By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter — With files from John Woodside
If the U.S. allows unconstrained growth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, there will be significant costs to both consumers and the climate, according to a new government report.
Continue reading Unconstrained LNG exports will cost consumers and the climate: U.S. Department of Energy
BC Ferries currently deploys 11 vessels on its major routes that connect Vancouver Island with the Lower Mainland. Six of these are decades old and nearing the end of their effective service life. While the volume of traffic has significantly increased over the past three decades, there have not been any additions to the major routes carrying capacity since the Spirit Class vessels were introduced in 1993-94. Consequently, 60% of the vehicles using the ferry on a major route last summer had to wait for at least one sailing. In a bold move to bring this portion of its fleet into the 21st century, on Friday, December 13, BC Ferries applied to the BC Ferries Commissioner for permission to add 5 New Major Vessels (NMV).
Continue reading New Major Vessels For A 21st Century Ferry ServiceWith the rise of global temperatures already at 1.4°C, we are currently on track to reach 2.8°C by the end of this century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) claims, “every additional 0.1°C of global warming causes clearly discernible increases in the intensity and frequency of temperature and precipitation extremes, as well as agricultural and ecological droughts in some regions.”
Denise Mullen, from the Business Council of BC, recently informed the SRD’s Natural Resources Committee that the province faces a more urgent problem. British Columbia is in the midst of a productivity emergency.
Continue reading BC’s Productivity Emergency vs Rising GHG Emissions
By Ingo Overmann
It is my sincere belief that thereason we are NOT making the urgently needed progress on climatechange is because far too many people do not understand the ABC’s.This applies to residents of remote areas like Smithers and Cortes Island just as much as someone living in the densely packed suburbs of GreaterVancouver. If you want to test that statement for yourself, please ask the next 10 ordinary people you meet ‘How many POUNDS of CO2are created by the use of 1 litre of gasoline?’ Prepare to be amazed.We may be prey to the greenwashing and misleading statements of climate change deniers, but the lack of knowledge lies with us, and is ours to change.
Continue reading How are we doing with Climate Change? The ABC’s of Global WarmingBy Barry Saxifrage
BC’s election is coming up. I’m climate-concerned voter, deeply concerned about the increasingly destructive climate future we are leaving to our kids and to all future Canadian generations. I still haven’t decided how I’m going to best vote for climate hope. So, I’m not writing to offer any recommendations on who to vote for. Instead, I’m writing to offer some basic information about BC’s emissions.
Continue reading Some climate information for BC voters
