Turning climate science into stories people actually want to hear

Sep 9

Kit Lister in front of their balcony solar setup in Montreal. Photo submitted by: Kit Lister

By Patricia Lane and Kit Lister

Kit Lister translates science on climate change solutions into actionable stories for mainstream audiences. The 28-year-old from Montreal coordinated social media for Toronto Climate Week, amplified parents’ climate action at For Our Kids, is coordinating social media with Montreal Climate Week, and just completed an independent documentary on Toronto’s bike lanes.

Tell us about your documentary.

Cycling Toward a Cooler Toronto explores the evidence about the impact bike lanes actually have on Toronto’s traffic, health, economy, climate and future, interviewing three civil engineering professors (Shoshanna Saxe, Marianne Hatzopoulou and Khandker Nurul Habib) at the University of Toronto and Michael Longfield, executive director of cycling-activist charity Cycle Toronto.

The feature-length documentary tells us Toronto’s traffic is among the most congested in the world. Congestion isn't just a time waster, Toronto’s traffic seriously harms health. The ultrafine particles it generates enter our bloodstreams, reducing heart health, increasing dementia rates and contributing to higher risks of brain tumours and other cancers.

What’s more, giving cars more road space increases traffic congestion. People choose cars for safety and convenience, but if we offer other choices than driving (like protected, connected bike lanes), many will prefer to cycle, choosing to save time and money commuting. Even those who can’t or won’t cycle or just need to move a couch, are better served by fewer cars on Toronto’s streets.

The film also interviews ordinary people on downtown Toronto streets about why they do or don’t cycle, helping viewers understand how this climate solution affects real people. This qualitative storytelling is backed by science, mapping neatly onto evidence provided by the experts’ research.

This reporting is produced with support from I-SEA’s Climate Solutions project and is not behind National Observer’s subscriber paywall.

Peter Allan

Turning climate science into stories people actually want to hear

Tell us about your documentary.

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