Back to Newsroom

Prose for the planet

By exploring climate change stories of loss and destruction alongside tales of resilience and innovation, we learn the future really is in our hands

May 28, 2025

Soaring temperatures, burning forests, intense and more-frequent storms and crop-killing deep freezes.

Climate change has become a focal point in the media and it’s never been more urgent to address this phenomenon than now.

From documentaries and news reports, to podcasts and social media campaigns, the constant conversation about climate change has permeated various platforms, sparking awareness and debate among the public.

But what is climate change exactly? Is it found in a smoky heat dome that sears vulnerable lungs? Does it live in the home-destroying torrents of an early-season hurricane? Can it be grieved during a peach-less summer following a bone-chilling winter weather plunge?

The surge in attention around all these issues underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of climate change.

The first session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) occurred at the Geneva International Conference Centre in November 1988. The panel was established to “provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on the current state of knowledge about climate change.”

 Canada is one of the 195 member countries and has been on board since the IPCC was established. Over the years, the IPCC has played an important role in bringing together climate scientists from all over the world, and Canada’s participation is meant to show its commitment to understanding and taking part in climate change initiatives.

In recent years, Canada has experienced increasingly extreme weather events.

The 2021 heat dome, the fiery destruction of the town of Lytton, B.C., wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta. and floods in Nova Scotia are just a few examples. These natural disasters, influenced by climate change, underscore the profound impact that global warming is having on the country, and the importance of being ready for future climate events.

“When we understand the risks we face, we can better protect ourselves and our communities from them,” Bill Blair, Canada’s former Minister of Emergency Preparedness, said upon releasing Canada’s first National Risk Profile — first tabled in May 2023 and revised in January 2024.  

“The National Risk Profile is a foundational piece of emergency preparedness work that draws upon scientific evidence and stakeholder perspectives to support decision-making that will strengthen Canada’s emergency management and resiliency to climate-related risks and disasters.” 

The urgency of addressing climate change is echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who emphasizes the implications of climate change.

“Canada understands that if you don’t have a plan to tackle climate change, then you don’t have a plan to create jobs and economic growth,” Trudeau said. “Canada is a committed partner in the global fight against climate change, and together we will build a cleaner and more prosperous future for all.”

In this province, ClimateReadyBC — an open information portal filled with climate and disaster risk data, information and resources at climatereadybc.gov.bc.ca — further warns that British Columbia is experiencing the direct  impacts of climate change.

According to the site, the 2021 heat dome “would have been virtually impossible without the added effects of climate change,” and it is predicted that such extreme events will become more commonplace. These events disproportionately affect the most vulnerable groups, including seniors, the unhoused and under-housed, and those living with disabilities.  

At the Canadian Climate Institute, a policy research organization, Board of Directors’ Chair Peter Nicholson says haste is needed.

 “The longer we collectively delay taking the necessary steps to limit climate overheating, the more we’ll need to spend to repair what extreme weather destroys and to shore up our infrastructure to prevent the next catastrophe,” Nicholson writes in the institute’s 2023-2024 Annual Impact Report.

Climate change has never been a more pressing concern, and the need for informed action and preparedness is more crucial than ever.

While our collective future is certainly at stake, climate change is experienced at the personal level. Whether it’s the loss of a species, a home or a loved one, the ramifications of climate change evoke deep feelings of grief, anger and sadness.

But there is also cause for hope. For Megaphone’s annual summer reading list, we delve into five recent releases that feature climate change as a central theme, addressing this topic from various perspectives.

By combining stories of tragedy and destruction with tales of resilience and innovation, we learn the future really is in our hands.

Action starts with exploration. As the summer heat settles in, consider diving into one of these titles for your next beach read.

The Future is Now: Solving the Climate Crisis With Today’s Technologies — Bob McDonald

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the possibilities for change when nature seemed to be healing itself in the absence of human activity. 

The Future is Now explores the technologies that humanity can use to address and rectify some of the environmental challenges we’ve created. In that sense, this book is unlike many doom-and-gloom narratives, instead feeding the reader optimism as it focuses on alternative ways of solving environmental challenges that could save our planet. 

A central theme is the idea that solutions to our climate crisis already exist through the use of technologies.

“How can we deal with this? One of the ways is through technology. And it turns out that we already know how to do it,” writes McDonald, who is the host of CBC Radio’s award-winning science program Quirks & Quarks, which draws a weekly audience of around half a million people.

The book explores various alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and even nuclear energy.

While acknowledging that these alone may not be enough, McDonald emphasizes the potential of innovation and creativity to create a greener future. Using eco-friendly technologies and innovative solutions while embracing new possibilities could help us towards a greener and more resilient world.

Fire Weather — John Vaillant

In Fire Weather, Vancouver-based journalist John Vaillant addresses wildfires as a consequence of climate change, serving as a stark reminder that these are not isolated events but alarming previews of what’s to come as our world continues to get hotter. 

This book delves into the evolving relationship between fire and people, with a particular focus on the 2016 wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta and their profound impact on the town and its residents. 

