rabble blogs are the personal pages of some of Canada's most insightful progressive activists and commentators. All opinions belong to the writer; however, writers are expected to adhere to our guidelines. We welcome new bloggers -- contact us for details.

David Suzuki

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. He is companion to the Order of Canada and a recipient of UNESCO's Kalinga Prize for science, the United Nations Environment Program medal, the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, and Global 500. Dr. Suzuki is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and holds 26 honorary degrees from universities around the world. He is familiar to television audiences as host of the long-running CBC television program The Nature of Things, and to radio audiences as the original host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks, as well as the acclaimed series It's a Matter of Survival and From Naked Ape to Superspecies. His written work includes more than 52 books, 19 of them for children. He lives with his wife, Tara Cullis, and family in Vancouver, B.C.

Blog - David Suzuki October 13
Image: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington​/Flickr
To save wild salmon, Discovery Islands fish farms must go
David Suzuki | The aquaculture industry's own data show 33 per cent of farms exceeded the sea lice limit while juvenile salmon were migrating past this year.
Blog - David Suzuki October 6
Image: Filip Zrnzević​/Unsplash
Humility, caring and wisdom make a better future possible
David Suzuki | In times of compounded crises we can no longer afford to listen to advocates of narrow self-interest or those who claim that favouring the wealthy and powerful will send benefits trickling down.
Blog - David Suzuki September 29
Image: Veni-Vidi Vint/Unsplash
Blame game hurts wildlife
David Suzuki | The role of any animal within its ecological niche is far more complicated than the single predator-prey interaction that culling purportedly tries to control.
Blog - David Suzuki September 22
A young climate striker at last year's Toronto march. Image: Lewis Parsons/Unsplash
Back to school in an uncertain climate
David Suzuki | Young people are drawing attention to the pressing need to address the climate emergency. Once more, they're asking grownups to pay attention and support the call for strong, effective climate action.
Blog - David Suzuki September 15
Image: Ella Ivanescu/Unsplash
Carbon pricing is like handwashing in a pandemic
David Suzuki | Pricing carbon, along with removing fossil fuel subsidies, stimulates investment in low-carbon energy technologies that will lead the way to a decarbonized economy and a shift away from fossil fuels.
Blog - David Suzuki September 8
Image: NASA/Unsplash
Our children shouldn't have to pay for our excesses
David Suzuki | Even with a later "overshoot" date, we burned through a year's resources in under eight months. That means we would need 1.6 Earths to support humanity's current demands on the planet's ecosystems.
Blog - David Suzuki September 1
An oil well in Alberta. Image: taylorandayumi/Flickr
Old oil and gas wells find new life with renewable energy
David Suzuki | In most cases, it's best to restore well sites to more natural states. But, with roads, grid connections and infrastructure already in place, some can be converted to renewable energy operations.
Blog - David Suzuki August 25
Image: Brian Yurasits/Unsplash
We are living in a plastic world
David Suzuki | The constant rush to exploit resources, burn fossil fuels and create disposable plastic products for the sake of short-term profits is putting all life and health at risk.
Blog - David Suzuki August 18
Image: American Public Power Association/Unsplash
True recovery means looking to the future, not the past
David Suzuki | Bailing out an industry that should have started winding down decades ago is no way to build societal resilience in the face of climate, biodiversity and health crises.
Blog - David Suzuki August 11
Image: Ales Krivec/Unsplash
Circular economy is too important to be co-opted by industry
David Suzuki | Cutting down forests that have never been logged to produce more toilet paper, packaging and other paper products we barely recycle can never be circular, let alone sustainable.
Blog - David Suzuki August 5
Image: NESA by makers/Unsplash
Four-day work week can spur necessary transformation
David Suzuki | Transforming work-life balance through a well-being lens can lead to significant health benefits, contribute to gender equality, improve work redistribution and have important environmental benefits.
Blog - David Suzuki July 29
Image: Matt Thomason/Unsplash
Language shapes our relationship with nature
David Suzuki | Western culture and the English language primarily view nature as something owned by humans that can be exploited.
Blog - David Suzuki July 21
Atlas Coal Mine, near Drumheller, Alberta. Image: Heidi G/Flickr
Coal power should be relegated to the ash heap of history
David Suzuki | More and better jobs could be created by facilitating clean tech and renewable energy industries than relying on outdated, destructive energy sources that the world has agreed must be phased out.
Blog - David Suzuki July 14
Image: Saurabh Singh/Unsplash
Human rights lens needed to prevent environmental racism
David Suzuki | Unresponsive environmental policies systematically result in concentration of pollution risks -- and inadequate access to environmental benefits -- in disadvantaged Canadian communities.
