Ecology/Environment

Record heat is fueling an accelerating megafire crisis in California. The ongoing massive Park fire is the latest monster to burn off the old-climate charts.

Before 2018, the state's largest wildfire on record was the Thomas fire, which burned 280,000 acres. At the time, the Thomas fire felt apocalyptic. The current Park fire burned more in just its first three days. It's currently the state's fourth-largest on record, at 430,000 acres -- joining the rapidly swelling ranks of unprecedented megafires.

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Category:

Extreme weather pushes up food prices

13/08/24

Author:

Rosa Saba

Link:

National Observer

A head of wheat is silhouetted by the sun in a wheat crop near Cremona, Alta., on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. File photo by The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Aug. 12,2024

Extreme weather events like fires, floods, heat waves and droughts pose an increasing risk to Canada’s food supply chain, putting pressure on prices all the way to the grocery store shelf, say experts.

“Anytime you have major weather-related events, it tends to increase costs,” said Frank Scali, vice-president of industry affairs at Food, Health & Consumer Products Of Canada.

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Here's who is most at risk from wildfire smoke and how to protect yourself

10/08/24

Author:

Ginny Graves

Link:

NPR

Air quality in Denver was badly affected by wildfire smoke from blazes in Oregon and provinces of western Canada on July 24, 2024. David Zalubowski/AP

July 27, 2024

Wildfire season is here again, and where there’s fire, there’s smoke – which, research shows, can be as deadly as the flames themselves.

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Pipeline Company Creates Legal Delay for Burnaby's 'Full-Scale Emergency Exercise'

09/08/24

Author:

City of Burnaby

Link:

City of Burnaby

Aug. 7, 2024

The City of Burnaby is planning a full-scale emergency exercise on Burnaby Mountain, as directed by the City Council on July 22, 2024. The purpose of the exercise is to assess and enhance the City's emergency response capabilities, coordination, and resource management for a major incident on the mountain. The exercise will involve participants from all levels of government, key stakeholders and Rights Holders.

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Revolutionary scientific discovery upends deep sea mining negotiations

07/08/24

Author:

John Woodside

Link:

National Observer

Aug. 6, 2024

Mining the ocean floor for critical minerals was already controversial, but a new groundbreaking scientific study has thrown the industry into chaos as countries negotiate its future.

At a meeting of the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica, running from July 15 to Aug 2, countries are negotiating rules to govern deep sea mining. The regulations have been under development for years, but the clock has been running out on an agreement.

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Category:

'Alternative' energy and less energy

Amnesty International Declares Its First ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in Canada

01/08/24

Author:

Amanda Follett Hosgood

Link:

The Tyee

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Dsta’hyl stands outside the courthouse in Smithers, BC, prior to his trial last year. Dsta’hyl was convicted and sentenced to 60 days of house arrest. Photo for The Tyee by Amanda Follett Hosgood.

July 31, 2024

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Dsta’hyl was sentenced to house arrest earlier this month for opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

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Vancouver’s gas ban reversal betrays our values and health

01/08/24

Author:

Dr. Melissa Lem

Link:

Vancouver Sun

The view looking North from the Granville Street Bridge earlier this month PHOTO BY NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

July 31, 2024

As the first municipality in Canada to reverse a bylaw to build clean energy into new homes, Vancouver is no longer a climate leader — it’s a climate laggard

Last week, as Valemount was opening its homes to thousands of evacuees fleeing the Jasper wildfires, Vancouver was slamming the door on climate progress. In a 6-to-5 vote, city council abruptly reversed the city’s long-standing bylaw preventing natural gas heating in new homes.

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Category:

'Alternative' energy and less energy

Chicago teachers demand climate action in union contract

21/07/24

Author:

Adam Aton

Link:

E & E News

Craig Cleve marches with members of the Chicago Teachers Union as they picket outside City Hall on July 2, 2015. Christian K. Lee/AP

June 14, 2024

Labor leaders see both practical and strategic benefits to bargaining over climate policy.

One of the country’s most powerful unions is bargaining for climate policy in its next contract.

The Chicago Teachers Union on Friday will open public contract negotiations with the city — and among its demands will be the union’s “green schools” initiative.

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Category:

Ecology/Environment

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Dsta’hyl was sentenced to house arrest earlier this month for opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

As the first municipality in Canada to reverse a bylaw to build clean energy into new homes, Vancouver is no longer a climate leader — it’s a climate laggard

Labor leaders see both practical and strategic benefits to bargaining over climate policy.

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