink from the OECD.10 green technologies to watchWe’re going to need the help of new and exciting green technologies if we want to keep climate change in check. Here are ten smart bets. With Tyler Hamilton from MaRS Discovery District. For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
Provincial climate report cards [min 1:03]The federal government sets the international targets, but it’s Canada’s provinces that have the primary jurisdiction over reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Have we been letting them off the hook? w/ Shawn McCarthyTrouble in BC’s old growth forests [min 12:28]Forestry is one of Canada’s oldest economic sectors. But with protests bubbling up across British Columbia, we get a balanced look at what needs to happen for the sector to evolve. w/ Gary Merkel, co-chair of BC’s Old Growth Review PanelFor more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca
What big business really thinks about climate actionThere’s a romance a-brewing between big business and strong climate action. But how deep is the love? Interview with Goldy Hyder from the Business Council of Canada.Oil workers planning a career changeA union representing Canadian oil and gas workers just came out in favour of more ambitious climate targets. What gives? Interview with Joie Warnock from Unifor. For more info and links, go to podcast.smartprosperity.ca
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