Efforts to highlight the significant dangers of global warming do not
seem to be successful. Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal cause, have combined with methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to speed the increase, despite decades of warnings. Global
temperatures are rising, scientists are desperately trying to focus
our attention on the seriousness of the problem, and despite
international pledges, national targets, corporate promises and
individual efforts, little of significance has been accomplished.
Significant strides in renewable energy sources have been made,
however much of this added power is not replacing fossil fuels but
supplementing them. The International Energy Agency has predicted that oil consumption could peak about 2030. We have made some progress by averting the worst of the worst future climate possibilities. But humanity has now surpassed the 1.5°C first target of temperature rise proposed in the Paris Agreement of 2015, and the pre-eminent American climate scientist, James Hansen, was prescient enough even a year ago to declare the 2.0°C target “dead”. (The Guardian Weekly, February 4. 2025).
Tag Archives: COP 21 (Paris)
Four Local Leaders React to Canada’s MOU with Alberta
(Part 1 of 2)
Canada’s MOU with Alberta, a proposed new pipeline in British Columbia, and the possible lifting of the tanker ban have been hot news items over the past few days. Steven Guilbeault resigned from cabinet over his opposition to the way Prime Minister Mark Carney is handling these issues. In the first episode of a two part series about the MOU, Cortes Currents asked four local leaders for their take on these events.
- Green Party leader Elizabeth May;
- Jennifer Lash, a former senior analyst with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the 2025 Liberal candidate for North Island–Powell River.
- Shelley Luce, Associate Director and Campaigns Director at Sierra Club BC;
- Max Thaysen, a leader of the Cortes Island Climate Action Network and regional representative for North Island on the BC NDP’s Standing Committee on Economy and Environment.
Liberal Budget survives Non-confidence vote
On November 17, Canada’s Liberal Government narrowly survived a non-confidence vote on the Budget: 170-168. It passed because Green Party MP Elizabeth May supported the motion and four other opposition MPs abstained.
May told reporters that up until Question Period on the day of the vote, she had not seen any evidence that Prime Minister Mark Carney was going to try to address the climate crisis, or Indigenous reconciliation. Many Greens urged her to help bring the government down.
Continue reading Liberal Budget survives Non-confidence vote
International Court of Justice Issues Landmark Climate Opinion
“The Court hopes that its conclusions will allow the law to inform and guide social and political action to address the ongoing climate crisis.” – ICJ Advisory Opinion, para. 456
In a historic and unanimous ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued its Advisory Opinion on the legal responsibilities of nation states to address climate change. This decision, requested by the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, clarifies for the first time what international law demands of countries and what legal consequences may follow if they fail to act.
Continue reading International Court of Justice Issues Landmark Climate Opinion
Canada’s 2035 climate ambition was weakened by the new Trump reality
By John Woodside, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
When U.S. President Donald Trump was elected in November, Canadian officials issued a weaker than expected 2035 emission reduction target to account for the new political reality.
In an interview with Canada’s National Observer, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said that after the U.S. election, the government looked at the opportunities and weighed the risks. Competitiveness was top of mind, more so than tariff threat, he said.
Continue reading Canada’s 2035 climate ambition was weakened by the new Trump reality