Environment

The Englishman River estuary in Parksville is one of 15 coastal B.C. estuaries targeted by the Nature Trust’s Enhancing Estuary Resilience project. (City of Parksville photo)

UN salutes B.C. group for coastal estuary protection efforts

Nature Trust of B.C. working to climate-proof estuaries from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver Island

  • Mar 1, 2024
The Englishman River estuary in Parksville is one of 15 coastal B.C. estuaries targeted by the Nature Trust’s Enhancing Estuary Resilience project. (City of Parksville photo)
The oil tank owned by Key-West Asphalt after it slid down a slope in Herrling Channel on the Fraser River near Hope. (Ram Environmental)

Oil spill near Hope ‘a regulatory failure,’ say area First Nations

‘We are holding Key-West Asphalt accountable for cleaning up waste oil,’ MOE says after landslide

The oil tank owned by Key-West Asphalt after it slid down a slope in Herrling Channel on the Fraser River near Hope. (Ram Environmental)
B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup Tuesday tabled a report that finds that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has not been effectively managing ministry effectively managing hazardous spills.(Photo Courtesy of Office of the Auditor General)

Hazardous spills increasing, B.C. not prepared or transparent

Auditor-general: B.C. lacks up-to-date major spill response plan, failing to keep people informed

B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup Tuesday tabled a report that finds that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has not been effectively managing ministry effectively managing hazardous spills.(Photo Courtesy of Office of the Auditor General)
A non-profit organization in British Columbia says it has asked Canada’s Competition Bureau to investigate athletic-wear giant Lululemon, arguing the company is misleading customers about its environmental impacts. The Lululemon logo is seen on a wall at the company’s headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, May 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Environmental group accuses B.C.’s Lululemon of greenwashing

Stand.earth says clothing firm’s records don’t reflect marketing, wants competition bureau probe

A non-profit organization in British Columbia says it has asked Canada’s Competition Bureau to investigate athletic-wear giant Lululemon, arguing the company is misleading customers about its environmental impacts. The Lululemon logo is seen on a wall at the company’s headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, May 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The announced discovery of rare earth elements in East Kootenay arrived just as the B.C. government released a Critical Mineral Strategy to guide the transition to new technologies like solar and wind energy, and electric vehicles. Critical minerals, as shown above, can include rare earth elements, although they aren’t limited to them (Photo courtesy Mining Association of B.C.)

Research finds elevated levels of rare earth elements in East Kootenay coalfield samples

Research identifies East Kootenay raw material as potential source for electric cars, wind turbines

The announced discovery of rare earth elements in East Kootenay arrived just as the B.C. government released a Critical Mineral Strategy to guide the transition to new technologies like solar and wind energy, and electric vehicles. Critical minerals, as shown above, can include rare earth elements, although they aren’t limited to them (Photo courtesy Mining Association of B.C.)
Several environmental groups have written to the federal environment minister requesting a review of a chemical linked to the “mass deaths” of coho salmon. Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery, in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Tire toxin linked to salmon deaths, environmental groups want federal probe

Study says chemical known as 6PPD produces a breakdown product acutely toxic for coho

Several environmental groups have written to the federal environment minister requesting a review of a chemical linked to the “mass deaths” of coho salmon. Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery, in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Environmental groups say a recent court decision must spur quick action from the federal government to better protect critical migratory bird habitat from old-growth logging and other destruction. A marbled murrelet is shown in mid flight over the waters near Mitlenatch Island, B.C., in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Deb Freeman

Court ruling called a win for B.C.’s threatened migratory bird population

Court called federal focus on ‘nests’ too narrow, advocates want protection focused on habitat

Environmental groups say a recent court decision must spur quick action from the federal government to better protect critical migratory bird habitat from old-growth logging and other destruction. A marbled murrelet is shown in mid flight over the waters near Mitlenatch Island, B.C., in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Deb Freeman
CPAWS studied OGMAs in the Campbell River Resource District. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror

