Break In Case of Emergency

Our special series concludes with a marker that grounds all the others: centring Indigenous rights, title, and leadership. Erin Blondeau speaks with Janelle Lapointe, Serena Mendizabal, and Seth Klein about the transformative potential of Indigenous-led climate action. They discuss energy and food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and the community-driven projects already charting a different future. They also examine how governments and industry continue to prioritize extraction over Indigenous-led solutions, and what a genuine emergency response rooted in Indigenous sovereignty would require. It’s a powerful closing conversation about justice, leadership, and the pathways we must follow to...

Episode 5 of this 6-part special series takes on the equity marker: leaving no one behind. Erin Blondeau speaks with economist Jim Stanford, campaigner Anjali Appadurai, and strategist Seth Klein about what just transitions must look like in practice. They explore the realities for fossil fuel workers, the importance of linking climate action to economic fairness, and Canada’s responsibilities globally. Their conversation highlights that climate action succeeds only when it’s grounded in solidarity: supporting workers, expanding public services, addressing inequality, and ensuring that communities most impacted by the crisis are centred in solu...

Episode 4 turns to one of the most foundational markers of emergency leadership: telling the truth. Host Erin Blondeau brings together Donya Ziaee, Chris Hatch, and Seth Klein to examine why honest, urgent communication is essential in a crisis, and why Canada isn’t getting it. They dig into the failures of mainstream media, the rise of independent outlets, and the influence of fossil fuel advertising. The conversation makes the case for clear, evidence-based reporting that includes context, solutions, and a sense of agency, not doom. Truth-telling, they argue, is what allows societies to mo...

In Episode 3, the series confronts a critical shift: moving from voluntary climate action to mandatory rules that match the scale of the crisis. Erin Blondeau and Seth Klein speak with Dr. Melissa Lem, whose experience as a family physician brings urgency and clarity to the conversation. Reflecting on the deadly 2021 heat dome, they discuss mandatory measures like banning fossil fuel advertising and phasing out gas in new buildings. They also highlight the power of community-led responses and the growing leadership of health professionals calling for decisive action. This episode underscores that voluntary approaches are no match for...

In episode 2 of our 6-marker series, we turn to the institutions we need for an emergency-scale response. Erin Blondeau speaks with Alex Himelfarb, Linda McQuaig, and Seth Klein about why relying on private incentives hasn’t worked, and how Canada once excelled at building bold public institutions. From Connaught Labs to Ontario Hydro, they revisit the legacy of Crown corporations and imagine what new ones could achieve today: from publicly owned renewables to EV manufacturing to national retrofit programs. They also explore the promise of a Youth Climate Corps. It’s a call for...

Episode 1 of our 6-part special series begins with the first marker of the climate emergency: spending what it takes to win. Host Erin Blondeau is joined by Seth Klein and Caroline Brouillette to explore what real, transformative climate investment would look like, drawing parallels to Canada’s WWII mobilization. Together, they break down why today’s spending falls far short, and why committing at least 2% of GDP annually is both doable and necessary. They dig into ending fossil fuel subsidies, taxing windfall profits, and creative revenue tools like aviation pollution charges. It’s a clear-eyed conversation about ambiti...

Anjali Appadurai and Seth Klein are joined by Alex Hemingway (Senior Economist at BC Policy Solutions) to analyze the 2025 federal budget and the thin gruel that is the Climate Competitiveness Strategy. We also talk housing policies, alternative ways to generate revenue and Zohram Mamdani’s win in NYC!

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This episode aired on November 6, 2025. 

Produced by Anjali Appadurai and Doug Hamilton-Evans. Music by Anjali Appadurai. Artwork by Geoff Smith.

In this episode, Anjali Appadurai and Seth Klein sit down with Garth Mullins to explore the interconnectedness of the climate crisis and the overdose crisis, emphasizing the need for solidarity among various social movements. They discuss the metaphor of a conveyor belt leading to societal collapse, the failures of drug prohibition, and the importance of community organizing and coalition building. The conversation highlights the necessity for genuine emergency responses to both crises, advocating for a shift in how society addresses drug use and climate change, ultimately calling for a more inclusive and supportive approach to activism.

This...

On June 30, Canada officially became an exporter of LNG. Emiko Newman (Coordinator of the BC Climate Emergency Campaign) uses this inauspicious occasion as a jumping off point to tally up the costs of LNG on our environment, climate, health and finances with Kiki Wood (Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner at Stand.earth) and Clark Williams-Derry from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. 

Tune in for a deep dive into fracking, how exporting LNG will drive up the domestic price of energy and gas as well as some serious mythbusting o...

With the approval of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline and the passing of Bills 14 and 15 in B.C., Emiko Newman spoke with Kai Nagata, the northern pipeline campaigner at Dogwood, about the powerful interests behind these decisions and the resistance that has risen up in response.

This episode was recorded on June 17 and was published on June 25.

Credits: Produced by Emiko Newman and Doug Hamilton-Evans. Hosted by Emiko Newman. Featuring Kai Nagata. Music by Anjali Appadurai. Audio editing by Blue Light Studios. Artwork by Geoff Smith.

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