Small Things Big Climate

Climate change: a problem so huge, how could the choices of an individual make any difference? But, then again, doing nothing feels defeatist and cynical. So, what can we do that would actually matter? Join Marco Chown Oved, climate reporter with The Toronto Star, as he navigates some of these questions on the Small Things Big Climate podcast.

Episodes

The humble heat pump: the easiest way to dramatically cut your emissions

December 11, 2024 • 33 mins

Of all the climate solutions out there, the heat pump is a no brainer. Not only will it reduce your emissions by 60 per cent or more, it’s cheaper to operate, improves air quality and makes your home more comfortable. Despite these many qualities, many people are getting talked out of getting a heat pump by their HVAC contractor.

Guests: John Gultig, heat pump...

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Beef is the worst food for the climate. Can it be done better?

December 4, 2024 • 34 mins

Sometimes it feels like you need a PhD to figure out how to shop for lower carbon groceries. Why isn't there a simple rule of thumb to follow? Host Marco Chown Oved starts this episode with a simple question: What's more important for the climate, what you eat or where it comes from? And the answer is: It isn't even close.

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E-bikes are popular because they're basically small cars

November 27, 2024 • 34 mins

We live in a world built for cars. But as we sit in endless traffic, it's hard not to think they've become a victim of their own success. Enter e-bikes. They're big enough to replace delivery trucks, but small enough to zip past the bumper-to-bumper gridlock. They're increasingly popular among food delivery people, families with young kids and seniors and soon may be replacing pick up trucks...

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Plastic is everywhere, it's made of oil and it lasts 1,000 years

November 20, 2024 • 33 mins

Plastic is a miracle substance that’s revolutionized healthcare, keeping things sterile, and has replaced glass and metal packaging, reducing carbon emissions from shipping goods. It even keeps produce fresh for longer, reducing waste and the carbon emissions that come from rotting food.

But those positives have for to...

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Fire is both the cause and effect of climate change

November 13, 2024 • 32 mins

The way we talk about climate change needs to, well, change. Everything is either invisible, like emissions, or incomprehensible, like megatonnes, or inconceivable, like reductions of national emissions 25 years in the future. The cause of climate change is simple: it's fire. To end global warming, we need to stop burning things.

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Fighting climate change collectively and individually

November 6, 2024 • 31 mins

The Star is often inundated with emails from readers asking what they can do to fight climate change. While there are lots of things people can do to lower their personal carbon emissions – and it's important to feel like you're part of the solution – individual action cannot end global warming on its own. So in this episode we take a look at community groups working on scaling up individual action to ...

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Introducing Small Things Big Climate, a new podcast from the Toronto Star

November 1, 2024 • 1 min

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