BC’s dirty little secret
January 4, 2008
British Columbia’s dirty little secret has just become a big problem for WestPac LNG Corp. and its hopes of building a clean new source of electricity. On the surface of it, the province should be sweeping barriers aside for WestPac, given Premier Gordon Campbell’s dual promises to slash greenhouse gas emissions by a third by 2020 and to make B.C. self-sufficient in electrical power in just eight years.
Protecting the boreal
January 4, 2008
As one of the last great intact forests on Earth, Canada’s boreal forest may play a huge role in the battle to protect the planet from climate change. The trees and soil of our northern forest, which stretches from the Yukon to the coast of Labrador, form a critical shield against global warming, storing a volume of carbon equal to 27 times the world’s annual greenhouse-gas emissions.
Earth hour 2008
December 14, 2007
On March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and over two thousand Sydney businesses turned off their lights - and called it Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for that one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for the same amount of time.With international Sydney landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the dark, the world took notice.
Using your own energy to grab a coffee
December 11, 2007
An effort is underway across the country for a ban or moratorium on drive-thrus at fast food operations. The long line ups at your local coffee shop are doing nothing for the environment, and if people are serious about air quality and climate change issues, they shouldn’t mind having to park and walk to the restaurant for their lunch or coffee.
Development slated in one of Vancouver’s most beautiful parks
December 10, 2007
News that part of the Pacific Spirit Park is slated for residential development is bringing protesters and speakers out to voice their strong opposition. Protesters will gather at the Pacific Park office today at noon.
Lots of hot air
December 10, 2007
Canada has announced $7.5 million for a global fund designed to help poor countries deal with climate change, making it the second-largest donor to the Global Environment Facility’s climate change fund.
The future of climate change on local neighbourhoods
December 8, 2007
This summer, Stephen Sheppard and David Flanders from UBC’s Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning presented their findings on their ’Local Climate Change Visioning’ project. Their objective was to show how climate change might affect local communities in alternative futures for Delta and the Lower Mainland.
Come on Canada!
December 7, 2007
Canada has placed near Saudi Arabia and the US in a climate change study released by environmental organizations Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe.
Wishing for no catalogues
December 4, 2007
If you’re on Granville Street this afternoon, you may notice a number of reindeer in front of the Sears store. Forest Ethics, an international environmental watchdog, plans a protest today, demanding that the company stop producing its annual Wish Book.
Vancouver’s plan: ecodensity
November 30, 2007
The City of Vancouver’s EcoDensity initiative is intended to engage public dialogue in regards to how we can reduce our ecological footprint in terms of sustainable housing, accessible amenities, transportation and land use. In conjunction with this the goal is to support new and different housing typologies as a way to promote affordability.