Canada’s climate accountability framework needs more teeth to get to net zero
Scientists issued a new analysis, published today in Nature Climate Change, tracking countries’ progress—or lack thereof—in reducing their emissions since the landmark Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. The study, which I led, showed that fossil carbon emissions, the main source of greenhouse gases causing climate change, decreased in 64 countries, including the United States, […]
Canada should spread its bets in transition to net zero
Uncertainty can be paralyzing. And, when the stakes are high, doubly so. Ask five people how Canada should get to net-zero emissions by 2050, and you may get six answers. There is no shortage of ideas: electrification, carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, hydrogen fuel, small modular nuclear—all are on the table, and many […]
Canada has an opportunity to work with U.S. to forge a new path on climate action
U.S. President Joe Biden made some big moves in support of bold climate action immediately after stepping into office. Within hours of his inauguration, he passed executive orders to return the United States to the Paris Climate Accord, suspend all new oil and gas drilling permits on federal land, and cancel the Keystone XL pipeline. […]
Biden’s protected-area push highlights Canada’s conservation opportunity
At the Feb. 23 bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden’s first remarks sounded a bit like a friendly taunt: Canada should keep up as he rolls out his bold, new agenda: “We’re all best served when the United States and Canada work together and lead together,” he said. Considering the […]
Leaving Taiwan out of official UN climate conversation hurts everyone
While the world is focusing on handling the COVID-19 crisis, we cannot afford to ignore the looming existential crisis of climate change. This crisis cannot be solved unless there are urgent, effective, and global actions. It is a truly worldwide problem which will require every country’s participation to achieve an effective solution. To that end, […]
About time to make offshore workers’ safety a real priority
In the shadow of Bill C-7 on medical assistance in dying, the Senate passed another important bill. Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Offshore Health and Safety Act reinstates and extends transitional regulations while permanent regulations are being finalized. The initial legislation from 2014 gave five years to adopt these regulations and this period […]
Texas, Rossby waves, and wave-7
LONDON, U.K.—Texas puts out more carbon dioxide than any other U.S. state, so there was some innocent amusement to be had from the indignation of Texans unable to boil their drinking water during the Big Freeze because the power was still out. Things like that are not supposed to happen in a modern, developed country […]
New transit funding welcome, but experts wary of execution
On the heels of the federal government announcing billions of dollars for a new transportation transfer starting in 2026, and more money for “shovel-ready projects” to be doled out immediately, transportation experts and the NDP’s transport critic say the money is welcome, but are questioning the timelines and are wary of the funds going to […]
New permanent transit fund will be immensely popular, writes Gideon Forman
Re: “Politics This Morning: Feds pledge $14.9-billion in new funds to build public transit projects,” (The Hill Times online newsletter, Feb. 11). Not mentioned here is the fact that the new permanent transit fund will be immensely popular. Ekos polling in November 2020 found 83 per cent of Canadians agree government has a responsibility to ensure […]
Trudeau Liberals need to look to hydrogen as part of the zero-emissions solutions for transit
On Feb. 10, the federal government announced the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history—including, most importantly, the permanent, stable funding required to build these large-scale infrastructure projects. Industry worked closely, under the leadership of Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna, to realize this opportunity. It is a game-changer, and through implementation, will be […]
