Tag Archives: Jens Wieting

Energy

Does Ernst & Young’s LNG Report Vindicate BC?

7 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

There are credible experts who believe that, with proper regulation and enforcement, it is possible to have a trustworthy fracking industry. They also say this does not yet exist in North America. Personally, I think the industry is out of control and BC’s government is desperate to get in bed with it. Last week the government released a report from Ernst & Young (EY) which the Minister of Natural Gas Development says “British Columbians can have confidence they are benefiting from a clean, well regulated natural gas industry.” Does Ernst & Young’s LNG report vindicate BC?

Continue reading Does Ernst & Young’s LNG Report Vindicate BC? →
Forests

The Ministry’s Answers

2 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

One June 8, Sierra Club BC released their report  BC forest wake-up call.  I responded by requesting an interview with Jens Wieting, of the Sierra Club, and shooting off a list of questions to the Ministry of Forests. As I published my interview with Wieting yesterday, it seems appropriate to publish the Ministry’s answers as a Q&A today.

Continue reading The Ministry’s Answers →
Forests

BC’s Forests Produced 256 Million Tonnes of CO2

1 Comment
Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

British Columbia could be emissions free. The province’s forest cover is vast enough to absorb more carbon than we actually need to use. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Forests has not been doing a good job since the Liberal Government took power. Instead of storing carbon, BC’s forests now emit carbon. So many trees have been clear cut, infested by Mountain Pine Beetles or burned in forest fires, that BC’s forests produced 256 million tonnes of CO2 in the decade following 2003.

Continue reading BC’s Forests Produced 256 Million Tonnes of CO2 →
Politics

What Has The Under2 MOU Changed?

3 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

Are the drought conditions spreading throughout the West Coast connected to climate transformation? States of emergency have been declared in California, Washington and parts of Oregon. Though British Columbia has not experienced this, a recent computer simulation predicted 80% of its glaciers could disappear over the next decade. This entire region responded by joining with eight other states, on three continents, in a pact to tackle Climate Change. Yet the development of fossil fuel continues, so what has the Under 2 MOU changed on the West Coast?

Continue reading What Has The Under2 MOU Changed? →
Environment

Four Questions About BC’s Coal Policies

1 Comment

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

I recently asked the provincial government four questions about BC’s Coal Policies. Instead of answering the first three, their spokesperson replied, “I suggest you direct these questions to Port Metro Vancouver.” Only most of these questions were connected to the provincial Ministry of Energy and Mines decision to grant the Lafarge Canada facility on Texada Island a permit amendment so that it can handle up to 8 million tonnes of US thermal coal every year.

Continue reading Four Questions About BC’s Coal Policies →