Addressing Misconceptions: The Reality of Climate Change and Carbon Tax in Canada
Release Date: 11/10/2023
How To Protect The Ocean
Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy is a documentary that was released on Netflix a week before Black Friday. The movie reveals the shocking truth about how large corporations manipulate consumers to increase their profits at the peril of the consumer's wallet and the planet's health. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the recently released Netflix documentary, Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy. The episode focuses on the themes of consumerism, overconsumption, and their environmental impacts, especially in the context of the holiday shopping...
info_outline Rebuilding Fisheries in our Oceans: The Challenges and Progress in Canadian Fisheries ManagementHow To Protect The Ocean
Rebuilding fisheries requires information on fisheries stock assessments for each species. Collecting that data is not easy; it takes time and money to do. The Canadian Government is mandated to gather information on the 200 commercially fished species, but it's lacking. Not to worry. Ocean Canada has taken on the burden to collect and presenting the fisheries information in their Annual Fisheries Audit. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Rebecca Schijns, a fisheries scientist with Oceana Canada, to discuss the findings of the 8th Annual...
info_outline How Do We Stop Over Fishing? Fishing Transparency is a Good StartHow To Protect The Ocean
How do we stop over fishing? Fishing transparency is a great start. Many fisheries around the world lack the data to provide managers with the information to make better management decisions. The Coalition of Fisheries Transparency aims to work with their partners to help gain more information on each fishery. Maisie Pigeon, the Director for the Coalition, koins Andrew Lewin to discuss how transparency is made possible for fisheries. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses fishing transparency with Maisie Pidgeon, the director of the...
info_outline Solar Farm on the Ocean : The Pros and Cons of China's Largest Offshore Solar ProjectHow To Protect The Ocean
The largest solar farm on the ocean is now running off the coast of China as the country continues to invest in ways to support its sustainable energy needs. In the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses China's deployment of the world's largest open sea offshore solar panel farm. The project, developed by CHN Energy, spans 1,223 hectares (3,023 acres) and is located 8 kilometers off the coast of China. It aims to generate one gigawatt of renewable energy and is notable for its innovative use of offshore solar technology. Pros of the Offshore Solar Project ...
info_outline The Impact of Avian Flu: 17,000 Elephant Seals Lost in ArgentinaHow To Protect The Ocean
The impact of the avian flu of elephant seals resulted in the death of 17,000 individuals in a population in Argentina. Researchers think the marine mammals caught the virus from migrating birds near their haul out areas that are usually packed with the animals one on top of the other. Unfortunately, 97% of the elephant seal pups were lost resulting in a devastating loss for generations to come. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the devastating impact of the H5N1 avian flu on the elephant seal population off the coast of Argentina....
info_outline Marine Protect Area: Puerto Rico Increases Ocean Protection to 27%How To Protect The Ocean
A new marine protected area has been designated in Puerto Rico to bring their total ocean protection up to 27%, 3% away from the 30 x 30 promise many countries have promised to meet. The US has a total of 26% of its ocean in marine protected areas. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses establishing a new marine protected area (MPA) in Puerto Rico, which has increased the total protected area in their territorial waters to 27%. This new MPA, named Vega Baja and Manatee Underwater Gardens, spans 202 square kilometers (77 square miles) off the...
info_outline How Can You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Practical Steps for a Sustainable LifestyleHow To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses practical ways for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. Here are the key strategies highlighted: Calculate Your Carbon Footprint: Start by determining your current carbon footprint using a reliable calculator. Understanding your baseline is essential for tracking progress. Food Choices: Opt for Plant-Based Diets: Shift from meat, especially beef, to more plant-based proteins. This can significantly reduce your food-related carbon emissions by 50-80%. Buy Local: Purchase food from local farmers or...
info_outline Can Worms Eat Plastic? African Mealworm Might Help Save the OceanHow To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the pressing issue of plastic pollution and highlights a promising biological solution involving African mealworms. The episode focuses on the Kenyan lesser mealworm, a larval form of the Alphitobius darkling beetle, which has shown the ability to break down polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam. This capability is attributed to the unique microbes and bacteria in the mealworms' gut. Researchers are studying these gut bacteria to identify specific communities that facilitate the degradation of...
info_outline A Full Circle Moment: The Return of L-Pod to Penn CoveHow To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the significant return of the Southern Resident orca population, specifically L-Pod, to Penn Cove, Washington, after more than 50 years. This return is particularly poignant given the tragic history of the area, where in the 1970s, a brutal capture event took place. During this event, 80 orcas were corralled using bombs and boats, resulting in the deaths of five orcas and the capture of many others, including Tokite, also known as Lolita, who spent 50 years in captivity before passing away in 2023. The...