Less than 1/3 of B.C.’s Old Growth Management areas are old growth: watchdog

CPAWS found active cutblocks the size of 68 Stanley Parks in areas considered protected

  • Feb 1, 2024
CPAWS studied OGMAs in the Campbell River Resource District. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror
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Millennials, Gen Z unaware of price paid for cheap ‘fast fashion’: B.C. prof

KPU Surrey researcher says education needed about the waste and pollution tied to industry practices

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A fishing crew brings aboard a net filled with herring, foreground, during the 2017 harvest off the mouth of French Creek near Parksville in March. J.R. Rardon photo

Collapse of herring fishery near Vancouver tied to development: study

Forage fish like herring, smelt and eulachon showed dramatic decreases

  • Jan 18, 2024
A fishing crew brings aboard a net filled with herring, foreground, during the 2017 harvest off the mouth of French Creek near Parksville in March. J.R. Rardon photo
This 2023 wildfire near Entiako Park, located approximately 150 km southeast of Houston and 150 km southwest of Vanderhoof, directly east of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, helped to pump 102 megatonnes of carbon from provincial wildfires into the atmosphere. The figure comes from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

2023 B.C. wildfires pumped 102 megatonnes of carbon into atmosphere: EU

B.C.’s total greenhouse emissions in 2021 were 40 megatonnes less than 2023 wildfires on their own

This 2023 wildfire near Entiako Park, located approximately 150 km southeast of Houston and 150 km southwest of Vanderhoof, directly east of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, helped to pump 102 megatonnes of carbon from provincial wildfires into the atmosphere. The figure comes from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
The charity with the highest-paid executives was Ducks Unlimited Canada, based in Manitoba. Its 2023 declaration indicates that two people earned more than $350,000, three others received between $250,000 and $300,000, and four received compensation between $200,000 and $250,000. (Photo courtesy of Ducks Unlimited)

Heads of 17 Canadian environmental charities collecting major compensation packages

At Vanouver’s David Suzuki Foundation, one manager received compensation of between $250K and $300K

The charity with the highest-paid executives was Ducks Unlimited Canada, based in Manitoba. Its 2023 declaration indicates that two people earned more than $350,000, three others received between $250,000 and $300,000, and four received compensation between $200,000 and $250,000. (Photo courtesy of Ducks Unlimited)
BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Debate over B.C.’s climate action tax credit takes another fowl turn

Green MLA Adam Olsen plucks Conservatives’ climate change policy with his own chicken reference

BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
A small group of leaders of Canadian charities in the environment, conservation, and animal protection sectors are taking home compensation packages equivalent to, and in some cases higher than, the salaries of provincial premiers. Snow geese are seen during their migratory movements at the Reservoir Beaudet, in Victoriaville, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bernard Brault

17 Canadian environmental charity executives making $200K or more

Canadian Press reviewed registered charities in the categories of ‘environment’ and ‘animal protection’

A small group of leaders of Canadian charities in the environment, conservation, and animal protection sectors are taking home compensation packages equivalent to, and in some cases higher than, the salaries of provincial premiers. Snow geese are seen during their migratory movements at the Reservoir Beaudet, in Victoriaville, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bernard Brault
New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

B.C. blames clean hydro power for low StatsCan ranking on emissions cuts

Figures used by StatsCan, not B.C., show greenhouse gas emissions by households barely budged

New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C.’s Environment Minister welcomes COP28 agreement

But George Heyman also acknowledged it could have sent a ‘more positive signal’

Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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)
A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young

Oily sheen across Vancouver’s False Creek sparks Coast Guard investigation

Probe looking at possibility pollution came from land-based source during heavy rain

A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said he is ‘optimistic’ about meeting climate change goals. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. Environment Minister to promote B.C. climate change policies at COP28

George Heyman also said Thursday he is “optimistic” will meet its climate change goals

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said he is ‘optimistic’ about meeting climate change goals. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)

B.C.’s soon-to-be ban on certain plastics feeds entrepreneurial boom

Co-founder of company offering sustainable foodware products welcomes Dec. 20 ban

Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)