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By Greg Fingas, on April 25, 2013, at 9:15 am Here, on how the one point of agreement about the environmental impact of the tar sands is that we still don’t have enough information to so much as evaluate the effects of the industry at the core of the Harper Cons’ economic strategy.
For further reading…- The Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Monitoring Information Portal is here, with the disclaimer mentioned in the column here. – CBC reports on the EPA response (PDF) to the State Department’s current environmental assessment of Keystone XL. – And Joe Oliver is doing what Joe Oliver does by publicly bashing climate science (Read more…)
By Obert Madondo, on April 21, 2013, at 5:59 am By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: An annual report by International Energy Agency (IEA) says the development of low-carbon energy is progressing too slowly to limit climate change. “The drive to clean up the world’s energy system has stalled,” said aid Maria van der Hoeven, the IEA’s executive director, during the presentation of the report [...]
The post Clean energy progress too slow to limit climate change, says report appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
By The Mound of Sound, on April 19, 2013, at 12:13 pm Across Canada, provincial and local governments have achieved great things in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the Harper government has grabbed as much undeserved credit for that as possible.
Yet Harper and his slackjawed EnviroShill, Peter Kent, can’t hide the impacts of their bitumen-peddling policies, no matter how much credit they steal from others.
Canada’s annual heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to level off or decline in most sectors of the economy, outside of Alberta’s oilpatch, says the latest annual inventory report submitted by the Harper government to the United Nations. The government report, prepared by Environment Canada, noted (Read more…) country’s average temperatures were 1.5 degrees C above average in 2011, which makes it more likely to observe impacts such as rising sea levels and increasing extreme weather events that could intensify in the future.
“In some regions, the impacts could be devastating, while other regions could benefit from . . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: Canada’s Carbon Black Eye – Bitumen Peddling
By Derek Wong, on April 4, 2013, at 2:22 pm Did you know our government spend money subsidizing fossil fuel energy to keep prices artificially low? A new International Monetary Fund study uncovers just how much these subsidies are and urge our governments to stop these market distortion practices. I calculate the real price we pay for fossil fuel energy and the results are astonishing.
The release of the study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is widely covered by mainstream media around the world in the New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and in a particularly good analysis from the Wall Street Journal. But it was (Read more…)
By Greg Fingas, on April 4, 2013, at 11:17 am This and that for your Thursday reading.
- John Greenwood and CBC News both report on the offshore tax avoidance being revealed through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. And Susan Lunn observes that Canada’s federal parties are all at least paying lip service to the issue – though of course the Cons’ cuts to tax enforcement speak louder than their spin.
- Meanwhile, Paul McLeod notes that income inequality will also receive at least some much-needed attention in Parliament. And Danyaal Raza’s discussion of the damage done to public health by inequality looks to offer one important point worth
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
By Greg Fingas, on April 3, 2013, at 2:09 pm Aaron Wherry nicely points out some of the jaw-dropping contradictions in the Cons’ climate change messaging. But let’s not forget a few more worth adding into the mix.
Having refused to implement any meaningful regulations or carbon pricing at the federal level, the Cons have tried to take credit for provincial attempts to fill the vacuum – even ones they’ve fought against with every fiber of their being. And they’ve not only scrapped the public organization which dared to highlight that difference, but they’ve since gone out of their way to hide its work.
Which is to say that in
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: On contradictions
By Obert Madondo, on April 1, 2013, at 6:53 pm By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: A new study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Wilderness Committee calls for a radical rethink of British Columbia’s waste management policies. It argues that recycling can’t solve the province’s pollution problems and calls for a postconsumerist model of zero waste. While acknowledging [...]
The post British Columbia study advocates postconsumerist model of zero waste appeared first on The Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis.
By Guest Blog, on March 25, 2013, at 5:55 pm By: Canadian Auto Workers Union | Press Release PORT ELGIN, ON – A CAW owned and operated wind turbine started operating today generating clean wind energy to the electrical grid in Port Elgin, Ontario. “This is an important day as the start-up of this wind turbine marks an environmental milestone for our union [...]
