This week’s Talking Climate is guest-edited by physicist David Baker from Austin College. David is a NASA exoplanet researcher and professor whose work inspires students and communities to connect the cosmos back to our own remarkable planet.

🪐 Good news: We've now discovered over 6,000 exoplanets, from “eyeball planets” with oceans ringed by ice to worlds with two suns like Star Wars’ Tatooine. These discoveries deepen our understanding of what makes Earth uniquely habitable!

🌍 Not so good news: Out of thousands of exoplanets discovered, not one truly matches Earth’s recipe: the right materials, the right size, the right orbit, and the right kind of star. Earth is rare, precious, and irreplaceable. There is no Planet B.

🔭 What you can do: Protecting our unique home starts with valuing science and nurturing awe. Support organizations advancing climate and space research. Visit an observatory or stargaze in your own backyard. Experiencing wonder connects us to the bigger picture—and reminds us exactly what we’re fighting to preserve.

Check out David's website here.

Find Space Chip's video here.

Find an astronomy club 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

Real stories of climate action remind us that change is possible, and that we each have a role to play. This week’s newsletter highlights how individuals and communities are reshaping the future of clean energy and climate solutions.

Good news: In New York’s Hudson Valley, professor Jeff Seidman turned research into action. By hosting a forum on battery storage for local officials, he helped shift the debate. Just months later, a local town lifted its moratorium on energy storage systems!

Not so good news: In Oregon, outdated permitting laws + one determined activist are stalling wind and transmission projects. But smart siting tools prove we can expand clean energy without harming people or nature.

Inspiration: Former pilot Todd Smith left aviation to co-found Safe Landing, pushing for renewable fuels and a just transition for workers. His story shows how insiders can drive transformation from within.

These real life stories prove that when individuals raise our voices—locally, strategically, and authentically—we can directly impact climate solutions.

Check out the podcast on Todd Smith and Safe Landing here.

Find the short documentary 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

What can music, forests, and faith communities teach us about climate action?

🎶 Good news - Musician Jon Batiste, whose own life was shaped by Hurricane Katrina, is using his music to inspire climate action. His new album Big Money and climate song Petrichor remind us that solutions exist, and that change can be joyful.

🌳 Not so good news - A new study finds that tropical deforestation causes nearly 3,000 deaths each year by amplifying local warming across tropical regions. Once again, vulnerable communities bear the greatest burden.

✨ What you can do - Join Sun Day (Sept 19–21), a faith-led movement by GreenFaith supporting climate action and clean energy. Whether attending, hosting, or sharing resources, you can add your voice to the growing call for climate justice.

When it comes to climate action, each voice matters, and each action multiplies. Working together is how we can build the momentum for change.

Find the GreenFaith interactive map here.

Find GreenFaith's toolkit 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