Climate Change

A new study suggests human-caused climate change is behind a sharp drop in spring snowpack across large parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including a swath of Ontario and Quebec. People walk on the snowless streets of Place Jacques Cartier in Old Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Climate change feeds snowpack decline across northern hemisphere: study

Human-caused shift responsible for a 7 per cent drop in March snowpack per decade

A new study suggests human-caused climate change is behind a sharp drop in spring snowpack across large parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including a swath of Ontario and Quebec. People walk on the snowless streets of Place Jacques Cartier in Old Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Backcountry skiers are dwarfed by the mountains as they make their way along a mountain ridge near McGillivray Pass Lodge located in the southern Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. Environment Canada is warning parts of northern British Columbia to expect wind chill values as cold as -50 C for at least the rest of the week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Arctic weather intrusion into B.C. could bring -55C wind chill in places

Extremely cold weather conditions expected to move in tonight and stay until at least the weekend

Backcountry skiers are dwarfed by the mountains as they make their way along a mountain ridge near McGillivray Pass Lodge located in the southern Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. Environment Canada is warning parts of northern British Columbia to expect wind chill values as cold as -50 C for at least the rest of the week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Canada’s price on pollution is supposed to help battle global warming, but as it nears its fifth anniversary, nothing in Canadian politics is hotter. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has so successfully convinced Canadians the carbon price is to blame for inflation that he even earned begrudging respect for his “axe the tax” campaign from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre holds a press conference regarding his “Axe the Tax” message from the roof a parking garage in St. John’s on Friday, Oct.27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Canada’s heated political conflict over carbon pricing will continue in 2024

September poll found most Canadians are anxious about climate change, but few want to change behaviour

Canada’s price on pollution is supposed to help battle global warming, but as it nears its fifth anniversary, nothing in Canadian politics is hotter. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has so successfully convinced Canadians the carbon price is to blame for inflation that he even earned begrudging respect for his “axe the tax” campaign from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre holds a press conference regarding his “Axe the Tax” message from the roof a parking garage in St. John’s on Friday, Oct.27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly
The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, British Columbia, on Aug. 18, 2023. Canada’s first-ever climate adaptation strategy was little more than six weeks old when fast-moving wildfires swept through communities in British Columbia’s southern Interior, forcing thousands to flee and destroying several hundred homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa agrees climate adaptation saves money, but experts ponder funding

‘We haven’t seen the leadership we would expect in the last six months to actually translate those targets into action’

The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, British Columbia, on Aug. 18, 2023. Canada’s first-ever climate adaptation strategy was little more than six weeks old when fast-moving wildfires swept through communities in British Columbia’s southern Interior, forcing thousands to flee and destroying several hundred homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As the smoke lifts on the worst wildfire season ever recorded in Canada, some question whether the country has the fleet of aerial water bombers it needs keep up with longer, more intense seasons fuelled by climate change. A Canadair waterbomber drops a load of water over the Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia on Friday Aug. 10, 2001. THE CANADIAN PRESS

Is Canada’s fleet of water bombers fit for climate-change fuelled wildfires?

Some question if Canada has the equipment needed to fight another intense season

As the smoke lifts on the worst wildfire season ever recorded in Canada, some question whether the country has the fleet of aerial water bombers it needs keep up with longer, more intense seasons fuelled by climate change. A Canadair waterbomber drops a load of water over the Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia on Friday Aug. 10, 2001. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Extreme heat poses extreme threat to trees and plants of Pacific Northwest

High-heat instances can pose greater risk to plant life than typical low-moisture droughts

Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
North Saanich’s Alex Grzybowski (first from the right) attended COP28 in Dubai in December with the First Nations Climate Initiative. (Courtesy of Alex Grzybowski)

Green shipping corridor prospects open for BC First Nations at COP28

Northwest Indigenous group finds potential partners as they pursue emerging hydrogen sector

North Saanich’s Alex Grzybowski (first from the right) attended COP28 in Dubai in December with the First Nations Climate Initiative. (Courtesy of Alex Grzybowski)
Environment Canada’s top climatologist says coast-to-coast wildfires made for the country’s top weather story of 2023. Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfires burning from coast to coast Canada’s weather story of the year

‘What we’re seeing is the preview of what we’re going to be seeing in the future’

Environment Canada’s top climatologist says coast-to-coast wildfires made for the country’s top weather story of 2023. Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The front step to the McGee family home is pictured amongst the ruins after the home was destroyed in a wildfire earlier this month in the suburban community of Hammonds Plains, N.S. outside of Halifax on Thursday, June 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Climate change could be avenue for adversaries to harm Canada, CSIS warns

Different countries are at different levels of risk

The front step to the McGee family home is pictured amongst the ruins after the home was destroyed in a wildfire earlier this month in the suburban community of Hammonds Plains, N.S. outside of Halifax on Thursday, June 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
The federal government needs a national emergency response agency but hasn’t yet decided exactly what it will look like, Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said. Small spot fires continued to flare up alongside Northwest Territories highways leading into Hay River, Fort Smith and Yellowknife, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Canada’s national emergency response program could see changes in 2024

Canada one of the few G7 countries without a national emergency co-ordinating agency