The post CAW Owned and Operated Wind Turbine Begins Operation in Port Elgin, ON appeared first on The Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis.
By Guest Blog, on March 21, 2013, at 11:14 pm By: Pembina Institute | Press Release: OTTAWA — Clare Demerse, federal policy director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments today following the release of the 2013 federal budget: “Jim Flaherty delivered his eighth budget at a time when the federal government’s track record on the environment and climate change is under heightened scrutiny, and [...]
The post Federal Budget 2013 missed opportunity to invest in clean energy, says Pembina Institute appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
By vsp, on March 4, 2013, at 9:30 am Either after the upcoming federal election, or the one after, the Green Party of Canada will fade away from existence. Firstly, its fundamental reason for existence has been taken on by other parties. Preston Manning, arch-conservative of the Conservative Party of Canada and head of the Manning Centre for Democracy, has called for a green [...]
By Guest Blog, on February 26, 2013, at 7:14 am By Pembina Institute (Press Release) | Feb. 25, 2013: EDMONTON — As Canada faces increasing scrutiny of its weak climate change policy for oilsands development, a new report illustrates how both Alberta and the federal government can better manage emissions and improve the country’s international reputation. The new Pembina Institute report, Carbon Pricing Approaches in Oil and READ MORE
By Greg Fingas, on February 22, 2013, at 10:13 am Leftdog has already weighed in on one key connection to be drawn based on the latest news about the siphoning of money from a supposed attempt to toward insiders with a sole-sourced deal to provide computers at inflated prices. But let’s look at a couple more points arising out of the story. All of this seems to contradict what Donna Harpauer, the government minister responsible, told the NDP Opposition last June.
“The contract cost was within the acceptable range for similar goods and services and the goods and services were necessary,” Harpauer said at the time.
Now, Harpauer says she
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: On responsibility
By Greg Fingas, on February 21, 2013, at 10:14 am Here, on Brad Wall’s off-key lobbying against action on climate change – and why we should see the bright side of having the Obama administration push us toward more sound environmental policy when far too many Canadian leaders have failed in their responsibilities.
For further reading…- Wall’s simultaneous lobbying for automatic pipeline approval and against any further Canadian action on climate change can be found here (see in particular the video clip to the right) and here.- Jeffrey Simpson and Tzeporah Berman have made similar points about the value of the U.S.’ message linking Canadian
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: New column day
By Guest Blog, on February 19, 2013, at 9:24 am By Dr. David Suzuki | Published by Troy Media on Feb. 13, 2013: When the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform exploded in 2010, killing 11 people and spewing massive amounts of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, it cost more than $40 billion to mop up the mess. In Canada, an oil company would be liable for only $30 million, READ MORE
By Guest Blog, on February 13, 2013, at 7:10 pm 48 environmental, civil rights, and community leaders engage in historic act of civil disobedience to stop Keystone XL pipeline. Julian Bond, Bill McKibben, Michael Brune, and others arrested in front of White House in call for action on climate. By Sierra Club | Feb. 13, 2013: WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, 48 environmental, civil rights, and community leaders READ MORE
By Derek Wong, on February 13, 2013, at 12:54 pm “If Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will,” says Obama in his 2013 State of the Union address which devoted a substantial portion on climate change. Direction is set for more oil and gas drilling, but also more funding for electric cars and energy efficient buildings.
The Globe and Mail’s reaction: “Very strong on climate change … If you are a Canadian environmentalist, you can be glad in your heart. If you are part of the Canadian oil industry or the Canadian government trying to get the Keystone pipeline approved, not so good … It’s the (Read more…)
By Greg Fingas, on January 24, 2013, at 9:00 am This and that for your Thursday reading.
- There’s plenty of reason for concern about the departure of some of the few independent officers who have successfully held the Cons to account at times – with departing environment commissioner Scott Vaughan serving as only the latest example.
