Bigger isn’t always better. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Many anti-environmentalists throw these simple truths to the wind, along with caution. You can see it in the deceitful realm of climate change denial. It’s difficult to keep up with the constantly shifting—and debunked—denier arguments, but one common thread promoted by the […]
environment
Posted inNews + Opinion
A glacial pace for Blue Mountain–Birch Cove Lakes park
The more time people spend in nature, the more they value it, says the Ecology Action Centre’s Jeana MacLeod. To that end, MacLeod and the EAC will be leading the public into the Blue Mountain–Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area this weekend for several bio-blitz events. It’s a chance to get people thinking about Halifax’s eco-diversity, […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Can emissions shrink while the economy grows?
What does climate change have to do with economic growth? Canada’s prime minister and premiers signed a deal in December to “grow our economy, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and build resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.” The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change outlines plans for carbon pricing, energy-efficient building […]
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What’s causing all the (concern about) right whale deaths?
When Fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc recently took the podium and described the “absolutely majestic sight” of witnessing 15 right whales during an aerial tour of Miscou Island off the northeast tip of New Brunswick, you had to be impressed. He shut down the lucrative snow crab industry early and committed “all the resources necessary” and […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Study finds Exxon misled the public by withholding climate knowledge
Coal, oil and gas are tremendous resources: solar energy absorbed by plants and super-concentrated over millions of years. They’re potent fuels and provide ingredients for valuable products. But the oil boom, spurred by improved drilling technology, came at the wrong time. Profits were (and still are) the priority—rather than finding the best, most efficient uses […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: We only have one Earth, and we’re overshooting its capacity
August 2 was Earth Overshoot Day. Unlike Earth Day or Canada Day, it’s not a time to celebrate. As the Earth Overshoot Day website explains, it marks the time when “we will have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the whole year.” That is the definition of unsustainable and means we’re […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Environmental Protection Act review could strengthen human rights
Governments change—along with laws, regulations and priorities. It’s the nature of democracies. In Canada, we’ve seen environmental laws implemented, then weakened or overturned, then strengthened and re-instated. But the basic necessities of health, well-being and life shouldn’t be subject to the shifting agendas of political parties. That’s why Canada should recognize the right to a […]
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Burning need for Environmental Bill of Rights in Nova Scotia
This week, Global reported Nova Scotia’s Public Prosecution Service will take over Marlene Brown’s groundbreaking private prosecution of the Harrietsfield water case. It’s a glimmer of hope for area residents who’ve been pleading to hold RDM Recycling accountable for the poison in their water. It’s also a reminder of how little agency Nova Scotians usually […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Local action needed to resolve world’s biggest problems
Humans are an astonishing anomaly. As many species teeter on extinction, our populations grow in size and complexity. From exploring space to eradicating diseases and other remarkable achievements, human curiosity has pushed the outer limits of our physical universe. Yet our ability to embrace shared values has been challenging. More than a billion people live […]
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Climate change a large, systemic problem for Maritime farmers
A year-long research project from Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute says small-scale farms in the Maritimes are vulnerable to rapid and long-term disruptions caused by climate change. Just how vulnerable is “vulnerable?” “Pretty vulnerable, is the answer,” says Bernard Soubry. The Master’s candidate in environmental change and management compiled the newly released study, which says […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Plastic straws suck
Of all the plastic products we use and take for granted, plastic drinking straws are among the most unnecessary. Designed to be used once and discarded, their only real purpose is to keep your mouth from touching a glass or ice. It made more sense in the days when contaminated vessels were more of an […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Butterflyways blooming throughout the land
Pollinator pathway. Bumblebee highway. River of Flowers. Bee Line. These have all described habitat corridors created to help pollinators like bees and butterflies. We can add Butterflyways to the list. Residents of Toronto and Richmond, B.C., recently celebrated official designation of neighbourhood Butterflyways. The David Suzuki Foundation began its Butterflyway Project earlier this year, recruiting […]