The federal government needs a national emergency response agency but hasn’t yet decided exactly what it will look like, Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said. Small spot fires continued to flare up alongside Northwest Territories highways leading into Hay River, Fort Smith and Yellowknife, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
Steven Guilbeault, Canada environment and climate minister, speaks to members of the media at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Guilbeault is hailing what he called the “monumental” outcome of the United Nations climate summit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rafiq Maqbool

‘Monumental’: Canada on board as UN summit approves fossil fuel transition

Leaders pledge shift at COP28 summit in Dubai in first-ever such commitment

Steven Guilbeault, Canada environment and climate minister, speaks to members of the media at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Guilbeault is hailing what he called the “monumental” outcome of the United Nations climate summit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rafiq Maqbool
As high inflation eats away the revenues of cities and towns, communities are increasingly being battered by historic fires, flooding, heat and ice storms, and having to dispense additional sums to guard against severe weather and clean up in its aftermath. A motorist makes their way along a street through pooling water during heavy rain in Montreal, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Climate change pounding municipal finances across Canada

Improving and repairing infrastructure to deal with Mother Nature hitting community coffers hard

As high inflation eats away the revenues of cities and towns, communities are increasingly being battered by historic fires, flooding, heat and ice storms, and having to dispense additional sums to guard against severe weather and clean up in its aftermath. A motorist makes their way along a street through pooling water during heavy rain in Montreal, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
FILE - Trucks carry aluminum alloy frames to Adani Green Energy Limited’s Renewable Energy Park near Khavda, Bhuj district near the India-Pakistan border in the western state of Gujarat, India, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)

The EU wants to put a tax on emissions from imports. It’s irked some other nations

Poorer countries fear such a tax will harm livelihoods and economic growth

FILE - Trucks carry aluminum alloy frames to Adani Green Energy Limited’s Renewable Energy Park near Khavda, Bhuj district near the India-Pakistan border in the western state of Gujarat, India, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
Fiona Famulak, president of the BC Chamber of Commerce, and Premier David Eby speak during the BC Chamber of Commerce’s Premier and Cabinet Luncheon in Vancouver Thursday. (Screencap)

B.C. premier touts new housing, defends CleanBC during business session

David Eby also faced questions about economy, climate change goals from BC Chamber president

Fiona Famulak, president of the BC Chamber of Commerce, and Premier David Eby speak during the BC Chamber of Commerce’s Premier and Cabinet Luncheon in Vancouver Thursday. (Screencap)
Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The federal Liberals will finally show details on their long-promised oil-and-gas emissions cap today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Goldman

Oil and gas sector must slash emissions by at least one-third by 2030

Cap promised by the Liberals in the 2021 election and is more than a year behind schedule

Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The federal Liberals will finally show details on their long-promised oil-and-gas emissions cap today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Goldman
FILE - Bleached coral is visible at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Galveston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, Sept. 16, 2023. The world is in danger of hitting the point of no return for five of Earth’s natural systems because of human-caused climate change, a team of scientists said on Wednesday, Dec. 6, on the sidelines of the United Nations’ climate summit. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Climate at the point of no return for 5 key ecosystems: scientists

Coral reefs, Greenland ice among the systems approaching point where there’s no going back

FILE - Bleached coral is visible at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Galveston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, Sept. 16, 2023. The world is in danger of hitting the point of no return for five of Earth’s natural systems because of human-caused climate change, a team of scientists said on Wednesday, Dec. 6, on the sidelines of the United Nations’ climate summit. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the controlled release or burning of methane from oil and gas production sites will be almost entirely barred by 2030. Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP - David Goldman

Near-ban on burning or releasing methane in energy production planned

Canada proposes new methane emissions rules for oil-and-gas sector

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the controlled release or burning of methane from oil and gas production sites will be almost entirely barred by 2030. Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP - David Goldman
A woman pretends to resuscitate the Earth during a demonstration at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

UN climate talks examine effects of global temperature rise on human health

‘Undoubtedly, health stands as the most compelling reason for taking climate action,’ WHO leader said.

A woman pretends to resuscitate the Earth during a demonstration at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
FILE - A Canada lynx heads into the Rio Grande National Forest near Creede, Colo., April 19, 2005. Federal officials on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, proposed a $30 million recovery plan for Canada lynx in a bid to help the snow-dependent wild cat species that scientists say could be wiped out in parts of the contiguous U.S. by the end of the century. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - A Canada lynx heads into the Rio Grande National Forest near Creede, Colo., April 19, 2005. Federal officials on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, proposed a $30 million recovery plan for Canada lynx in a bid to help the snow-dependent wild cat species that scientists say could be wiped out in parts of the contiguous U.S. by the end of the century. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Left to right, Mike Hudema and Mary Stuart member of Climate Justice Victoria stand beside massive ice sculpture at climate protest. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Climate protesters leave ice sculpture to melt on B.C. Legislature lawn

The rally is a response to the provincial government’s fracking and LNG expansion plans

Left to right, Mike Hudema and Mary Stuart member of Climate Justice Victoria stand beside massive ice sculpture at climate protest. (Ella Matte/News Staff)