Blog - David Suzuki July 7
Image: Cameron Venti/Unsplash
Green recovery gains momentum as world confronts multiple crises
David Suzuki | Our recovery from this pandemic will be stronger if we correct course away from activities that cause climate disruption, biodiversity loss, environmental devastation and increasing disease spread.
Blog - David Suzuki June 30
Image: NASA/Unsplash
Reflections from an elder in isolation
David Suzuki | If we could take a different path, away from the impossible dream that unbridled consumption and endless growth are necessary for progress, we might find our way to a different future.
Blog - David Suzuki June 23
Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. Image: NIAID/Flickr
Multiple crises signal the need to change course
David Suzuki | This pandemic could be a trial run for how we respond to the almost-inevitable next pandemic. Or it could be the wake-up call that finally compels us to resolve this and other related emergencies.
Blog - David Suzuki June 16
Bicycles in Toronto's Roncesvalles Village. Image: wyliepoon/Flickr
Reimagining streets could lead to healthier cities
David Suzuki | The shortcomings of car-oriented streetscapes are being highlighted like never before during the pandemic. The health crisis is forcing cities to re-think how people get around.
Blog - David Suzuki June 9
Two caribou on a highway in Alaska. Image: Terry Feuerborn/Flickr
Rethinking roads can drive down species decline
David Suzuki | As cities that converted roads to bike lanes during lockdown enter recovery phases, many people are advocating to keep the lanes open. Having fewer roads for cars increases human and wildlife health.
Blog - David Suzuki May 26
Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. (Image: NIAID/Flickr)
Pandemic and climate crises unmask inequalities
David Suzuki | The outbreak is showing us the cracks in our systems, the fault lines. If we begin to address them, we'll be in a better place to respond to the longer-term climate and biodiversity crises.
Blog - David Suzuki May 19
Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image: NIAID/Flickr
Multiple crises expose systemic flaws
David Suzuki | We have a lot to learn still, but COVID-19 can teach us ways to address a crisis with many unknowns, whether it's a pandemic, a rapidly heating planet or accelerating biodiversity loss.
Blog - David Suzuki May 12
An Asian giant hornet, photographed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture on February 7, 2020. Image: Washington State Department of Agriculture/Flickr
Do 'murder hornets' pose a serious buzzkill?
David Suzuki | While the fear factor in the hornet story has drawn our attention to hornets and honeybees, most people don't know a honeybee, hornet or wasp from the more than 800 species of wild bees in Canada.
Blog - David Suzuki May 5
Wolves - Discovery Center in West Yellowstone in 2009. Image: Shawn Kinkade/Flickr
Giving nature a chance improves our chances of well-being
David Suzuki | Whether it's conservation or rewilding, we know that when we give nature a chance, it bounces back. Because we're part of nature and rely on everything it provides, that's to our benefit.
Blog - David Suzuki April 28
Image: Paul Lowry/Flickr
Crisis brings out our best, but we must remain vigilant
David Suzuki | Supporting workers in hard-hit occupations is necessary, but spending billions to prop up polluting industries that are no longer profitable and aren't likely to be soon is counterproductive.
Blog - David Suzuki April 21
Image: Kevin Gill/Flickr
Earth Day offers a chance to re-evaluate our path 
David Suzuki | Let's not fall back into the trap of trying to solve the great problems of this world with only half a brain. That's what got us out of balance and into trouble in the first place. 
Blog - David Suzuki April 14
Image: Greg Tsai/Flickr
Economics should reflect what really matters
David Suzuki | As we're witnessing at this extraordinary moment in history, often what we feel matters most in our times of need is not aligned with the purpose we gave our economy before this crisis.
Blog - David Suzuki April 7
Image: Duncan McCaskill/Flickr
Review shows ocean life could rebound in 30 years
David Suzuki | Countries around the world committed to safeguarding 10 per cent of their ocean territories by this year, through marine protected areas and other means. Some have done better than others.
Blog - David Suzuki March 31
Image: Vinoth Chandar/Flickr
Let's come together in these physically distancing times
David Suzuki | We're facing a crisis trifecta: COVID-19, climate disruption and plunging oil prices. This is exposing flaws in the systems we've been relying on far beyond their best-before dates.
Blog - David Suzuki March 24
​Image: Photo by Alex Cosh
Healthy forests mean healthy people
David Suzuki | Forests are beneficial for our physical and mental health. Numerous studies illustrate how much forest walks can do for heart and respiratory health, immune system function and lowering stress levels.
Blog - David Suzuki March 17
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Idle some more: a novel climate solution
David Suzuki | Illnesses force idleness on people. So, too, the climate situation demands idleness from society. We must listen to the body in sickness; we must listen to the planet in crisis.

Pages