Powerful reports by environmental commissioners
Congratulations to both the federal and provincial environmental commissioners, who continue to strenuously remind our governments how far they fall short on environmental stewardship, and who both issued powerful reports this week. Bees, Algonquin Park, “Chemical Alley”, urban s…
View the post titled Powerful reports by environmental commissionersOntario Targets for Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Ontario government has released its Climate Change Update 2014 to coincide with Climate Week that was held in New York City from September 21-28. Climate Week involved mass gatherings to demonstrate the public demand for action on climate change, as well as roundtables highlighting the l…
View the post titled Ontario Targets for Greenhouse Gas EmissionsEnvironment Minister Murray's mandate letter
Every Cabinet minister gets his or her marching orders from the Premier or Prime Minister. These “mandates” used to be top secret, but Ontario now makes them public. Here is the mandate letter for the new Minister of Environment and Climate Change, with our emphasis added. On env…
View the post titled Environment Minister Murray's mandate letterInnovative illustration of the climate change consensus
In its Fifth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded: “It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.” Skeptical Science, a website dedicating to explaining “wha…
View the post titled Innovative illustration of the climate change consensusShould Energy Board consider climate before approving pipelines?
Can, and should, the National Energy Board consider climate impacts before approving oil pipelines? The federal government says no, objectors say yes. Now the courts must decide.
View the post titled Should Energy Board consider climate before approving pipelines?Minister receptive to Commissioner's climate report
Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner issued his annual Climate Change report last month, as usual scolding the provincial government for its inaction on both mitigation and adaptation. But this year, the report got an unusual reception: the new Minister of the Environment and Climate C…
View the post titled Minister receptive to Commissioner's climate reportNew Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Premier Wynne announced on June 24, 2014 that Glenn Murray will be the new Minister of the Environment and Climate change. According to the announcement, this is “an expanded portfolio that will ensure Ontario can protect the gains it has made in fighting climate change, lead Ontario&#…
View the post titled New Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeEnvironment Ministry to loosen law for waste-based alternative fuels that displace coal
Kudos to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for finally coming to grips, at least a little, with the adverse environmental and environmental effects of labeling too many productive activities as “waste disposal”. The ministry’s proposed regulatory changes will remove t…
View the post titled Environment Ministry to loosen law for waste-based alternative fuels that displace coalFirst “climate refugee” case going to appeal in New Zealand
On 1st May, 2014, the New Zealand Court of Appeal will hear Ioane Teitiota’s claim to become the world’s first climate refugee. Mr. Teitota is from a remote atoll in the Pacific nation of Kiribati, one of the lowest-lying nations on Earth. He is trying to convince New Zealand jud…
View the post titled First “climate refugee” case going to appeal in New ZealandTribunal cracks down on non-expert anti-wind “experts”
Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal approved another wind farm on December 24, 2013, in Bovaird v. Director, Ministry of the Environment. In addition to rejecting the Charter argument, described earlier this week, Bovaird was notable for a slightly tougher approach to witnesses who propo…
View the post titled Tribunal cracks down on non-expert anti-wind “experts”Receive Blog Posts
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