welcome back deep divers today we're going deep uh into something that affects us all even if we don't always realize it that's right we're talking about environmental issues specifically how Canada is dealing with those big challenges climate change and biodiversity loss oh those are some Heavy Hitters for sure but you know what we've got a pretty interesting mix of sources to dig through today oh yeah like what well there's this social studies textbook chapter which is you know the standard stuff but then we've also got some interviews with students which always gives a fresh perspective students huh always interesting to hear what they're thinking and get this we even have uh kind of like a diary you know personal Reflections from an actual environmental Advocate plus there's this little quiz and FAQ document so we can test our knowledge along the way sounds like a real mixed bag I'm curious to see how it all connects me too and I think what's really cool about this deep dive is that it's not just about you know abstract Concepts or far-off problem s it's about understanding how these environmental issues actually affect our lives like right here right now you're right it's about the a we breathe the water we drink even the food we eat it all ties back to the environment in some way okay so let's start with the basics what exactly is an environmental issue you know we hear that term all the time but what does it really mean the textbook kind of predictably defines it as uh any human activity that has a significant impact on the natural world so you know classic examples would be Factory pollution or all that housing development that eats up green spaces yeah those are the images that immediately come to mind right Big Smoke Stacks sprawling suburbs but it really hits home when you think about how those things affect our everyday lives exactly it's not just some abstract concept it's about the water we drink the air we breathe you know the very things that keep us healthy and the textbook actually has this mind map showing how everyone's connected to these issues like it's not just about you know big corporations or the government it's about individual communities businesses the whole shebang it's a complex web that's for sure shows you how interconnected we all are and how our actions even seemingly small ones can have consequences okay so we've got a handle on what environmental issues are now let's dive into one of the biggest ones climate change everyone always talks about Rising temperatures but isn't there more to it than just that oh absolutely climate change is about way more than just feeling a bit warmer it's about shifts in weather patterns impacts on agriculture rising sea levels the whole nine yards it's a truly Global Challenge and it's going to manifest differently in different regions which makes tackling it politically oh so complex right and that's what makes this deep dive so interesting we're not just talking about climate change in some abstract way we're looking at how it's playing out right here in Canada and our sources show that the north especially is experiencing the fastest warming and that's having a direct impact on traditional Inuit ways of life bringing up serious questions about indigenous rights and environmental justice it's a stark reminder that climate change isn't just some future threat it's happening right now and it's already impacting people's lives and you know these impacts aren't limited to remote communities either you're right think about the increase in Hurricane intensity we've seen or those devastating floods in New Orleans scientists are linking those events directly to climate change it's kind of mind-boggling to think about those connections but if we're serious about tackling climate change don't we have to start with who's producing all those greenhouse gases in the first place absolutely you got to look at the sources of the problem and in Canada our sources point to Alberta and Ontario as the biggest CO2 emitters which makes sense right Alberta's got the oil industry and Ontario's a manufacturing Powerhouse exactly and that leads us right into that classic dilemma how do you balance the economic benefits of these industries with the urgent need to cut emissions it's a tough one it sounds like a real rope walk for policy makers on the one hand you've got jobs economic growth energy Security on the other hand you've got climate change and the need to protect the environment for future generations and to add another layer of complexity let's not forget about the United States as our neighbor they actually emit far more greenhouse gases than we do so it's a global issue with regional variations and finding Solutions requires a whole lot of collaboration and compromise collaboration that's the key word speaking of which we have to talk about the Kyoto Protocol Canada's had a pretty well let's just say interesting relationship with that agreement hasn't it interesting is one way to put it we signed onto This Global plan to reduce emissions then backed out under a new government and now from what I've read it seems like we might be heading back to the negotiating table it's a real heads scratcher isn't it it makes you wonder what factors go into these decisions like what makes a government decide to sign an international agreement then back out and then maybe Recons it's a complex process for sure different political parties often have different approaches and sometimes those views evolve over time but what's clear is that our stance on the K protocol you know that whole back and forth it definitely impacts how other countries see us and it raises questions about how committed we really are to tackling climate change yeah uh it definitely sends a mixed message but you know what gives me hope it's the fact that governments aren't the only ones who can make a difference I mean take Rob Grant's story for example this teenager started an environmental group at his school and actually got them to install solar panels how cool is that that's an incredible story isn't it what I find so inspiring about Rob's story is that he didn't just rely on one tactic his group they launched awareness campaigns did a ton of fundraising and worked with local businesses they really understood how to pull those different levers to make change happen that's a fantastic example of how young people can be powerful agents of change it's about understanding how to Leverage those different Avenues of influence isn't it and it gives me hope knowing that we all have that potential to make a difference it does doesn't it and it makes you think about the different levers for change that exist especially as we move into talking about one of the biggest environmental debates here in Canada the oil sands right the oil sands vital to Canada's economy but also a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions it's that classic trade-off we were talking about earlier a textbook case actually on the one hand you have the premier of Alberta who's Pro development talking about the economic benefits all the jobs the oil sands create and then on the other side there's this whole Coalition of environmental groups indigenous communities and concerned citizens who are saying hold on the environmental costs are just too high we need to slow down it's a real Clash of values isn't it whose quality of life are we prioritizing and how do we balance those competing interests it's a tough question and it's not just some theoretical debate happening in the halls of power it affects all of us absolutely think about it every time we fill our gas tanks heat our homes we're connected to those choices being made about the oil sands it's a reminder that even our everyday actions are part of this bigger picture they really are and you know what I found interesting there are some really clever cartoons in our sources that touch on this whole debate about the government's role in the economy especially when it comes to environmental issues they add a bit of humor to a serious topic but they also illustrate how these debates are all always present always evolving it's a reminder that these issues aren't just about science and economics they're also about values about perspectives about how we see our place in the world but let's shift gears a bit and talk about another big environmental concern biodiversity I feel like when people hear biodiversity they think about saving cute animals but it's so much bigger than that right oh way bigger our textbook defines it as the variety and number of living things on earth which sounds simple enough but think about it this variety of life it's essential for maintaining those healthy ecosystems that provide us with clean air and water regulate the climate and even contribute to our cultural and spiritual well-being it's like we're all part of this giant interconnected web and we often don't even realize how much we rely on it exactly and to really understand the real world implications of biodiversity loss we need to turn to Cliff Wallace our Eco Warrior diarist he's got some seriously insightful perspectives on this topic I'm all yours what kind of approach does he take to conservation efforts well what's fascinating is that he talks about using a network approach it's about building Common Ground among a really diverse range of stakeholders businesses indigenous communities government agencies to find solutions that work for everyone that's such a valuable approach don't you think building consensus finding common ground that's something we could apply to so many challenges not just environmental ones I agree it's about recognizing that we're all in this together and Cliff brings this approach to life with a really powerful story about the Woodland Caribou I've heard about them they're struggling aren't they they are they've been hit hard by habitat loss caused by logging oil and gas development and other human activities it's a stark reminder of how our actions can have far-reaching consequences impacting even the most remote parts of the ecosystem it's heartbreaking to think about those impacts so how does Cliff propose we tackle these kinds of issues where do we even begin when it comes to protecting biodiversity he talks about identifying and utilizing the right levers those strategic pressure points that can drive change he outlines three main ones markets laws and international agreements relivers okay let's start with markets what does he mean by that well he argues that consumer demand for sustainably produced products can influence companies to adopt more environmentally friendly practices so it's about using our purchasing power to drive change I can see how that could be a powerful lever exactly a great example is the forest Stewardship Council or FSC they set standards for responsible forestry practices and companies that meet those standards they get their products certified consumers who see that little FSC logo they know they're making a choice that supports responsible forestry oh yeah I've seen that logo it's amazing how a simple symbol can make you feel like you're making a difference it's about empowering consumers to make informed choices and then there's the laws lever Cliff argues that strong environmental regulations are absolutely crucial especially for those industries that have a big impact on biodiversity so things like setting limits on pollution or creating protected areas for wildlife makes sense are there any examples here in Canada where that liver's been used effectively definitely he mentions the species at risk act or Sarah for short which is designed to protect endangered species including our Caribou friend we were just talking about it's a legal framework that's supposed to help Safeguard our natural heritage it's good to know that those legal protections are in place so what about that third lever International agreements I feel like we've touched on that already we have with the Kyoto Protocol but Cliff emphasizes that environmental issues often cross National borders so to solve them we need cooperation on a global scale makes sense it's a reminder that we're all interconnected and that these problems are bigger than any one country exactly he highlights the convention on biological diversity as a key example it's an international treaty that Canada has signed and it's all about countries working together to conserve biodiversity and make sure the benefits from using natural resources are shared fairly it sounds like it all comes down to finding the right balance doesn't it using those three levers in a strategic way to make lasting change it does and that brings us back to the question of citizen action what role do we play in all of this what can we do as individuals to protect biodiversity here in Canada that's a great question because it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of these issues like what can one person really do but you know what our textbook actually has a whole section on getting involved it even has a stepbystep guide which I thought was really helpful yeah it's a good starting point and it emphasizes that taking action can be as simple as making informed choices about the things we buy it's something we've talked about before that idea of consumer power right every purchase is like a vote it's about aligning our spending with our values exactly and don't underestimate the power of just talking about these issues spreading awareness starting conversations you never know who you might Inspire it's about being the change you want to see in the world right even something as simple as sharing an article online or having a conversation with a friend can make a difference you never know what kind of ripple effect it might create you really don't and speaking of information there's one more Source we need to dig into that quiz and FAQ document we mentioned earlier it's like a cheat sheet for understanding the key points about environmental issues in Canada a cheat sheet huh I could use one of those so what kind of burning questions does it address well it tackles that really fundamental one what are environmental issues and why should we Canadians even care right like why should this stuff matter to us on a personal level it basically boils down to this environmental issues come from human activities that end up impacting the natural world you know the world we all depend on okay so there's that cause and effect relationship our actions have consequences but what kind of conse consequences are we talking about here the consequences can be pretty significant we're talking things that can affect the air we breathe the water we drink the health of entire ecosystems and even the availability of the natural resources we rely on so it's not just about like saving the whales or protecting the rainforest it actually hits a lot closer to home exactly it's about our health our well-being and the quality of life we enjoy here in Canada and the FAQ also points out that these environmental issues are totally intertwined with political and economic decision making oh yeah absolutely governments are the ones setting the rules for how we manage pollution resources conservation efforts and businesses and industries are making decisions every day that impact the environment it's all connected it's like this complex web of interconnected systems and we're all part of it right and then there's the big one the one we can't ignore climate change the document lays out a pretty clear explanation of what climate change is and how it could impact Canadians we've talked about it a bit already but I think it's worth a cap what is climate change exactly and why should we be concerned about it in a nutshell climate change is this long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns and it's mostly driven by The increased emissions of those greenhouse gases we talked about earlier primarily from human activities like burning fossil fuels okay so those greenhouse gases are the main culet and we've already established that Canada has its fair share of Industries pumping those out what does the FAQ say about the potential impact of all this it paints a pretty sobering picture actually it talks about things like rising sea levels that could threaten our Coastal communities more frequent and severe extreme weather events changes in agricultural yields and disruptions to ecosystems and freshwater resources that's a lot to process really it sounds like climate change could touch pretty much every aspect of our life it really could and it makes that whole Kyoto Protocol situation even more complex doesn't it knowing what we know now was it the right move for Canada to withdraw from that agreement it's a tough one isn't it it is there are strong arguments on both sides some folks say the Kyoto Protocol was too ambitious that those emissions targets were unrealistic and would hurt our economy others argue that it was a mised opportunity a failure of leadership that prioritize short-term gains over our long-term responsibility to the planet yeah it's hard to know what the right answer is but it definitely highlights how complex these issues are and how difficult it can be to find solutions that satisfy everyone absolutely so with all that in mind what does the FAQ actually suggest we do about climate change how do we respond to something this big and complicated right where do we even begin well it calls for a multi-pronged approach basically with everyone doing their part it suggests that governments can enact policies that encourage renewable energy sources you know like wind and solar power things that will help us move away from fossil fuels so shifting away from those fossil fuels is a key part of the solution it seems to be and it's not just about energy production the FAQ also talks about improving Energy Efficiency like supporting better building practices public transportation and investing in research to develop cleaner technologies that makes sense but it sounds like it's not just up to the government to solve this right not at all consumers have a big role to play too the FAQ encourages us to think about our choices opting for sustainable products reducing energy use at home and choosing more eco-friendly Transportation options so it's about those everyday decisions right those small choices that can add up to make a difference exactly and industries need to step up too you know they've got to start adopting cleaner Technologies and investing in research and development to make their operations more sustainable it sounds like it really takes a collective effort everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction absolutely now let's move on to another critical environmental issue the FAQ dives into biodiversity