Canada’s 2025 wildfire season is the urgent focus of this episode of the Climate Emergency Forum. Host Herb Simmens is joined by Dr. Peter Carter and Paul Beckwith to examine the unprecedented scale and impact of the fires, which have already burned millions of hectares and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The discussion highlights how toxic smoke has blanketed Canada, the United States, and even reached Europe, while “zombie fires” continue to smolder underground, making the crisis a year-round threat.
This video was recorded on June 11th, 2025, and published on June 22nd, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
The panel explores the science behind these escalating wildfires, connecting them to climate change, persistent drought, and rising global temperatures. Dr. Carter draws comparisons to the record-breaking 2023 season, warning that 2025 is on track to match or exceed those devastating numbers. Paul Beckwith discusses Canada’s leadership in firefighting technology, such as advanced water bombers, but notes that supply shortages and policy gaps hamper effective response. Both experts stress the need for urgent emissions reductions and a coordinated national strategy to address the root causes of the crisis.
Throughout the episode, the conversation broadens to consider the ecological, health, and policy implications of the wildfire emergency. The hosts reflect on the transition from the stable Holocene era to the more volatile Anthropocene, and raise critical questions about forest management, reforestation, and the risk of forests becoming carbon sources instead of sinks. The episode concludes with a call to action: viewers are encouraged to advocate for stronger climate policies, stay informed, and help build momentum for meaningful change in the face of an escalating climate emergency.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hits air quality across U.S. Midwest and Northeast
Canada’s 2023 wildfire emissions emitted enough carbon to equal India’s annual emissions
Demand for water bombers has ‘skyrocketed’ as Canada grapples with more intense wildfires
Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute
Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University
Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
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