Goodbye 'normal': What climate change is doing to summer in Canada

So far, the summer of 2021 has seen a deadly heatwave, wildfires, flooding and extreme drought. 

Canada's all-time temperature record was broken, several times over, in the village of Lytton, B.C., before it burned to the ground.

It's clear — there is nothing normal about this summer.

Climate change is part of it, and some hope the extreme conditions will help prompt action.

"We've seen this before … and everyone gets fired up to do something about the climate and  climate change," said Dan Tait of Kelowna, B.C.

"But then, as the next fall comes around, so many of us tend to forget about it … and we're starting from zero." 

This week, CBC Radio's What On Earth explores how a warming world is changing what we consider to be 'normal,' and what we can do about it.

New Episode: World On Fire 

For the very first time North America is dealing with heat domes….extreme temperatures, winds and tinder dry conditions igniting out of control wildfires.

In this new episode, World on Fire visits Lytton B.C. where people have lost everything to the flames, and the front lines of wildfire season in the Western United States, where exhausted crews are battling another record breaking year.

Hear from the people trying to prepare and save remote communities and find out what has climate experts more concerned than ever.