Vaillant examines how human interaction with fire has changed over time and discusses the role of climate change and human activities in exacerbating wildfire risks. He also highlights the petrochemical industry’s influence on fire events, making the argument that it’s a critical factor that cannot be ignored. 

Vaillant  issues a warning about the urgent need for action, but also offers a hopeful perspective.

“Here’s the upside: when it comes to renewable energy potential, Canada really is a superpower. Right now, we are perfectly poised to embrace the greatest, greenest energy opportunity the world has ever known. So who’s stopping us?” he asks.

He further reflects on the changing nature of our climate.

“There’s no such thing as a new normal. We are going into what I would call climate incognito, the unknown climate. And it’s going to keep changing. And we’re going to have to keep adapting and it’s going to keep surprising us.”

Fire Weather not only sheds light on the imminent dangers posed by climate change, but sparks one’s imaginings of the possibilities of a greener future.

The Summer Canada Burned: The Wildfire Season That Shocked the World — Monica Zurowski

The Summer Canada Burned chronicles the devastating and tense 2023 wildfire season in Canada during which more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) of forest burned following an unnaturally dry spring. Wildfires touched every province and territory, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of Canadians and drawing global attention. British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories all endured their most destructive wildfires on record. This book serves as a case study demonstrating the effects of climate change on our communities. 

Edited by Calgary Herald Deputy Editor Monica Zurowski, this work features stories and reportage from Postmedia journalists who covered the national tragedy. These accounts provide a multifaceted look at what was endured, including firsthand narratives from those directly affected. The book also reflects on changing attitudes towards wildfire management and the roles people can play in prevention.

Additionally, The Summer Canada Burned includes positive stories of resilience and survival, complemented by colour photographs that capture and document the apocalyptic nature of these fires. The impact of the fires on people, communities, animals and the entire country is thoroughly examined.

“Many communities remain at risk of evacuation and fire devastation in the future, with climate change and diverse weather patterns continuing to contribute to wildfire potential,” said Zurowski in a Calgary Herald article.

By combining tales of tragedy and of loss with tales of hope and resilience, The Summer Canada Burned offers a comprehensive look at one of Canada’s most challenging wildfire seasons, highlighting the urgent need for climate action and better wildfire management.

Climate Grief: From Coping to Resilience and Action — Shawna Weaver

Eco-therapist Shawna Weaver delves into the emotional and psychological impact of climate change in her book Climate Grief, exploring the concept of climate distress and how we all can “find peace and build sustainability.” 

The book centres on climate grief, a term encompassing feelings of sorrow, anxiety and despair that people experience when they witness climate change and the loss of ecosystems. Weaver explains it as a normal response to “living in an increasingly unstable environment.”

Despite the title, this is ultimately a hopeful book. While it reminds us of the difficult emotions humans experience due to climate change, it also offers ways to cope. 

Drawing on her experience in therapy, Weaver, who has a PhD in sustainability education, provides insights into how people can cope with the reality of climate change on a personal level. 

“There’s a lot for academics and scientists, and there’s a lot for sort of a psycho-spiritual perspective of grief, but there’s not a lot out there for most people who are just realizing what climate change actually feels like emotionally,” says Weaver.

Weaver emphasizes the importance of building resilience, making lifestyle changes and taking action to address climate issues. She also suggests strategies people can use to help process their emotions, but also take action to alleviate the situation.

Climate Grief acknowledges the grief but remains optimistic, offering practical strategies for coping and taking action to mitigate climate change’s effects on our mental and emotional well-being.

Medicine Wheel for the Planet —  Jennifer Grenz

Dr. Jennifer Grenz, an Indigenous ecologist of Nlaka’pamux descent whose family comes from Lytton First Nation, has devoted decades to preserving Pacific Northwest ecosystems while bridging Indigenous and Western science worldviews. Memoir-like in its content, Medicine Wheel for the Planet illustrates Grenz’s observations, sacred stories and her personal journey towards integrating her Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge.

“My personal journey to bring together my Indigeneity with my Western scientific training gave me an opportunity for deep self-reflection and the permission to work beyond the limitations of a singular worldview,” she reflects.

Medicine Wheel for the Planet argues for a marked change in our ecological approach, advocating for the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Grenz, who has a bachelor of science in agroecology and a PhD in integrated studies in land and food systems, criticizes the approach of Western ecology — which often views land solely as an exploitable resource, where humans are placed in a God-like position. 

She also shares her personal struggle against the dismissiveness of Indigenous knowledge within academia. 

“In Indigenous ecology, humans are seen as integral parts of ecosystems, entrusted with the responsibility to make decisions that sustain all living beings — plant, human and animal communities,”  Grenz explains. 

Her work challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the environment and invites us to adopt a more inclusive and sustainable approach to ecological stewardship using the Indigenous medicine wheel. Her insights underscore the urgency of integrating diverse knowledge systems to address environmental challenges effectively.   

Hannah Mondiwa is a journalist, writer and Read-Mercer CBC fellowship recipient.