Environment

Delegates walk past a giant Jenga-style tower at the COP15 United Nations conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The tower illustrates the complex web of life where each brick nudged out of place represents damage caused to nature and with it the danger of ecosystem collapse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Developing countries walk out of Montreal biodiversity conference over funding

Main concern about a special fund to finance biodiversity conservation in poorer nations

Delegates walk past a giant Jenga-style tower at the COP15 United Nations conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The tower illustrates the complex web of life where each brick nudged out of place represents damage caused to nature and with it the danger of ecosystem collapse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson waits to speak to the media at the COP15 biodiversity conference Monday, December 12, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canada, other G7 nations launch sustainable mining alliance at COP15 nature meeting

Deal involves countries that are trying to reduce China’s dominance in the critical mineral field

Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson waits to speak to the media at the COP15 biodiversity conference Monday, December 12, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Trudeau was unequivocal Wednesday when asked if Canada was going to meet its goal to protect one-quarter of all Canadian land and oceans by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

As nature talks unfold, here’s what ‘30 by 30’ conservation could mean in Canada

‘I am happy to say that we are going to meet our ‘25 by 25’ target’: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Trudeau was unequivocal Wednesday when asked if Canada was going to meet its goal to protect one-quarter of all Canadian land and oceans by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Debris believed to be from the 2021 Zim Kingston freighter spill is shown being collected off Palmerston Beach, on Vancouver Island B.C. in this handout image provided by the by the environmental organization Epic Exeo from February 2022. Those who walk the beaches say debris from the 109 shipping containers that went overboard is still washing up onshore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Epic Exeo **MANDATORY CREDIT**

From urinal mats to unicorns, cargo from 2021 spill still washes up on B.C. shores

Advocates still awaiting solutions in the wake of the MV Zim Kingston spill

Debris believed to be from the 2021 Zim Kingston freighter spill is shown being collected off Palmerston Beach, on Vancouver Island B.C. in this handout image provided by the by the environmental organization Epic Exeo from February 2022. Those who walk the beaches say debris from the 109 shipping containers that went overboard is still washing up onshore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Epic Exeo **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a discussion with members of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council in Montreal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Trudeau says 120 countries are ready to agree to 30 by 30 framework at COP15

PM acknowledges some of the world’s five biggest countries pose challenges at nature summit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a discussion with members of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council in Montreal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
The Frack Free BC protest was held during Premier David Eby’s cabinent swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 7, 2022. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Environmental alliance calls for end to fracking as Eby swears in new cabinet

Members staged demonstration at Government House in Victoria ahead of swearing-in ceremony

The Frack Free BC protest was held during Premier David Eby’s cabinent swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 7, 2022. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Workers set up the Montreal Convention Centre in preparation for the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. A major international conference on preserving the world’s biodiversity is to open Tuesday with speakers including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Nature ‘under attack’ says Trudeau as UN biodiversity conference opens in Montreal

196 countries being asked to hammer out a deal to save and restore ecosystems

Workers set up the Montreal Convention Centre in preparation for the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. A major international conference on preserving the world’s biodiversity is to open Tuesday with speakers including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Leanne Koehn with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society provides several tips on how to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas. (The News)

How to have a green Christmas: Tips from the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society

Learn how to recycle everything from Christmas trees to wrapping paper

Leanne Koehn with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society provides several tips on how to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas. (The News)
A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Keepers of Cheewaht: Restoring a Vancouver Island ecosystem for generations to come

After years of neglect, salmon are returning to remote West Coast river system

  • Dec 6, 2022
A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
A bulk carrier cargo ship travels into port as a Harbour Air seaplane flies towards Stanley Park and the downtown skyline, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Victoria beats Vancouver, Kelowna surprisingly low in city environmental ranking

Small Canadian cities rank high on environmental scorecard that has a few surprises

A bulk carrier cargo ship travels into port as a Harbour Air seaplane flies towards Stanley Park and the downtown skyline, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Thousands of plants, animals at risk of extinction in Canada: wild species report

135 species at one time found in Canada believed to be extinct, another 4,883 threatened

A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
An injured mule deer buck was located and euthanized in Quesnel on Wednesday, Nov. 23. (Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

