The Weather That Changed Us

For some children, the breaking of the millennium drought was the first time they had seen rain and puddles. The decade-long dry spell that covered eastern Australia delivered more than cracked earth, it changed how we thought about and valued water. It also heralded ‘star ratings’ so we could buy appliances that saved water.

Cyclone Tracy decimated the northern city of Darwin fifty years ago on Christmas Day in 1974. Its devastation also led to transformation. Building codes were overhauled changing how we build houses across Australia today.

On a baking hot Canberra day, a phenomenon never before caught on camera was captured unleashing its full power. The first pyro-tornadogenesis, or fire tornado, ever recorded screamed across the Canberra hills and into the suburbs. It also supercharged fire research in Australia and changed our warning systems.

We’re all online, all the time. You’re online right now! But have you ever stopped to think about what's behind the screen? What sort of infrastructure is required to keep us online 24/7? And – how much energy does it use? Guests: Guy Danskine, Tanya Notley, Kate Pounder, Glenn Uidam, Jackie McKeonHost: Jo LauderReporter: Joel WernerSeries Producer: Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer (audio): Joel WernerExecutive Producer (digital): Clare BlumerSound engineer: Hamish Camilleri

Traditionally Australia's electricity system has been dirty, and heavily centred around coal communities. But there's a shift happening. Towns around the country – from Yackandandah, to Shackleton, to Marlinja – are using renewables to take control of their energy.The benefits are flowing back into local communities, and remote places are finally getting reliable power.Guests: Karrina Nolan, Trent Di Fulvio, Margot Hammond, Ben Bristow, Aaron Brown, Ian Fitzpatrick, Michelle Croker, Matthew-Charles Jones, Chris Horton, Donna Jones, Geraldine Dixon, Mark Raymond and Ray Dumakarri Dixon, Lauren Mellor. Host: Jo LauderReporters: Belinda Smith, James PurtillSeries Producer: Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer (audio): Joel WernerExecutive Producer (digital): Clare BlumerSound engineer: Hamish Camilleri

Gomeroi woman Dorothy Tighe stood up to a room full of powerful people for her country. Student Solomon Yeo took his message from a Vanuatu university to the UN General Assembly. Solomon's story and the fight of the Gomeroi are part of a new wave of climate action: one that's happening in courtrooms.It's all about finding bold and creative ways to stand up and be heard, amid a surge of climate litigation around the world. The law is there to protect us. So what can it say about the biggest threat of all?Guests: Dorothy Tighe, Karra Kinchela, Solomon Yeo, Samson Vilvil Fare, Romabeth Siri, Ralph Regenvanu, Jacqueline PeelHost: Jo LauderReporters: Ellie Grounds, Cheyne AndersonSeries Producer: Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer (audio): Joel WernerExecutive Producer (digital): Clare BlumerSound engineer: Hamish Camilleri

For decades, scientists have been warning us about climate change. The warnings have been getting more and more urgent -- but we're still falling short of what the science says we need to do. Today, the stories of climate scientists who have become fed up with not being heard and are taking matters into their own hands. Some are getting involved in protests and blockades. Others are trying out more experimental ways of sounding the alarm. Because if science alone isn’t enough to save us… Will scientists on strike do the trick? Guests: Annie Bond, Peter Kalmus, Karin Xuereb, Bruce Glavovic, Mark HowdenHost: Jo LauderReporter: Nick KilvertSeries Producer: Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer (audio): Joel WernerExecutive Producer (digital): Clare BlumerSound engineer: Hamish CamilleriThanks to Jon Tjhia, Iain White and Tim Smith for their help with this episode.

This isn't a podcast about how climate change is real – we've known that for a long time. And it's not another show about the devastation climate change is causing, or how we got here.Because we don't need to talk about the problem anymore. We know what's going on.This is a show about how much better things could be, and the people who are fighting to get us there.Reporters from the science team at ABC RN and triple j Hack have been travelling around the country to meet the people bringing about real change and coming up with authentic climate solutions.If we want to avoid a climate catastrophe … WHO'S GONNA SAVE US?