Environment

A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young

Oily sheen across Vancouver’s False Creek sparks Coast Guard investigation

Probe looking at possibility pollution came from land-based source during heavy rain

 

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said he is ‘optimistic’ about meeting climate change goals. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. Environment Minister to promote B.C. climate change policies at COP28

George Heyman also said Thursday he is “optimistic” will meet its climate change goals

 

A remarkably low chum salmon return at Goldstream River this year means no fertilized eggs for creek restoration programs across the south Island usually supported by the Goldstream Hatchery. (Black Press Media file photo)

Low Goldstream chum return a ‘disaster’ for hatchery programs, ecosystem

No babies for Oak Bay’s Bowker Creek salmon restoration project this year

 

Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)

B.C.’s soon-to-be ban on certain plastics feeds entrepreneurial boom

Co-founder of company offering sustainable foodware products welcomes Dec. 20 ban

Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)
Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

‘Not a crisis’: B.C. Conservatives promise to scrap climate taxes, programs

Party Leader John Rustad says current climate change measures a $2.8 billion burden B.C. doesn’t need

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)

BC United calls the NDP’s climate change plan an attack on B.C.’s well-being

Premier David Eby accused BC United of being ‘desperate’ and saying ‘anything to get elected’

Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)
Coho salmon swim after being released from a hatchery. (National Marine Fisheries Service/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team photo)

B.C. stream watchers link coho salmon kill to tire toxin and drought

Streamkeeper Society says lack of rain may have allowed tire chemical to build up on roads

Coho salmon swim after being released from a hatchery. (National Marine Fisheries Service/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team photo)
Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Abbotsford facility to help pilot hydrogen commercial trucks amid EV boom

Provincial government is pumping $16.5 into pilot project

Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman acknowledged affordability concerns, but defended the carbon tax in warning about the economic effects of climate change. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

‘Real costs’ of climate change outweigh costs of B.C. fighting it: Heyman

Environment Minister George Heyman defends carbon tax in midst of growing concerns

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman acknowledged affordability concerns, but defended the carbon tax in warning about the economic effects of climate change. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau warns against turning the carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’ for affordability as a new poll shows growing opposition for the provincial carbon tax. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Support for B.C.’s carbon tax fading, poll shows

But environmentalists and BC Greens warn against turning carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’

B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau warns against turning the carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’ for affordability as a new poll shows growing opposition for the provincial carbon tax. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
In this Nov. 6, 2007, file photo, a polar bear mother and her two cubs are seen in Wapusk National Park on the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Science peers back centuries to map possible future for polar bears

Historically, bear population decreased with the sea ice as temperatures rose

In this Nov. 6, 2007, file photo, a polar bear mother and her two cubs are seen in Wapusk National Park on the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. A letter signed by more than 100 scientists is urging the Canadian government to take action to stop the degradation of its previously undisturbed forests through large-scale industrial logging. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Scientists urge Canada to keep the chainsaws out of undisturbed forests

Group focused on country’s countrol of degradation of forestland for industrial logging

A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. A letter signed by more than 100 scientists is urging the Canadian government to take action to stop the degradation of its previously undisturbed forests through large-scale industrial logging. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Residents at the junction at Quesnel Lake were questioning the appearance of foam along the beaches this past summer. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Quesnel Lake scrutiny continues years after B.C.’s Mount Polley mine breach

Nearly a decade later, scientists monitor effects of 18 million cubic metres of copper mine sediment

Residents at the junction at Quesnel Lake were questioning the appearance of foam along the beaches this past summer. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
The damage left behind by a water diversion that was done without authorization by the Ministry of Forests in the South Okanagan Grassland Protected Area. (Contributed - Jesse Zeman, BC Wildlife Federation)

Ministry of Forests in hot water for damaging Okanagan protected areas

Unauthorized work by the Ministry and improper cattle grazing caused damage

The damage left behind by a water diversion that was done without authorization by the Ministry of Forests in the South Okanagan Grassland Protected Area. (Contributed - Jesse Zeman, BC Wildlife Federation)
By 2035, new sales and leases of light-duty vehicles in B.C. must be zero-emission vehicles. (AdobeStock)

B.C. policy expert gives green light to higher electric-vehicles goals

But New Car Dealers Association of BC warns of unintended consequences

By 2035, new sales and leases of light-duty vehicles in B.C. must be zero-emission vehicles. (AdobeStock)
A fund of up $300 million announced by the provincial government Thursday (Oct. 26) promises to protect old-growth forest in B.C. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

B.C. creates $300 million fund for First Nations-led forest conservation

Environmentalists applaud, say more needs to be done to to protect old-growth

A fund of up $300 million announced by the provincial government Thursday (Oct. 26) promises to protect old-growth forest in B.C. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Oregon. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

Poor data hinders B.C. old-growth logging deferrals, advocates say

Outdated information leaving ancient forests open to logging

Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Oregon. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
The judge overseeing the hearing reviewing federal efforts to protect the endangered northern spotted owl says he is grappling with why the minister responsible waited eight months to recommend an emergency protection order to cabinet with only one wild-born animal remaining. In this May 8, 2003 file photo, a northern spotted owl sits on a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Don Ryan

B.C. judge ‘wrestling’ with 8-month spotted owl protection gap

Federal government decided this month it would not go ahead with an emergency order

The judge overseeing the hearing reviewing federal efforts to protect the endangered northern spotted owl says he is grappling with why the minister responsible waited eight months to recommend an emergency protection order to cabinet with only one wild-born animal remaining. In this May 8, 2003 file photo, a northern spotted owl sits on a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Don Ryan
Plastic food packaging waste sits on top of a pile of garbage that was dumped in the streets and empty greenspaces in Shwepyithar, Myanmar, in an undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lighthouse Reports, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Canada promised no more unwanted plastic waste, ask Myanmar how we’re doing

Canadian garbage continuing to pile up overseas, the question is how and why

Plastic food packaging waste sits on top of a pile of garbage that was dumped in the streets and empty greenspaces in Shwepyithar, Myanmar, in an undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lighthouse Reports, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Canada’s top court has struck large parts of the federal government’s environmental assessment legislation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Court ruling should lead to narrower B.C. environmental assessments: analyst

Environmentalists, BC Greens critical of Supreme Court decision, which is still under review by B.C.

Canada’s top court has struck large parts of the federal government’s environmental assessment legislation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld