Can innovation support right relationship with Earth?
It is clear (to many, if not most) that the root cause of climate change and biodiversity loss is the wholesale appropriation of nature over the last few centuries by industrial civilization. This, essentially, comes down to colonial society having the wrong relationship with Earth. What could the right relationship look like? Nothing in my […]
Federal rebates not enough to help Canadians with costly transition to zero-emission vehicles, say Cons, NDP
The Liberal government’s target date for when all vehicles sold in Canada must be zero-emissions won’t be achievable without stronger purchasing incentives to help Canadians with the high cost of greener transportation, say Conservative and NDP MPs. “I think that the challenge … is mandating a technology that, right now, is not necessarily affordable for […]
Massive infrastructure and capacity gaps with regard to clean drinking water
As the heat of summer bears down on Ottawa, I reach for a glass of water and take a moment to reflect on the sad reality that being able to drink a glass of cold tap water, shower and do my laundry is a privilege. Despite Canada having almost one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, […]
Are we adequately prepared for emerging infectious diseases in the Canadian Arctic?
Imagine that the Canadian beef herd declined by 75 per cent because of some unknown disease, and then the same happened to the pork herd. Although at a higher cost, you likely would still have access to your preferred meat. And, purchased from the local grocery store, you’d be confident that the Canadian food inspection […]
Dairy farmers commit to net-zero emissions by 2050
OTTAWA—From severe temperatures to drought, wildfires to flooding, farmers are increasingly bearing witness to the impacts of climate change first-hand—and the extreme weather patterns we experienced in recent years are likely just a small sample of what’s to come in the future. That’s one of the many reasons why Canadian dairy farmers are taking their […]
We don’t want hundreds of modular nuclear reactors across Canada
Why take away rights if the government doesn’t plan to force Canadians to accept reactors in our neighbourhoods? I wonder if Canadians are willing to live with the risk of having hundreds of small modular nuclear reactors dotted across the country. In the Liberal rewriting of the Harper government’s 2012 Environmental Assessment Act, nuclear industry […]
More government co-ordination, communication needed to respond to extreme heat events: reports, experts
Brad Vis, the Conservative MP representing Lytton, B.C. says he loses sleep worrying about what kind of weather event might hit his home region this summer. Last summer, the residents of Lytton endured the highest temperature ever recorded in Canadian history, before the village all but burnt to the ground in a devastating wildfire. Vis […]
It’s time to stop bankrolling and exporting climate destruction
Climate change is a global human rights emergency of unprecedented proportions—and devastating consequences. Already, half the world’s population suffers from severe water shortages and climate change-related diseases are on the rise. We must change course to protect lives and rights. The role of fossil fuels in this emergency is indisputable, prompting dire warnings from experts […]
Canada needs tobacco-style ban on fossil fuel ads to combat climate change public health crisis
In a heart-warming scene, a family cooks dinner together over a gas stove. They laugh and taste as they relish the joy of togetherness. This scene is an ad designed to convince Canadians to choose gas for their new home. What it doesn’t tell you is that for an hour after cooking, the level of particulates […]
Canada needs a Climate Action Fund to tackle energy transition
Eight months ago, nearly 200 countries gathered at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, to ratify the Glasgow Accord. It was a failure. A successful Conference of the Parties would have put concrete mechanisms to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, including a global carbon tax. None of which occurred at the COP26. […]
