Do you feel encouraged by talk of the Green New Deal? I feel a tremendous excitement and a sense of relief, that we are finally talking about solutions on the scale of the crisis we face. That we’re not talking about a little carbon tax or a cap and trade scheme as a silver bullet. […]
Environment
Posted inNews + Opinion
Lessons we can learn from Hurricane Dorian
When Hurricane Dorian hit Nova Scotia on September 7 as a post-tropical storm, it reminded many of destructive Hurricane Juan. It was also a taste of what the future holds. Climate change is contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes. As the planet warms, we can expect more storms like […]
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Halifax youth are dying-in and marching out in the name of climate change action
On a Friday afternoon in February, 17-year-old Citadel High School students Willa Fisher and Julia Sampson stood among the 300 hundred youth they’d organized chanting for Halifax’s first Fridays for Future student strike. Now, with three strikes under their belts and the support of a community of resources, Fisher and Sampson are organizing their most […]
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Kids these days know exactly what’s up when it comes to climate
No one who understands science questions whether humans are causing the climate to change to our detriment, mostly by burning fossil fuels. The evidence is indisputable. It’s been verified and accepted by every reputable scientific institution in the world, and by almost every government except the current, fact-averse US administration. The only real debate is about how […]
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9 ways to show your climate concern in Halifax this week
Interfaith gathering and climate action rally A moment of silence to honour victims of the climate crisis kicks off this gathering, followed by speeches from climate activists and faith leaders on how meaningful action can be made. Fri Sep 20 Noon-1pm Grand Parade Square 1770 Barrington Street Free Youth National Die-In Fri Sep 20 3:30pm […]
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‘Like a sunburn on your lungs’: How does the climate crisis impact health?
This story originally appeared in The Guardian. It is republished here as part of The Coast’s partnership with Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. The climate crisis is making people sicker–worsening illnesses ranging from seasonal allergies to heart and lung disease. Children, […]
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Connecting the dots between the climate and biodiversity crises
The polar bear has become the poster child for climate change impacts in the Arctic. Sea ice, which the bears depend on for hunting, is melting at an ever-expanding rate. For other species, climate impacts are not as direct. The 2019 State of Canada’s Birds report found aerial insectivores populations of birds like swifts, swallows and nightjars […]
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Haligonians are composting almost twice as much as they are recycling
A ccording to HRM, residents disposed of an average of 380 kg of waste in 2017-18. That’s like 380 bags of flour per person. This includes everything from clear bag garbage to recycling and compost. The reported national average for Canadians is almost double that number, at just over 700 kg, according to Statistics Canada. […]
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Fracked gas heats the planet, but supporters say it’s a solution
The best way to address climate disruption is…burn more fossil fuels? It doesn’t make sense, but that’s what industry, media and governments want us to believe. To profit as much as possible from fossil fuels before markets fall under the weight of climate chaos and better alternatives, industry and its allies tell us fracked gas […]
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Environment and Sustainability committee to consider Electric Vehicle infrastructure
Almost two years after asking staff to figure out what Halifax can do to make the city more electric-car friendly, HRM’s environment and sustainability standing committee will see what’s being proposed. The report, which will be discussed by the committee and then passed forward to regional council as presented or with specific amendments on Thursday, […]
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Should we let the children vote?
Young people have been speaking out for their rights. Many are wise beyond their years. Without the blinkers of ideology, workaday priorities and ingrained values, they can see clearly what’s happening. They’ve had to step up for their own futures because too few of their elders are willing to accept that rampant consumerism has been […]
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What can we do about endangered species?
BC is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a captive breeding program to protect spotted owls. With an estimated six of the owls left in the wild in Canada, all in BC, that seems like good news. But while the program includes some habitat protection, the province is also approving logging in habitat the owl needs […]
