Fighting for a Biodiverse Future: How Canadian climate leaders are preserving ecosystems from their own backyards

In a very Canadian episode of Cities 1.5, David discusses the urgent need for both local and global climate action with a focus on biodiversity with Mayor Valérie Plante of Montréal and Elizabeth Hendricks from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Canada. They share insights on urban biodiversity initiatives, the impact and outcomes of COP15 and COP16, and the importance of integrating nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis. The episode also highlights the critical role cities play in preserving natural ecosystems, supporting public health, and ensuring a sustainable future where all can thrive.Image Credit: Donovan Kelly @ PexelsFeatured guests:Mayor Valérie Plante has served as the Mayor of Montréal since 2017.Elizabeth Hendriks is a freshwater policy specialist and Vice President of Restoration and Regeneration at WWF Canada.Links: WWF Living Planet Report 2024: A Planet in CrisisDegradation of nature could reduce UK GDP by 12 per cent - UN Environment ProgrammeLast-minute pledges and sobering science: Where is the World, Post-COP28? Cities 1.5 podcast, featuring Professor Xuemei BaiArctic impacts: The human cost of melting ice - Cities 1.5 podcast, featuring Sheila Watt-CloutierCOP15 ends with landmark biodiversity agreement - UN Environment ProgrammeThe Darlington ecological corridor: a green link in CDN-NDG - City of MontréalVideo featuring Sadiq Khan, “Doers not Delayers” - C40 Cities InstagramMontréal Breaks Ground on City’s Largest-Ever ‘Sponge Park’ - Stormwater ReportMontréal biodomeWWF Canada re:grow programCOP16 ends in disarray and indecision despite biodiversity breakthroughs - The GuardianFreshwater Challenge websiteC40 Urban Nature Accelerator- C40If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/