Indigenous Groups Win One, Lose One in the Canadian Supreme Court
Author: Dmitri Lascaras
Media Outlet: Real News Network
Climate and Energy
California communities are taking climate law into their hands
Is this the beginning of something new? Are governments finally challenging the so-called “right” of fossil fuel companies to make unlimited profits from products that cause climate change while expecting taxpayers to pay for the impacts of those products?
Environmentalists rejoice as George Heyman becomes minister of environment and climate change
Author: Larry Pynn
Media Outlet: Vancouver Sun
Conservationists gave a glowing endorsement of Tuesday’s appointment Tuesday of George Heyman, a Vancouver-based MLA with a background in unionism and the environment, as Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“I’m over the moon,” said Joe Foy, national campaign director for the Wilderness Committee. “I think he’s going to be a fantastic environment minister. It’s a great choice. George is a fighter. I think he’ll do well.”
Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to be closely scrutinized, B.C. Environment Minister says
Author: Mike Hager
Media Outlet: Globe and Mail
B.C.’s Environment Minister says it would be illegal for the province to delay the permits needed by Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd. to start the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in September, but it will subject any work on the $7.4-billion project to the highest environmental standards and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
B.C. government will fight Kinder Morgan pipeline but not delay permits
Author: Derrick Penner
Media Outlet: Vancouver Sun
British Columbia’s newly installed government plans to oppose Kinder Morgan’s $7.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
However, the government’s strategy will not involve artificially delaying the issue of provincial permits for the project.
Highlands targets big name oil companies
Author: Rick Stiebel
Media Outlet: Goldstream News Gazette
A letter from the District of Highlands to fossil fuel giants holding them accountable for the cost of climate change has earned instantaneous accolades from West Coast Environmental Law.
A letter of praise from West Coast Environmental Law – released the same day the Highlands sent its letter – was in response to a climate accountability letter the Highlands sent to 20 of the world’s fossil fuel companies earlier this month.
TINY B.C. MUNICIPALITY SENDS DEMAND LETTER TO 20 WORLD OIL GIANTS
Media Outlet: The Energy Mix
In a distinctly Canadian David vs. Goliath confrontation, the 1,900 people of the very green District of Highlands, a small municipality tucked into a nook of southern Vancouver Island near Victoria, have sent a stiff letter asking 20 of the world’s biggest, most powerful oil companies to acknowledge their climate impacts.
“We expect you to take cradle to grave responsibility for your product, by taking responsibility for its effects in the atmosphere and the resulting harm to communities,” the district wrote.
Authorities probe whether Canadian businesses hide climate costs from investors
Author: Carl Meyer
Media Outlet: Vancouver Observer
Canadian authorities are seeking to beef up their oversight of publicly-traded companies so that they come clean about the costs of doing business on a warming planet.
B.C.'s pipeline opposition strategy still under wraps while Trans Mountain forges ahead
Author: Derrick Penner
Media Outlet: Vancouver Sun
Blocking Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd.’s Trans Mountain expansion project was a key election promise made by the new NDP government, but Premier John Horgan’s cabinet hasn’t yet indicated what its first steps will be to honour that commitment.
BC’s forest fires show us the true cost of the fossil fuel economy
[Update 24 July 2017 - As of yesterday (23rd of July) the BC Wildfire Statistics page reports that 372,719 hectares have been burnt so far this year. That means that in terms of area burnt this year is now worse than the massive fires of 2014 (which destroyed 369,169 hectares and were previously the largest in at least 25 years).