Climate Change

* Water restrictions on oilsands water use a preview of climate change challenges

19/08/15

Author:

Canadian Press

Link:

EDMONTON - New research suggests that this week's restrictions on withdrawing water from the Athabasca River for oilsands use are a preview of what the industry will face under climate change.

Alberta's energy regulator has suspended a total of 73 temporary industry licences to take water from the Athabasca because of low flows.

A recent paper published in the journal Climate Change suggests such disruptions will become more common and increase by up to 40 per cent by mid-century.

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* BC Building Trades president: Canada needs an energy plan

18/08/15

Author:

Lee Loftus

Link:

The Vancouver Sun

The G7 nations have committed to eliminating the use of fossil fuels by 2100.

What Canada’s premiers said in July is wrong — there are simple answers to developing a national energy strategy — but what’s difficult is making tough decisions.

While the need for a Canadian energy strategy should be a key federal election issue for all political parties, it’s not just a national version that’s required.

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* In our politics, telling the truth gets you in trouble

14/08/15

Author:

Seth Klein

Link:

The Toronto Star

What’s that they say about the first casualty of war? You can obviously say the same for Canadian elections.

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North Vancouver Green candidate Claire Martin criticizes Tom Mulcair's pipeline stance

14/08/15

Author:

Carlito Pablo

Link:

The Georgia Straight

Meteorologist Claire Martin has unleashed a storm of criticism against Tom Mulcair over the NDP leader’s open-ended stand on oil-pipeline expansion in the Vancouver area.

“I would call him flip-floppy at best,” the Green candidate in North Vancouver told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview.

According to the former CBC weather presenter, Mulcair hasn’t laid out a clear position regarding Kinder Morgan’s plan to triple the capacity of its existing pipeline.

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* Greenhouse gas emissions projected to spiral upward in Metro Vancouver

13/08/15

Author:

Yvonne Zacharia

Link:

The Vancouver Sun

An economic think-tank in Victoria is projecting an 8.7-per-cent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles between the base year of 2005 and 2030 in Metro Vancouver.

This is despite an expected reduction in the average number of vehicles per person, expanded transit, robust improvements in new vehicle fuel consumption rates and more electric vehicles.

The projection is in stark contrast to the provincial goal of reducing all greenhouse gas emission by 33 per cent by 2020 and the new federal goal of 30-per-cent reduction by 2030.

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British Columbia

Climate Change

* Linda McQuaig is right, but there’s more to it

12/08/15

Author:

Michal Rozworski

Link:

Political Eh-conomy

Since her common-sense quip that most of Canada’s tar sands reserves will have to stay in the ground, Linda McQuaig has been vilified by much of the political establishment and (rightfully) defended by a minority of voices in the media.

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* Second largest Christian church in Canada to drop fossil fuel investments

12/08/15

Link:

Calgary Herald

CORNER BROOK, N.L. – The general council of one of Canada’s largest churches has voted to drop fossil fuels from its investment portfolios, with advocates for the motion saying the decision is based on the Christian duty to care for the earth.

Commissioners attending the United Church of Canada’s general council in Corner Brook, N.L., voted 67 per cent in favour Tuesday to divest the industry from its treasury assets and to shift the $5.9 million from the portfolio into green renewable energy ventures.

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* Mulcair mimics Obama’s Keystone doctrine in oil sands pipelines policy

12/08/15

Author:

Shawn McCarthy

Link:

The Globe and Mail

New Democratic Party Leader Thomas Mulcair has essentially adopted the Obama doctrine when it comes to approving new oil sands pipelines – projects would be judged based on whether they significantly increase Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

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* Are Canada’s leaders climate deniers?

11/08/15

Author:

Ethan Cox

Link:

Ricochet

Watching Thursday’s leaders’ debate, the starting line for Canada’s longest election campaign since the 1800s, was a sobering experience for those of us familiar with the international scientific consensus on how to respond to the threat of climate change.

I say consensus, because among scientists there is no debate. Climate change is real, it is caused by us and it will cause devastating changes to our world if we don’t take decisive action.

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* Premiers Finalize National Energy Strategy That Relies Heavily on Fossil Fuels, Pipelines

11/08/15

Author:

Carol Linnett

Link:

DesmogCanada

Canada’s provincial leaders finalized the Canadian Energy Strategy Friday with a document many onlookers are criticizing as too reliant on traditional carbon-based sources of energy.

The strategy, intended to guide the integrated development of Canada’s energy resources across the provinces, places no restrictions on the release of greenhouse gas emissions and takes a proactive approach to building oil and gas pipelines.

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Category:

Climate Change

Canada’s provincial leaders finalized the Canadian Energy Strategy Friday with a document many onlookers are criticizing as too reliant on traditional carbon-based sources of energy.

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