National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As the year’s climate-related gains and catastrophes wrap, Canada’s National Observer is reviewing the top five stories to make waves in B.C.’s coastal and island communities in 2022.
First Nations, forests and fish-related news surfaced as some top issues from CNO’s Island Insider beat, and are likely to dominate headlines in the new year as well.
Continue reading From fish to forests, how 2022 played out on Canada’s West CoastBy Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canadian environmental groups have levelled another greenwashing complaint — this time at the largest certification scheme for sustainable forestry in North America.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certifies 115 million hectares of forest within Canada’s borders for companies.
In a complaint filed to Competition Bureau Canada, environmental groups allege the SFI’s claims of sustainability are “false and misleading” because it has “no rules requiring that logging meet prescribed sustainability criteria nor any on-the-ground assessment to confirm sustainability.”
Continue reading Greenwashing complaint filed against Canada’s biggest certifier of sustainable forestryBy Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal and British Columbia governments have rejected a proposed open-pit coal mine over its environmental impacts.
The Sukunka open-pit coal mine near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., would have produced three million tons of coal per year to sell to steel manufacturers overseas, according to Glencore, the company behind the project. The federal government announced the rejection — based on B.C.’s environmental assessment process — on Dec. 21.
Continue reading Proposed B.C. coal mine gets axed over ‘significant’ environmental effects
A waste education program from Powell River recently cleaned up an islet that was partially buried under tires. Cortes Currents re-published the story from qathet Living and that probably would have ended the matter, except some of you had questions. The biggest one was something between shock and disbelief that such a beautiful Islet had actually been turned into a tire dump. So Cortes Currents asked Abby McLennan of Let’s Talk Trash for an interview.
Continue reading The story behind the Tire Islet clean-up
By Kaitlyn Bailey, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The province is asking for public feedback on a document proposing solutions and policies to guide the health of marine ecosystems and coastal communities in B.C.
As the government develops the province’s first coastal marine strategy, they want people to give feedback on its goals and priorities, the Ministry of Water, Land and Water Stewardship announced on Dec. 15.
Continue reading B.C. seeks feedback on coastal marine strategy
