All posts by Guest Post

Cost of Climate Change

Canada’s emissions flatlined in 2024, early estimate shows

As progress stalls, emissions trends put Canada’s 2030 climate target out of reach, emphasizing the need for coordinated policy reset.

Originally published on 440 Megatonnes.ca

By Dave Sawyer &  Seton Stiebert 

Canada’s emissions flatlined in 2024 at 694 million tonnes (Mt CO2e), with emissions essentially unchanged from the previous year. The stall comes at a time when the federation faces compounding pressures: devastating wildfires that highlight the rising costs of climate inaction, an economic slowdown tied to U.S. tariffs, intensifying competitiveness risks for industry, and affordability impacts on households. 

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Disaster

Canada’s 2023 Wildfire Season Linked to 82,000 Deaths Worldwide

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Researchers have crunched data on excess deaths and calculated that Canada’s 2023 wildfire season shortened the lives of 82,000 people worldwide.

The smokiest days caused about 5,400 acute extra deaths across North America alone, according to the research published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

That means wildfire smoke is about as deadly as prostate cancer, Michael Brauer told The Tyee.

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Animals

To bee or not to bee: Comox’s path to pollinator protection

By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse,  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Comox is making a commitment to bees, butterflies and other pollinators after receiving an official Bee City designation earlier this month. 

The designation, assigned by Bee City Canada, means municipalities will commit to what the organization calls the three pillars of the program: Creating a healthy and biodiverse pollinator habitat, educating and celebrating. 

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Indigenous Nations

41 additional unmarked graves found at former residential school site in Sechelt

By Jordan Copp, Coast Reporter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Please note this story may contain information that is triggering to readers. Survivors and those impacted by residential schools can call the 24-hour national Indian Residential School Crisis Line for support services: 1-866-925-4419. Support is also available through Hope for Wellness helpline at 1-855-242-3310 or at hopeforwellness.ca. 

The shíshálh Nation has announced the discovery of 41 additional unmarked graves at the site of the former St. Augustine’s Residential School, bringing the total number of graves identified to 81.

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Business

Rethinking Canada’s ‘Productivity Problem’

By Isaac Phan Nay, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Jasmine Ramze Rezaee wants you to think twice when Ottawa says we have a productivity problem.

Prime Minister Mark Carney links weak productivity to rising costs.

“Our long-standing weak productivity is making life less affordable for Canadians,” Carney said in a speech in May. “It’s beginning to strain our government finances and starting to put at risk the social programs on which Canadians rely.”

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