it starts by defining what biodiversity is and why it's so important to protect it we talked about it a bit earlier but a refresher never hurts remind us what exactly is biodiversity and why should we be concerned about it biodiversity is all about the incredible variety of life we have here on Earth it's all the different plants animals fungi microorganisms you name it even the genetic variation within species is part of biodiversity wow that's a pretty broad definition yeah so why is it so important to protect all this diversity for a whole bunch of reasons actually biodiversity plays a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems healthy and remember healthy ecosystems provide all sorts of benefits for humans right we were talking about those ecological Services earlier that clean air and water climate regulation you know all those good things exactly biodiversity helps with all of that it supports our food security contributes to our cultural and spiritual well-being it's about more than just pretty flowers and cute animals it's about protecting the intricate Web of Life that sustains us all okay that makes sense so what does the FAQ say about how we can protect biodiversity here in Canada what concrete steps can we take it emphasizes both individual and Collective action so on the individual level it encourages us to make sustainable choices in our daily lives like the things we buy how we get around how much energy we use and then on a larger scale it suggests we can support conservation organizations get involved in citizen science projects and advocate for policies that protect our natural heritage so it's about using our voices and our choices to make a difference exactly it's about recognizing that we all have a part to play in this it really does feel like we've covered a lot of ground in this deep dive we've gone from those big picture questions about what environmental issues are and why they matter to exploring some really specific examples of how these issues are playing out here in Canada it's been quite a journey and I I think what struck me the most is how complex these issues isues are there are so many factors to consider the science the economics the politics the social impacts it's definitely not a simple problem solution kind of situation and you know what else has really stood out for me it's this theme of interconnectedness that keeps popping up oh yeah that's a good one we're not just talking about isolated problems here everything's linked together exactly the health of our ecosystems is linked to our own well-being our individual choices are linked to these larger Global challenges and the actions of governments and IND Ries have a ripple effect that impacts all of us it's like we're all part of this giant web we're all tugging on different threads that's a great way to put it and it brings us back to that idea of environmental stewardship that we touched on earlier it's about recognizing that we have a responsibility to care for this planet not just for ourselves but for future Generations yeah that stewardship idea really resonated with me it's about recognizing that we're not just you know inhabitants of this planet we're caretakers we have a duty to protect it precisely in that sense of stewardship it can take so many forms it could be as simple as choosing to buy sustainably produced products or reducing our energy consumption at home or it could be about advocating for stronger environmental policies or supporting those organizations that are on the front lines of protecting our natural heritage exactly there are so many ways to contribute and it's about finding those actions that feel meaningful and impactful to you it's about figuring out where you fit into that larger web of action and you know one thing that really helped me visualize this was Cliff Wallace's idea of those levers for change remember how he talked about markets laws and international agreements oh yeah those lovers were a brilliant way to frame it he was talking about how those are the tools that can be used to shift systems and drive large scale change but what I found so powerful about that concept is that it can be applied on a personal level too we all have our own set of levers yeah the choices we make every day the way we spend our money the causes we support the conversations we have yeah those are all levers that we can use to make a difference I love that it's like we're all many change makers each with our own unique set of tools and influence exactly and you know one of the things that really stood out in the student interviews was how passionate young people are about environmental issues they're not just sitting around waiting for someone else to fix things they're taking action they're raising their voices they're demanding change it's incredibly inspiring to see that energy and commitment and it reminds us that we're not alone in this there's a whole generation of young people who are ready to step up and be part of the solution and you know what that gives me hope because it's easy to get bogged down by all the bad news to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the challenges we face but seeing those young people taking action it's a powerful reminder that change is possible it is and you know as we wrap up this deep dive I think that's the message we want to leave our listeners with that sense of hope and possibility yes it's not about despair it's about empowerment it's about recognizing that we all have a role to play in creating a healthier more sustainable future exactly so to all you deep divers out there we want to leave you with a challenge think about those personal lovers we talked about what choices can you make in your everyday life that align with your values how can you use your influence to inspire others what kind of future do you want to see for Canada and what actions can you take to help create it those are great questions to ponder and we hope this deep dive has given you the knowledge and inspiration to start taking action we believe in you deep divers the future of our planet is in our hands until next time keep exploring keep learning and keep making those choices that create a healthier more sustainable World thanks for joining us