Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Conservationists and many First Nations are celebrating a Federal Court of Appeal decision that upholds the closure of salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands.
A battle over the ultimate fate of open-net pen salmon farms in the region’s waters, between the mainland and northeastern Vancouver Island, has spanned close to five years.
Continue reading Appeal court ruling backs Discovery Islands salmon farm closuresCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
British Columbia’s modest climate gains are at risk after a wave of policy clawbacks this past year.
According to the province’s recent accountability report — which reflects BC’s climate data on a two-year lag — carbon pollution declined by four per cent in 2023, meaning emissions are now 9 per cent below the 2007 baseline.
The province has also nearly halved methane emissions in the oil and gas sector from 2014, meeting this year’s target two years early.
However, many climate measures that are just beginning to bear fruit, or will soon — such as the consumer carbon tax, electric vehicle rebates and sales mandates and net-zero requirements for liquified natural gas (LNG) projects — have been pruned back or chopped entirely in 2025. What’s more, the province scrapped the promised oil and gas sector emissions cap and never delivered a clean transportation plan although fossil fuel vehicles continue to account for 41 per cent of the BC’s carbon pollution.
Continue reading BC made small gains on emissions — but the province is scrapping climate measures
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For a second time, the world watched as Tahlequah, an endangered southern resident killer whale, struggled to keep her dead newborn calf afloat in the Salish Sea.
But with Ottawa failing to take urgent action to protect the 73 remaining orcas, a coalition of environmental groups is suing two federal ministers to push them to assume their legal responsibility and recommend an emergency order to save the West Coast icons.
Continue reading Federal ministers sued over lack of action on endangered orcasCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Adrian Dix is B.C.’s new climate and clean energy czar, but it’s not clear whether his appointment signals a new commitment by the NDP government to tackle the province’s growing oil and gas emissions.
Dix, the former health minister who once ran for premier himself, was appointed as the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions during Premier David Eby’s cabinet shuffle.
With the appointment, Eby also combined responsibility for energy and climate accountability under one roof.
Continue reading B.C.’s new clean-energy czar is a climate ‘wild card’
By Matteo Cimellaro, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Leaders of Coastal First Nations are on the ground in Azerbaijan to line up Asian buyers for their Indigenous-led gas exports from LNG facilities under development in British Columbia.
It’s crunch time for the First Nation Climate Initiative (FNCI), the pro-LNG (liquefied natural gas) First Nation coalition that pitches the fossil fuel’s role in the world’s decarbonization efforts. For the long-term viability of Indigenous-led LNG, the organization needs to find export partners in Asia or the projects are at risk. The delegation has arrived in Azerbaijan at a time when the world is on the cusp of 1.5 C, and yet fossil fuel combustion continues to rise.
Continue reading First Nations pitch Indigenous-led LNG to the world at COP29
