Environmental lawyer and now green party politician Dianne Saxe reveals how speaking truth to power sometimes comes at great personal cost and that when it comes to environment and reconciliation, hope combined with action is the only way forward. 

Why You Should Listen

The news around climate change isn’t always bad. In this episode, you’ll hear inspiring stories of how Indigenous Peoples across Canada are combating climate change. If you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact on the world, Dianne Saxe encourages you to start with personal action—rethink how you consume as a business owner or consumer, and find your personal path of reconciliation.

About Our Guest

Dianne Saxe, Ph.D. in Law, is one of Canada’s most respected environmental lawyers. She ran an environmental law boutique for 25 years and was the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario from 2015-2019. She was appointed unanimously by all MPPs to report to the Legislature on Ontario’s environmental, energy and climate performance, and to be the guardian of the Environmental Bill of Rights. During her term, she improved the effectiveness of the Environmental Bill of Rights, increased public understanding of the urgency of climate change, and delivered 17 reports on environment, energy and climate.

Dianne now heads Saxe Facts, a law firm focusing on the climate crisis. She has substantial board and media experience, and is the host of the Green Economy Heroes podcast. 

Dianne is a Senior Fellow at Massey College, recipient of a Law Society Medal 2020, and a Clean50 honouree. Recently, Dianne was named Deputy leader of the Ontario Green Party.

Read Dianne’s full bio on Saxe Facts

Dianne Says:

On climate justice for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

>> 06:20: We the boomers owe the young people to do whatever is in our power to try to fix what we’ve damaged, restore what we’ve broken, give back what we’ve stolen.

On how environmental law can make progress in reconciliation

>> 11:45: Environmental law can be significantly effective. We have seen environmental laws over the last 50 years force industries and municipalities to dramatically clean up many forms of local pollution. 

>> 10:42: We’ve also learned that the laws are stunningly vulnerable to being damaged, undercut, evaporated as the Ford government has been doing.

On capitalism vs climate change

>> 21:10: It really is Naomi Klein’s disaster capitalism, where the very rich and powerful use their wealth to buy political power, which is then used to change the [environmental] laws, to enable them to get richer. And that’s heartbreaking to see, but that is what’s happening.

On the role of Indigenous Peoples in combating climate change

>> 15:41: Now more than half of the certified geothermal installers in Manitoba are First Nations people who have graduated from [Shaun Loney’s Aki Energy] program. Aki Energy has installed $12 million of geothermal heating and electricity systems on reserves with no government grants,