Deer wandering with arrow in side euthanized in Quesnel, sparking warning to hunters

The animal was located by the Conservation Officer Service and the RCMP

An injured mule deer buck was located and euthanized in Quesnel on Wednesday, Nov. 23. (Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Sea lice numbers not necessarily influenced by salmon farms: industry studies

New data suggests sea lice levels trend up or down; Activists are skeptical

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
The Giant Mine site is shown during a site surface tour of the Giant Mine Remediation Project near Yellowknife on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. With a newly approved cost estimate of $4.38 billion, remediation of Giant Mine, one of the most contaminated sites in Canada, is also expected to be the most expensive federal environmental cleanup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

Canada’s top 5 federal contaminated sites to cost taxpayers billions to clean up

Sites include B.C.’s Esquimalt Harbour, where hundreds of millions are expected to be spent in total

The Giant Mine site is shown during a site surface tour of the Giant Mine Remediation Project near Yellowknife on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. With a newly approved cost estimate of $4.38 billion, remediation of Giant Mine, one of the most contaminated sites in Canada, is also expected to be the most expensive federal environmental cleanup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
Colombian environmental engineer Germán Viasus Tibamoso, owner of Tierra Viva, places beetle larvae on solid waste in Tunja, Colombia, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. The company transforms solid, organic waste, with the help of beetle larvae’s digestive microorganisms, that transform the waste into a compost rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. Once adults, some of the beetles are sent to scientific labs and others to Japan where they are popular as pets. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

VIDEO: Hard-working Colombian beetles clean garbage, retire as pets

Larvae can transform food waste into fertilizer

Colombian environmental engineer Germán Viasus Tibamoso, owner of Tierra Viva, places beetle larvae on solid waste in Tunja, Colombia, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. The company transforms solid, organic waste, with the help of beetle larvae’s digestive microorganisms, that transform the waste into a compost rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. Once adults, some of the beetles are sent to scientific labs and others to Japan where they are popular as pets. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Environmentalists and businesses in B.C. are calling on Premier David Eby to protect biodiversity in the province. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich)

Businesses ally with environmentalists to push B.C.’s new premier to protect biodiversity

As many as 278 species are at risk of extinction in B.C.

  • Nov 22, 2022
Environmentalists and businesses in B.C. are calling on Premier David Eby to protect biodiversity in the province. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich)
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks with members of the media after tabling legislation in the House of Commons, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced an investment of another $1.2 billion in its Ocean Protection Plan for 29 projects involving ocean safety, science and environmental safeguards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds announce another $1.2 billion for ocean cleanup and protection

National preparation for releases of hazardous or noxious substances from ships part of what’s coming

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks with members of the media after tabling legislation in the House of Commons, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced an investment of another $1.2 billion in its Ocean Protection Plan for 29 projects involving ocean safety, science and environmental safeguards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The Timber Licence in question was located up Loughborough Inlet. Photo courtesy Google Maps

Fine for illegal cedar harvesting in Great Bear Rainforest increased more than tenfold

Penalty increased to $131,000 to act as deterrent, prevent profit from proceeds of a crime

  • Nov 15, 2022
The Timber Licence in question was located up Loughborough Inlet. Photo courtesy Google Maps
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault is seen during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Guilbeault says Canada’s promised emissions cap on the oil and gas sector won’t be finalized for another year.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault is seen during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Guilbeault says Canada’s promised emissions cap on the oil and gas sector won’t be finalized for another year.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
An adult Piping Plover runs along a beach as waves lap on the shore in the background, in the Quonochontaug Conservation Area, in Westerly, R.I., July 12, 2007. An environmental law group is taking the federal government to court over new rules to protect piping plover habitat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Steven Senne

Environmental group takes federal government to court over piping plover habitat

Group claims feds’ amended version of protection strategy leaves birds more vulnerable

An adult Piping Plover runs along a beach as waves lap on the shore in the background, in the Quonochontaug Conservation Area, in Westerly, R.I., July 12, 2007. An environmental law group is taking the federal government to court over new rules to protect piping plover habitat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Steven Senne