- But the more important story is less the presence of watchdogs than that of effective regulators – and the fact that the Cons have limited environmental enforcement to sporadic letter-writing campaigns gives us plenty of reason for concern no matter who’s in a position to point it out.
- Meanwhile, Luigi Zanasi
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
By The Mound of Sound, on January 22, 2013, at 11:27 am Greenpeace has come up with a roster of planned oil, gas and coal projects that it calls “carbon bombs.”
Prepared by the consultancy firm EcoFys, the study lists 14-major projects that will increase global greenhouse gas emissions by a civilization-wrecking 20%. That’s where the “point of no return” part comes in.
The largest contributors will be China’s five north-western provinces, which aim to increase coal production by 620m tonnes by 2015, generating an additional 1.4bn tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.
Australia’s burgeoning coal export industry, already the largest in the world, is in second
. . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: They Call It "The Point of No Return" Study
By Greg Fingas, on December 6, 2012, at 8:42 am Here, on how Saskatchewan’s existing list of unremediated and orphaned oil and gas wells should remind nus of the need to make sure resource developers account for the social cost of their operations.
For further reading…- The most recent Provincial Auditor’s report highlighting the orphaned well issue is here (PDF – see Chapter 31, page 239).- My comment about the two-year lag in any climate change action is based on the province’s climate change information page, which shows no new developments since February 2011 and no indication when relevant legislation will be proclaimed in force.-
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: New column day
By Greg Fingas, on November 28, 2012, at 8:59 am Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Ed Broadbent comments on both the growing problem of inequality, and the one institution which can do something about it:Canada is not doing better. From 1982 until 2004, almost all growth in family i… . . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
By The Mound of Sound, on November 21, 2012, at 1:35 pm The figures are out for 2011 and they’re record-breaking. Last year we managed to drive atmospheric CO2 levels to 390 ppm.The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached a record 390.9 parts per million (ppm) in 2011, … . . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: Drifting Ever Faster Away from 350
By Derek Wong, on October 23, 2012, at 6:35 am Can your landlord help your business attract talents, reduce environmental footprint, and foster team collaboration? Royal Bank of Canada aims to achieve all that with its new Canadian headquarters in Toronto being built by Oxford Properties. I take a look at the special features custom designed for sustainability, employee engagement, and business strategies.
Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2014, the new national headquarters for RBC, named RBC WaterPark Place, is located in Toronto’s waterfront between Bay and York Streets on the north side of Queens Quay West, just south of the Gardiner Expressway (Google Map (Read more…)
By Bill Longstaff, on October 20, 2012, at 1:54 pm As part of its monstrous budget bill earlier this year, the federal government trashed the National Round Table on the Environment. The Round Table, established in 1988, brought together leaders from business, academia, environmental groups, labour and public policy, to bring “leadership in the new way we must think of the relationship between the environment and the economy and the new way we
By Greg Fingas, on September 26, 2012, at 9:26 am Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.
- Mike McBane and Stuart Trew note that Canada can’t afford to sign on to yet another massive giveaway to big pharma: An Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by the Council and the health coalition and released last week shows that what would normally be high support for a Canada-EU trade deal in principle (81 per cent) bottoms out to only 31 per cent when asked if CETA should extend patent protections for brand name drugs. Canadians clearly recognize the importance of trade to the economy, but they are not comfortable with those parts of
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
By Greg Fingas, on September 21, 2012, at 9:36 am Assorted content for your Friday reading.
- The Cons’ latest line of talking-point addiction isn’t passing without some substantial comment from Canada’s political press. Today, Jeffrey Simpson lambastes Stephen Harper and his party for trying to wipe out their own history and promises, while Dan Gardner considers the Cons to be a Monty Python skit in progress (minus the humour of course). And Aaron Wherry continues to document the farce.
- Meanwhile, Susan Delacourt suggests that we should expect any government to leave out democracy in no worse condition than when it took power – and I’ll readily agree
. . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
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