info_outline People Are Sick of Plastic Straws: Is Comedy Hurting the Anti-Plastic Movement?How To Protect The Ocean
Are you sick of hearing about plastic straws? Andrew Santino, a comedian, doesn't think that plastic straws are hurting sea turtles even though a video went viral for a scientist pulling a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose in Costa Rica. Four months later, the same scientist pulled a plastic fork from a sea turtle's nose about 70 kilometres from the original site. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the influence of comedy on public perception, particularly regarding the anti-single-use plastic movement. He begins by referencing a...
info_outlineIn this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, Andrew discusses the myths and misconceptions surrounding clean energy in Canada. Joined by Jana Elbrecht, a policy advisor with Clean Energy Canada, they aim to debunk these narratives and shed light on the benefits of renewable energy. They explore topics such as the cost-effectiveness of transitioning to clean energy and the impact of carbon taxing.
Tune in to learn more about the importance of clean energy and why it deserves recognition in Canada.
Links mentioned in the episode:
1) https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-canada.html
2) https://cleanenergycanada.org/media-brief-addressing-common-myths-around-renewable-power/
3) https://cleanenergycanada.org/report/a-clean-bill/
4) https://cleanenergycanada.org/households-in-nova-scotia-can-save-up-to-11000-a-year-by-choosing-clean-energy/
In this episode, the guest explores the concept that failing to reach certain targets can actually be seen as an opportunity for growth and acceleration of plans. This perspective is crucial as it promotes a positive mindset and a willingness to learn from setbacks.
The guest emphasizes the importance of not perceiving failure as an ultimate defeat, but rather as a chance to reassess and adjust strategies. They suggest that when targets are not met, it provides an opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and identify areas for improvement.
By reframing failure as an opportunity, both organizations and individuals can approach setbacks with a growth mindset. Instead of becoming discouraged or giving up, they can utilize the experience to learn, adapt, and develop new strategies to achieve their goals.
The guest also highlights the significance of accelerating plans when faced with failure to meet targets. This involves taking decisive action to address the gaps and shortcomings that led to the failure. It may entail implementing new technologies, adopting innovative approaches, or seeking partnerships and collaborations to expedite progress.
Overall, this episode underscores the importance of viewing failure as an opportunity for growth and the acceleration of plans. By embracing this mindset, individuals and organizations can overcome setbacks and continue working towards their goals with renewed determination and resilience.
Furthermore, the episode emphasizes the need for more widespread and informative discussions surrounding climate change and clean energy. Both the host and guest express their appreciation for having the opportunity to discuss these topics on the podcast, as they believe that this type of information is not often discussed on a level that reaches a wide audience. They express a desire to have more conversations like this to help people understand the progress being made toward clean energy and addressing climate change.
The guest, Jana Alberts, mentions that there is a faction in Canada (and likely elsewhere in the world) that opposes taking action on climate change. However, she believes that this opposition stems from a lack of understanding and awareness of the opportunities that clean energy presents. She emphasizes that transitioning to clean energy could be a great opportunity for Canada, especially considering the country's already high percentage of clean electricity compared to other countries like Germany.
The host also expresses frustration with a narrative that undermines the positive aspects of clean energy. They aim to use the podcast as a platform to dispel myths and narratives that may undermine the benefits of clean energy. They firmly believe that clean energy is a viable solution and want to provide informative discussions to counteract any misinformation or doubts surrounding it.
During the episode, the host addresses the existence of myths and narratives that manipulate people into thinking that clean energy is ineffective, which they find frustrating. They wanted to dedicate this episode to debunking these misconceptions and providing accurate information about clean energy. They express frustration with the narrative that pushes against the positive aspects of clean energy.
One of the myths discussed in the episode is the belief that clean energy is expensive. The host asks the guest, Jana Alberts, about the cost of transitioning to clean energy, specifically in terms of purchasing solar panels for roofs or electric vehicles (EVs). Jana explains that the opposite is true and that clean energy is actually becoming more affordable. She points out that this is a common myth they often encounter.
Another myth mentioned is the concern about the intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The host asks Jana about the common worry of what happens if the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Jana addresses this by highlighting countries like Denmark, which have a high share of renewable energy in their electricity generation without experiencing blackouts or major issues. This example challenges the myth that renewable energy is unreliable.
Overall, the episode aims to debunk these myths and provide accurate information about the effectiveness and affordability of clean energy.