This has been an extraordinarily hard year for science both globally, and especially in the United States.

In this week’s Talking Climate, I unpack why recent cuts to scientific programs and data don’t only affect climate research in the U.S. They weaken the knowledge infrastructure we rely on to protect public health, manage risk, and make good decisions around the world.

I also share good news from Sweden, where smart policy has turned waste into heat and power, reminding us that the most effective solutions often solve multiple problems at once.

And, as always, there's a "what you can do" ... which this week is to start a conversation about how weather and climate science supports our everyday lives. And NCEI director Deke Arndt is ready to help!

Why is this so important? Because when we take science for granted, we're witnessing in real time how much easier it becomes to lose it.

Find Deke on LinkedIn here.

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

This week, I’m setting aside Talking Climate’s usual format to share joyful stories of people taking action for climate and nature—because sometimes what we need most is a reminder that solutions are already underway.

🇿🇦 In South Africa, SeaH4 is producing sustainable biofuel from algae that can be used in conventional combustion engines to help decarbonise shipping and aviation.

🇮🇳 In India, faculty and students at Azim Premji University are turning climate data into an embodied experience by performing the story of India’s heat waves in dance.

🇦🇱 In Albania, after 12 years of tireless advocacy, two activists succeeded in protecting the entire Vjosa River, creating Europe’s first Wild River National Park.

🇦🇺 In Australia a humourous new series, The New Joneses, follows the hosts as they travel around the country by EV, exploring climate solutions.

🇨🇦 In Canada nineteen-year-old Fatih Amin, shaped by the climate impacts he witnessed growing up in Bangladesh, is catalyzing youth-led climate action.

🇵🇪 In Lima, Peru - one of the world’s driest cities - an engineer is using fog-catching nets to pull clean water from the air for communities that need it most.

We can’t fix climate change alone; but you know what? We don't have to! Millions of people are already working on it. And when we add our voice and our hands, action accelerates.

Don't forget to share what you learn here with your friends and family this week. Two great conversation starters are, "Did you know...?" or "You wouldn't believe what I read...?" Give it a try!

Find the dance video from Azim Premji University here.

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

This week’s Talking Climate newsletter is guest edited by my friend Bill McKibben — one of the most influential climate activists of our time and a lifelong voice for hope, honesty, and collective action.

In this issue, Bill shares:

🌞 Good news: Australia is rolling out free midday electricity thanks to a solar boom—an extraordinary glimpse of what a clean energy future can look like.

⚠️ Not-so-good news: Why the U.S. risks turning its back on that future, just as the rest of the world races ahead.

🤝 What you can do: How local and state action can help “simplify solar” and make affordable clean energy accessible to more people.

As Bill often reminds us: “The most important thing an individual can do right now is not be such an individual.” If you’re looking for clear-eyed honesty, big-picture hope, and practical ways forward, this one’s for you.

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