All posts by Rochelle Baker

Rochelle Baker is a staff reporter with Canada’s National Observer, thanks thanks to a grant from the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in BC’s Lower Mainland for over 7 years.
Energy, Finances, Transportation

How BC can expand in the escalating global green economy

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C. can leverage competitive advantages to grow its cleantech industry and take advantage of a reinvigorated and rapidly escalating global green economy, according to pundits.

But to do so, the province must increase investments in clean energy, address gaps, and be more aggressive about meeting its own climate targets to trigger more innovation and growth in the sector.

Continue reading How BC can expand in the escalating global green economy →
Rivers & Oceans

DFO: a potentially transformative decade

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada is in the enviable position of having the longest coastline in the world. But our trio of oceans is being battered by a storm of negative impacts, be it overexploited fish stocks, plastics pollution, degrading marine food webs, increasingly fragile coastal ecosystems or biodiversity loss accelerated by ocean warming and acidification. Yet, at the very crest of their vulnerability, Canada’s oceans may stand to benefit from a potentially transformative decade.

Continue reading DFO: a potentially transformative decade →
Forests

Pacheedaht First Nation wants Fairy Creek protesters to leave

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National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Pacheedaht First Nation wants Fairy Creek protesters blockading roads in an effort to protect old-growth from logging on southern Vancouver Island to leave their territory.

Continue reading Pacheedaht First Nation wants Fairy Creek protesters to leave →
Forests

Horgan did not use the word old-growth, in warning to forestry sector

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Though the battle to protect ancient trees is brewing in his own backyard, B.C. Premier John Horgan did not utter the word old-growth when talking to logging industry leaders Thursday.

Horgan — keynote speaker at the Council of Forest Industries conference — did not highlight what steps the province is taking on its promise to meet recommendations from the strategic old-growth review, which calls for a radical shift from timber extraction to protection of at-risk ecosystems.

Continue reading Horgan did not use the word old-growth, in warning to forestry sector →
Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

First Nations feel betrayed by court decision

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

First Nations backing Ottawa’s plan to phase out salmon farms in the Discovery Islands feel betrayed after a court ruled in favour of aquaculture companies looking to restock fish at their sites in the region.

Continue reading First Nations feel betrayed by court decision →