🏂 Good news: Winter athletes are becoming powerful climate advocates because they’re seeing the changes firsthand. From Olympians to fans, groups like Protect Our Winters are pushing sports organizations and policymakers to cut emissions and protect the winters their sports depend on.

⛷️ Not-so-good news: Climate change is rapidly whittling down locations where Winter Olympics can reliably be held. By mid-century, only a handful of locations may be cold enough—and most would rely on artificial snow.

🧊 Inspiration: Glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre just kite-skied 4,000 km across Antarctica to collect critical ice data. Her example shows how science, courage, and communication can come together—even at the coldest edge of the planet.

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

🐘 Good News: What if wildlife isn’t just impacted by climate change, but part of the solution? From forest elephants and sea otters to whales, penguins, and beavers, animals help store carbon, cool the planet, and keep ecosystems functioning. Protecting biodiversity isn’t separate from climate action: it’s central to it.

🐧 Not-So-Good News: Climate change is exacerbating the biodiversity crisis: skewing sex ratios in reptiles, shifting breeding seasons for penguins, and unraveling food webs species have relied on for millennia. These aren’t distant risks; they’re happening now.

💪 What We Can Do: Personal choices matter—not because they “fix” climate change on their own, but because they shift norms, start conversations, and inspire collective action. This month, choose sustainable habits that fit your life, share why they matter, and help catalyze systemic change.

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 is a mega-edition, a deep dive into the hot and contentious topic of AI and climate.

💚 Good news: AI and machine learning are already helping scientists process vast amounts of data, improve climate and energy modeling, protect wildlife, detect wildfires, and more. It can even accelerate the low-carbon transition, if used wisely.

😡 Not-so-good news: Today’s AI systems are driving rapid growth in energy and water use, are largely powered by fossil fuels, and are concentrating pollution and health burdens in vulnerable communities ... all while operating with little transparency or oversight.

⚖️ What you can do: The deeper I go, the more I realize the real issue isn’t whether individuals choose to personally use AI nor not. Rather, it’s how these systems are built, powered, and regulated -- because AI isn't going away and tech won’t regulate itself.

✊🏼 Bottom line? Public pressure and smart policy are essential if AI is going to support, rather than undermine, a livable climate. Which means that, once again, our voices are the most powerful force we have to shape the future we want to live in.

If you’ve been wondering whether AI is a climate villain, a climate tool, or both, this edition’s for you. I've included many links to other resources, references and experts so you can go as deep as you'd like.

As always, share what you learn - and let me know what you think!

Find Sasha Luccioni's TED Talk 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