Dear government: don’t be pressured by the hype from natural gas producers and pipeline owners
While the resource industries are naturally frustrated by the challenges of government impact assessment hearings, there is no evidence Canada is undermining the energy security of its allies or that making that fossil fuel industry a national priority is in Canada’s or the world’s best interests.
Wildfires growing this summer, writes Nelson, B.C., reader
While this isn’t intended as a book review, if you have ever wondered what it feels like when your urban environment is consumed by wildfire, John Vaillant’s Fire Weather provides a very clear description of the Fort McMurray, Alta., experience. If you have wondered about taking advantage of any local Fire Smart program, read Fire […]
So what is life, asks Langley, B.C., reader
You will never conquer life as it flickers like a dying light. Life is a matter of pursuit without conquest. A quest and a conclusion. The moment it begins is the beginning to an ending. You will never know or understand life as it demands the unknown and evolves into a second, a moment, and extinguishes itself […]
Canada is far behind the U.S. on methane reduction
While carbon taxes are unpopular with certain demographics—particularly older, rural Canadians in the West—industrial carbon taxes and fees are an effective part of climate policy.
Keep the heat on to address the climate crisis
This week international locales recorded some of the highest temperatures to ever be measured, providing yet another bat to the face of how important it is to make forward strikes against climate change. But here at home, despite the fact that British Columbia is struggling under the heat of almost 400 wildfires, there isn’t too […]
Heat waves are carrying us to the point of no return
‘It’s the first time in history that it’s more likely than not that we will exceed 1.5°C,’ said Adam Scaife at Britain’s Met Office Hadley Centre. That means we’re heading into territory where ‘tipping points’ may be lurking.
More funding for NGOs on disaster relief amid calls to ensure fire support goes beyond current ‘policy window’
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced an additional $82-million over three years to support the disaster response capacity of non-government organizations.
Trans Mountain pipeline will be Trudeau’s most ruinous legacy
The nearly-completed line is too big to fail and too buried in debt to make a profit before the climate catastrophe makes the conversation moot.
We need to live up to our climate commitments, now
Now is not the time to retreat. Or to think we can fully ‘adapt’ to the extreme ravages of climate change. Or to think that we don’t need to act urgently because we’re a small slice of the problem. This is it.
After 30 years of failed mitigation, we need to cut emissions by half globally by 2030; this is almost impossible, but must be done
GIBSONS, B.C.—About a decade ago, there was a flurry of news stories and columns in the Canadian media about carbon pricing. In the 1990s, I had been very pro-carbon pricing, but then-British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell’s ineffectual and pretend mitigation plan with its puny carbon tax was a wake-up call for me. Carbon pricing was […]
