Environment

The BC Coroners Service confirmed that 619 people died during the 2021 heat dome between June 25 and July 1. Provincial emergency official do not anticipate a heat dome scenario with temperatures expected to surge this week, but are able to respond if necessary. (Black Press Media file photo)

Province prepared as temperatures poised to surge in B.C., says emergency minister

Emergency Minister Ma does not anticipate ‘heat-dome scenario’ but province ready to issue alerts

The BC Coroners Service confirmed that 619 people died during the 2021 heat dome between June 25 and July 1. Provincial emergency official do not anticipate a heat dome scenario with temperatures expected to surge this week, but are able to respond if necessary. (Black Press Media file photo)
A response between The Ha-ma-yas Guardians, the Canadian Coast Guard and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation raised a sunken diesel tanker off Hardwicke Island last week. Photo courtesy DFO Marine Mammal Response Unit

Coastal First Nations Guardians key to fuel truck spill response

Local knowledge of area proved vital to success of salvage

  • May 3, 2023
A response between The Ha-ma-yas Guardians, the Canadian Coast Guard and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation raised a sunken diesel tanker off Hardwicke Island last week. Photo courtesy DFO Marine Mammal Response Unit
River levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly in yellow areas, but no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible. River levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull in brown areas. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur. (Screencap)

Low-lying parts of B.C.’s Interior asked to prepare for potential spring flooding

Areas with a higher risk of flooding include Chilcotins and areas around Prince George among others

River levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly in yellow areas, but no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible. River levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull in brown areas. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur. (Screencap)
The crew of the Strait Sentinel deploys a sweep system used to collect oil off the ocean’s surface. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Simulated oil spill off B.C. coast tests marine response

Crews from the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation deployed as part of biannual exercise

The crew of the Strait Sentinel deploys a sweep system used to collect oil off the ocean’s surface. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Scott Island Marine National Wildlife Area was the first protected marine area established under the Canada Wildlife Act. (Government of Canada screen capture)

Oil and gas ‘sleeper permits’ surrendered for sensitive B.C. coastal areas

Environment groups halt court challenge after Chevron surrenders historical rights in hot spots

  • Apr 24, 2023
The Scott Island Marine National Wildlife Area was the first protected marine area established under the Canada Wildlife Act. (Government of Canada screen capture)
Access to public charging stations has increased, but concerns about their availability remain.(Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. drivers love their EVs, but many worry about long road trips: BCAA survey

Survey notes 67% still own gas vehicles for longer journeys

Access to public charging stations has increased, but concerns about their availability remain.(Black Press Media file photo)
Access to public charging stations has increased, but concerns about their availability remain.(Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. drivers love their EVs, but many worry about long road trips: BCAA survey

Survey notes 67% still own gas vehicles for longer journeys

Access to public charging stations has increased, but concerns about their availability remain.(Black Press Media file photo)
April 22 is Earth Day. Across Canada and around the world, special events will be held as a global support of environmental protection. (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How much do you know about the Earth?

April 22 is Earth Day, a day set aside to support environmental protection

April 22 is Earth Day. Across Canada and around the world, special events will be held as a global support of environmental protection. (Pixabay.com)
The PRIMED facility at Blind Channel will be a testing ground for clean energy projects. Photo courtesy PRIMED

B.C. research lab working to harness the power of the tides in the Discovery Islands

Clean energy project to be showcase for coastal communities looking to get off diesel

  • Apr 21, 2023
The PRIMED facility at Blind Channel will be a testing ground for clean energy projects. Photo courtesy PRIMED
As construction of Site C continues, BC Hydro is asking to leave behind debris large enough to cover 28 soccer fields prior to flooding 80 kilometres of the Peace River valley. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

BC Hydro applies to leave some Site C construction debris to be flooded over

Hydro: Leaving up to 45 structures behind could be easier on the environment than removing them

As construction of Site C continues, BC Hydro is asking to leave behind debris large enough to cover 28 soccer fields prior to flooding 80 kilometres of the Peace River valley. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
Research is underway in order to help replenish diminishing kelp forests on the B.C. coast. Unsplash/contributed photo

B.C.’s kelp forests battle climate change, offer crucial environmental resources

Kelp forests, foundational to coastal ecosystems and B.C. Indigenous culture, are at risk

