The critical work of our time is nature's restoration, yet over $2 trillion is spent annually on military operations and armaments. This global spending fuels wars, destroys cities and critical ecosystems, emits millions of tons of greenhouse gases, pollutes land and water, and exacerbates the climate crisis, increasing vulnerability to catastrophic floods, droughts, and diseases.

Military alliances are not the answer; the real battle is saving life on our planet, which requires us to stop destroying it. This vital discussion features Kati Juva (Co-President, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) and Tamara Lorincz (environmental advocate, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace).

For more information on the state of our planet, visit the FacingFuture Library.

Plastic poses serious health risks, from its production harming communities to its breakdown into ubiquitous microplastics infiltrating our environment and bodies. Over 9 billion tonnes have been produced since 1950, with ocean debris potentially outweighing all fish soon.

Greenpeace's John Hocevar will attend negotiations in Ottawa for a binding Global Plastic Treaty. Join the campaign by signing a letter to President Biden, urging a strong treaty: Greenpeace USA.

For more information about climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library: FacingFuture Library.

Greenland’s ice sheets hold enough freshwater to raise sea levels over twenty feet. While not an immediate threat, recent research shows glaciers are shrinking seven times faster than a few years ago, losing an average of 30 million tonnes per hour.

This influx of freshwater into the ocean significantly impacts the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is vital for maintaining global weather patterns. Experts like Peter Wadhams and Paul Beckwith are studying these critical changes.

For more information on climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library.

The planet faces critical challenges in the next 10-20 years due to climate breakdown, with critical systems on the verge of failure. Young people must decide whether to plan their lives based on endless growth and consumerism, or lead a movement to adapt to changing conditions. What role will AI play in our future?

Former NASA engineer Tom Riley, author of climate detective novels, Paul Beckwith, and host Dale Walkonen explore how stories can inspire necessary and ethical action. Tom Riley's latest novel, *Dark Heat*, is available on Amazon.

For more information about climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library at facingfuture.earth/library.

A global movement is underway to restore large ecosystems. Led by figures like John Liu and Aude Peronne, thousands are actively working with nature to recover degraded landscapes, demonstrating that nature's incredible resilience offers our best hope for survival.

Join this vital effort through [Commonland](https://commonland.com/) and [Ecosystem Restoration Communities](https://www.ecosystemrestorationcommunities.org/). For further insights into climate change, explore the [FacingFuture Library](https://facingfuture.earth/library).

Amid escalating climate emergencies and humanity's reliance on fossil fuels, this program, recorded at COP28, critically examines the global transition to clean energy. It addresses challenges and controversies, echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres's dire warnings and the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts.

The discussion focuses on frontline activists, the needs of island nations, and international leadership in clean energy. Hosted by Raya Salter, with music by David Fesliyan and edited by Michael Barba.

For more information on our planet's state, visit the FacingFuture Library.

Securing the global food system is paramount, given agriculture's vast ecological impact. John D. Liu and Willem Ferwerda, through Commonland and EcoRestoration Camps, lead large-scale efforts to restore hydrological cycles, degraded soils, and ecosystems, fostering new communities.

Vegan activist Isaias Hernandez advocates for young climate activists, stressing that their future depends on nature's resilience and transformative human action for restoration. The program was hosted and edited by Raya Salter.

For more information, visit Ecosystem Restoration Communities, Commonland, and the FacingFuture Library.

Nick Breeze's book, "COPOUT: How Governments Have Failed the People on Climate," offers an insider's account of UN Climate Conferences (COPs) from Paris 2015 to Dubai. He often crossed paths with the late Stuart Scott, founder of this channel.

Despite nearly 30 years of COPs, emissions have surged 60%, CO2 levels reached 421 ppm, and global temperatures averaged 1.64°C last year, exceeding safe limits. This year's COP in Azerbaijan, led by an oil and gas executive, promises emission reductions and renewable energy, but omits nature restoration.

For more on climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library: https://facingfuture.earth/library.

Stark global temperature rise predictions and the urgent need for climate action are taking an immense emotional and psychological toll on scientists. Inspired by The Guardian's "Hopeless and Broken: Climate Scientists Despair," climate attorney Raya Salter and IPCC Lead Author Dr. Ruth Cerezo Mota discuss their personal experiences with this despair.

Dr. Cerezo Mota, a climatologist with over 15 years in climate modeling, shares her work's real-world impacts and the challenges of political resistance, funding, and public apathy. Despite these hurdles, her motivation fuels vital research.

For more, visit Dr. Cerezo Mota's bio, Raya Salter's bio, or the FacingFuture Library.

Water is vital for life and climate regulation, but intensifying global floods and droughts demand a new understanding of its dynamics. The film "WATER IS LOVE" addresses this critical issue.

It champions restoring hydrological cycles and revitalizing rivers, placing water at the core of ecological restoration. The film showcases autonomous bioregions like Tamera, fostering a new consciousness and human-earth reconnection for a hopeful future.

Watch "WATER IS LOVE" and join the free online summit, August 1-4, 2024: waterislovefilm.org/what-does-water-want. Explore Tamera: tamera.org, the film: waterislovefilm.org, and climate change: facingfuture.earth/library.

