From the Ground Up

Idealism is this week's topic, as Sherry interviews Julia Boughner, a local Environment Canada scientist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sherry and Mark talk about climate tipping points! We also get an update on the ongoing SK court case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sherry shares her thoughts on the upcoming Saskatchewan court hearing, the British Columbia forest fires, and why it is important that we act now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allie Olson and Mark Soles tell us about what it's like to live in their self-built tiny house, as well as the experience they had evacuating from the BC wildfires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are speaking with the Director of Saskatoon Transit, Mike Moellenbeck! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sherry interviews Mark this week as they discuss climate policies: what's worked, what hasn't, and what still needs to be done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we interview Robert Clipperton, Peter Gallen and Odin Swidzinski - members of the Bus Riders Steering Committee - about the Saskatoon transit system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not quite Sherry Olson's debut on the show - she talks with Mark about her motivations for getting involved. Look out for Sherry as host in the near future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does carbon pricing work? - new research says the answer is yes, but it helps to do other things too to cut emissions And a look at some of the work of World Weather Attribution . Then part 4 of a repeat of episode 308 on dealing with ecostress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mackenzie and Justin talk with Mark about the recent devastating fire in Jasper Then part 3 of a repeat of episode 308 on dealing with ecostress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark and Sherry talk through of some recent developments: a press release from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society outlining the threat of climate chaos to Saskatchewan and the irresponsibility of government policy a recent report from IISD showing the major contribution of fossil fuel dependence to inflation and the cost of living crisis Progress in the city of Saskatoon towards rapid bus tran...

A run-through of some recent reports: for each of the last 12 months the average global temperature has been more than 1.5degC higher than pre-industrial levels the recent heatwave in eastern Canada shown to be 2x to 10x more likely than it would have been before climate change gas with carbon capture and storage produces far more emissions than normally claimed; so does "blue" hydrogen Saskatchew...

This is a longer episode than usual because two programmes got together - first a recording of Don Kossick's CFCR programme, Making the Links, then further commentary from Mark for From the Ground Up. The federal government has just passed legislation which makes greenwashing illegal, and the greenwashing arm of the oil industry has in consequence taken all content off its website The Saskatchewan...

The housing crisis in Saskatoon has become acute. Meanwhile,the historic tendency towards sprawl has increased peoples' travel distances and their emissions, and reduced potential for building strong community. The federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund aims to address all of these issues. In this episode, Sherry Olson explains the fund, what it would mean in Saskatoon, its benefits and its...

Mark explores three recent reports: The Canada Electricity Advisory Council produced detailed recommendations for how the electricity sector can lead the transition to "net zero" carbon. In line with an increasing consensus, they call for serious pursuit of energy efficiency, a rapid rollout of renewables, and a significant expansion of the capacity for interprovincial trading. Saskatchewan's prov...

Mike Prebble is a high school teacher in Saskatoon: amongst other things he teaches climate awareness, starting from outdoor education principles. In this episode he tells us about a recent rally for high school students, about the initiatives pursued by the teenagers, and about his own experience and motivation in doing this work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 2024:May:25, a group of people from various backgrounds got together at Wanuskewin to talk about just transition and visions for a post-transition world in which all peoples' needs are met. For this episode we play a recording of the introduction to the theme given by Blue Green Canada's senior program manager, Jamie Kirkpatrick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regular FTGU host Dave Greenfield died last month after a long illness. Dave was deeply committed to peace, justice and ecological integrity, and brought his determination for positive change to the support of numerous campaigns and charities. In this episode friends and fellow activists remember him, and we replay some of the best of his poetry. There will be a memorial meeting for Dave on the af...

Peter and Mark talk about the apparently different plans (both inadequate but one worse than the other) being put forward for Saskatchewan's electricity provision by the provincial government and by SaskPower. They then move on to the Saskatchewan Environmental Society's application to intervene in the legal action being taken against the provincial government, the Crown Investments Corporation an...

Carbon pricing is complex. All the more reason for people to understand it properly so that they are not fooled by propaganda and misinformation. In this episode, Shannon and Mark talk through the two types of carbon pricing in place in Saskatchewan, and address the confusion being promoted by inaccurate labelling on our electricity bills. Shannon has raised SaskPower's corporate misinformation wi...

Following the passing of a muddled and effectively science-denying resolution by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Darrin Qualman,, Director of Climate Crisis Policy and Action with the National Farmers Union, talks about some better ways forward for farming.. The NFU is advocating for establishment of a Canadian Farm Resilience Agency, with ultimately a three-fold purpose: (i)...

Whether we call it natural gas or fossil gas, we are heavily dependent on it. And that's a problem, It's primarily made up of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which adds to global heating when it leaks or is vented. And when it's burnt for energy it produces carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas. So what do we do, first to reduce our dependence on it and then to wean ourselves off it alto...

Whether we call it natural gas or fossil gas, it's a problem, It's primarily made up of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which adds to global heating when it leaks or is vented. And when it's burnt for energy it produces carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas. So what do we do, first to reduce our dependence on it and then to wean ourselves off it altogether? What are the non-climate benef...

A bit of a mix this week. An announcement of a series of climate-relevant events in Saskatoon. Then comment on the Saskatchewan government's decision to break the law by refusing to collect carbon pricing revenues. And finally a replay of some of Dave Greenfield's sonnets from December 2022. Links to the events advertised at the beginning: Sustainability speakers series: https://environmentalsocie...

Five years after it was finalised, Saskatoon's GHG emissions reduction policy is at a crossroads. With the council under financial pressure, there have been calls on the council to reduce funding or delay projects identified under the Low Emissions Community Program. However, some projects are already behind schedule, and, while reductions have been achieved, the ability to sustain and accelerate...