  • Apr 21, 2023
Research is underway in order to help replenish diminishing kelp forests on the B.C. coast. Unsplash/contributed photo
A room inside a ‘carbon-minimal’ building is seen in an undated handout photo. One of Canada’s first ‘carbon-minimal’ buildings made with hempcrete is officially open this week and it’s located on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-UBC

UBC students construct one of Canada’s first ‘carbon-minimal’ hempcrete buildings

Hempcrete captures carbon from the atmosphere as it set and turns to a concrete-like material

A room inside a ‘carbon-minimal’ building is seen in an undated handout photo. One of Canada’s first ‘carbon-minimal’ buildings made with hempcrete is officially open this week and it’s located on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-UBC
A rendering of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, located to the northwest of the existing Roberts Bank terminals in Delta. Ottawa has approved the project subject to 370 legally binding conditions to protect the environment, including to prevent harm to local species, but environmentalists fear the worst. (Port of Vancouver image)

Ottawa cites jobs, capacity, approves B.C.’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion

Approval of port expansion a ‘death sentence’ for southern resident killer whales: environmentalist

A rendering of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, located to the northwest of the existing Roberts Bank terminals in Delta. Ottawa has approved the project subject to 370 legally binding conditions to protect the environment, including to prevent harm to local species, but environmentalists fear the worst. (Port of Vancouver image)
From left, European Union Deputy Secretary General and Political Director of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, France’ Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, pose for members of the media as they arrive at Karuizawa Station for a G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik

No date for coal phase out as G7 environment ministers wrap meeting in Japan

Leaders reaffirmed need for a ‘predominantly decarbonized power sector’ by 2035

From left, European Union Deputy Secretary General and Political Director of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, France’ Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, pose for members of the media as they arrive at Karuizawa Station for a G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik
Rainbow trout, photo taken by Laryn Gilmour

Engineering firm fined $1M over B.C. spill linked to 85 trout deaths

Keller Foundations Ltd. was ordered to pay over 2018 incident in West Vancouver

Rainbow trout, photo taken by Laryn Gilmour
(L-R) Coun. Korleen Carreras, Coun. Sunny Schiller, energy minister Josie Osborne, MLA Bob D’Eith, and MLA Lisa Beare, all helped announce $26 million in new funding to help B.C. increase its number of EV charging stations. (Brandon Tucker/The News)

B.C. receives $26 million in new funding for EV charging stations

Provincial government sets target of 100% light-duty vehicle sales being EVs by 2035

(L-R) Coun. Korleen Carreras, Coun. Sunny Schiller, energy minister Josie Osborne, MLA Bob D’Eith, and MLA Lisa Beare, all helped announce $26 million in new funding to help B.C. increase its number of EV charging stations. (Brandon Tucker/The News)
Workers stand in the water storage tank construction site in Paris, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. A costly and complex clean-up is resuscitating the River Seine just in time for it to play a starring role in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The city and its region are rushing to make the Seine’s murky waters swimmable, so it can genuinely live up to its billing as the world’s most romantic river. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Fancy a dip? An Olympic reboot underway for Paris’ toxic River Seine

A costly and complex cleanup is resuscitating the Seine with an eye on 2024

Workers stand in the water storage tank construction site in Paris, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. A costly and complex clean-up is resuscitating the River Seine just in time for it to play a starring role in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The city and its region are rushing to make the Seine’s murky waters swimmable, so it can genuinely live up to its billing as the world’s most romantic river. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

First Nation in Supreme Court trying to enforce B.C. ‘duty to consult’ on mineral rights

Legal action seeks to overturn mineral rights claims and suspend further claim in Gitxaała territory

The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Gitxaała Nation enters first-of-its-kind mineral rights challenge in B.C. Supreme Court

Legal action seeks to overturn mineral rights claims & suspend further claim in Gitxaała territory

The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering snapped this photo of the herring spawn with a telephoto lens. (Jackie Hildering photo)

Herring spawn documented for perhaps first time ever in B.C.’s Port McNeill

Spawn a spring tradition along east coast of Vancouver Island, but not in this area off Port McNeill

The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering snapped this photo of the herring spawn with a telephoto lens. (Jackie Hildering photo)