Life on our planet faces imminent danger, demanding a shift from exploitation to caretaking and restoration. Cultivating our connection with nature is vital for both sanity and survival, fostering emotional and mental resilience amidst overwhelming challenges.

Psychotherapist Eva Jahn founded the Climate Emotional Resilience Institute (CERI) to address this crisis, providing coping skills and community support. She joins Paul Beckwith and Dale Walkonen for this conversation.

For more information about CERI and its 8-week online Thicket program, visit climateemotionalresilience.org. Explore further at the FacingFuture Library.

The ocean, vital for Earth's oxygen, carbon storage, and climate, supports the majority of our planet's life. Yet, the International Seabed Authority is considering opening the deep sea to companies vying to extract millions of tons of minerals like manganese, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. This heavy equipment mining threatens fragile deep-sea ecosystems.

Arlo Hemphill, Lead Ocean Campaigner for Greenpeace USA, exposes how the laws of the sea are being evaded to accommodate these mining interests.

Take action against deep-sea mining: Greenpeace USA. For more information on climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library.

Changing weather patterns, with stronger storms and droughts, demand land restoration. We need to free land to absorb flooding, recover hydrology, and enhance natural systems for CO2 sequestration.

The automotive age has brought mobility at a steep environmental cost. Gas cars are disastrous, leading to ecosystem loss as paved surfaces cover soil and absorb heat; EVs don't solve this land-use issue. Additionally, three-quarters of arable land converted to animal agriculture compounds this recipe for disaster.

For further insights, consult Bill Selby's The California Skywatcher or visit the FacingFuture Library for more information.

Concrete production, responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions, typically lasts 50-100 years. Extending its durability to 200 years or more would significantly reduce the 4 billion tons of CO2 produced annually by its manufacture.

Our guest, Martin Halliwell, holds over 10 patents for "Earth honoring systems" designed to lower CO2 emissions in construction. His innovations include more durable concrete and integrated geothermal and windmill installations.

For more on Martin Halliwell’s work, visit footprintengineering.ca. Explore climate change information at the FacingFuture Library.

Happy New Year! Navigating today's daunting challenges and overwhelming emotions requires resilience and practical tools. Our first guest of 2025, Sylvie Rokab, offers a timely solution.

Her free New Year's Gift, #RevitalizeYourPurpose, is a one-hour webinar designed to help you realign with what matters most, setting a mindful and intentional tone for 2025, rooted in nature's sacredness.

Register for this free webinar here: https://lovethynature.com/free-webinar-revitalize-your-purpose/. Explore more about Sylvie Rokab: https://lovethynature.com/ and https://sylvierokab.com/. For climate change information, visit the FacingFuture Library: https://facingfuture.earth/library.

COP discussions on climate change mitigation and adaptation have proven ineffective. Instead, planetary-scale action is crucial for restoring natural ecological function. John D. Liu leads this effort, engaging thousands across over 80 global restoration projects.

Nick Breeze, author of COPOUT, and Liu explore ways to protect Earth’s vital systems. This program, from COP29 in Baku, includes an inspiring clip from "The Flourishing Path" featuring Jane Goodall.

Resources: John D. Liu & eco-restoration: Ecosystem Restoration Communities, KNAW Academia. Order Nick Breeze's COPOUT: Goodreads. Jane Goodall's work: JaneGoodall.org. Climate change info: FacingFuture Library.

Preserving biodiversity and avoiding climate tipping points necessitate critical changes in land management and food systems, requiring us to work with nature. The Amazon, vital to Earth's system, is losing its carbon sequestration capacity due to logging and cattle ranching. Peatlands also face threats; their delicate hydrological balance is disrupted by drainage (emitting CO2) or excessive wetness (emitting methane), further imperiled by permafrost melt.

This discussion was recorded on November 16, 2024, at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted by journalist Nick Breeze, with experts from the World Resources Institute, University of Leicester, and University of Cambridge. For more information on climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library.

Our essential infrastructure and living systems are unraveling. Professor Leah Rampy, author of *Earth & Soul*, discusses with Dale Walkonen how life's interconnectedness compels us to collaborate with each other and nature.

Despite our complex, existential predicament, we can lay stepping stones for future generations to achieve a livable future.

Learn more at LeahMoranRampy.com. Her new book, *Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos*, is available on Amazon. For more on climate change, visit the FacingFuture Library at facingfuture.earth/library.

The ReMembering and ReEnchanting Podcast recently featured Osprey Orielle Lake. She discussed her extensive work with Indigenous leaders at WECAN International and her new book, The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis.

The conversation explored the significance of listening, the role of nature, and how worldviews serve as entry points for change. Lake emphasized the importance of Indigenous leadership and the "rights of nature" movement.

Topics also included personal resilience and strategies for shifting governmental worldviews.

Our world faces a crisis, with life on the planet under attack. Beyond false solutions, critical questions emerge regarding food systems, economic models, and halting fossil fuel expansion. Climate justice groups are actively challenging dominant patriarchal cultures that exploit nature, other cultures, and women, advocating for biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the Rights of Nature.

Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network, discusses her new book, The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, with host Dale Walkonen. Her work explores how climate justice can address these global challenges.