When the world went into lockdown, the global demand for electricity dropped 20%. By the end of March, 50% of the traffic disappeared from city streets. The demand for fossil fuels evaporated. Coal fired generation has suffered its’ largest drop since World War II. A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report suggests the post COVID energy world could be far more carbon free.
Continue reading The Post COVID Energy WorldTag Archives: Canada
Ottawa Has Reached A Turning Point
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Canadian government’s recent COVID-19 initiative for the gas and oil industry may signal Ottawa has reached a turning point and is responding to public pressure to address the climate crisis, noted environmentalist Tzeporah Berman says.
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David Sukuki On Covid 19
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
David Suzuki put more than 350 people on hold Thursday evening after spotting salmon leaping in the ocean through the window of the Quadra Island home where he’s currently riding out the coronavirus pandemic. Canada’s best-known environmental activist, scientist and broadcaster was participating in a Zoom call hosted by National Observer to discuss the intersection of COVID-19 and climate change. But unable to contain his excitement, the 84-year-old naturalist wandered off-screen to alert his family to the beauty unfolding before him. The moment only underscored the point he’d been making during his conversation with National Observer CEO and editor-in-chief Linda Solomon Wood, that despite the havoc COVID-19 is wreaking on people and their families, public health and economies worldwide, the virus was providing a breather for the environment.
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Helping Canada’s Energy Sector Survive
The transition to a low carbon economy started long before anyone heard of COVID 19. According to a 2019 report from Clean Energy Canada, there are already 298,000 Canadians working in the clean energy sector. Yet as a result of the global pandemic, the demand for oil has fallen to 1995 levels. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) did not hide the fact they have been been working closely with the Trudeau government to “identify important areas for urgent action to help Canada’s energy sector survive the current economic crisis.”
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Out-Harpering Harper
To paraphrase a recent Washington Post article, during his nine years in power Stephen Harper avoided topics he did not wish to talk about whenever possible. Burnaby Now reported that the former Conservative Prime Minister projected a friendly, approachable image at his rallies, “except for that part where we’re not allowed to get anywhere near him or ask questions. I can’t help but think how every little detail is deliberate. Nothing is left to chance.” The National Post adds, “To this day, Liberal henchpersons are happy to excoriate Harper for having tried to ‘game the system’ and avoid scrutiny” – but in this election Trudeau is clearly out-Harpering Harper.
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