How hot is too hot?
I didn’t need the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to release their latest climate assessment report to know that climate change is here now, or that it will only get worse. Did you?
Climate and Energy
Why Canada cannot rely on discretion to protect us from the risks of coal
Coal’s harms are no secret. Thermal coal (burned to generate power) is the world’s largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and metallurgic (steelmaking) coal’s impacts on fisheries are well documented.
Physicians, lawyers call on BC to investigate thousands of Heat Dome injuries
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER – The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and West Coast Environmental Law Association today warned that BC’s recent Heat Dome may have caused an estimated five to six thousand heat-related injuries.
WCEL Response to Public Inquiry Into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns
In June 2021, the West Coast Environmental Law Association, West Coast Environmental Law Research Foundation, and the West Coast Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund Society (West Coast Environmental Law or WCEL) were advised about potential findings related to our organizations by the Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns.
Recent revelations about Exxon’s continued fight against climate change resonate in Canada
In recent years, oil and gas companies have tried desperately to “clean up” their images in relation to the environment by referencing policies like carbon taxes or the shift to natural gas as part of the effort to fight climate change.
TAKE ACTION: Tell the government to do better to protect our communities from heat waves and climate change
We feel, in the wake of this year’s heat wave and the loss of the Village of Lytton to wildfire, that the BC government needs to do much more – much more urgently – to protect our communities from climate change.
If you agree, take a few minutes to tell the government what you’d like to see in BC’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The government is consulting the public on the Strategy until August 12th.
BC’s Climate Adaptation Plan won’t protect you from heat waves, or much else
With BC coming out of the worst heat wave in … well, probably ever, with the Village of Lytton burnt to the ground and the prospect of more wildfires over the summer, let’s ask the question: what should our government be doing to keep us safe from climate change?
Scientific study on climate-fueled BC heat wave highlights urgent need for action and accountability
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER – West Coast Environmental Law’s staff climate lawyer and climate scientist are responding to a new study released today demonstrating that the recent 40-50°C temperatures suffered across BC were almost certainly the result of climate change.
Canada must use its new climate accountability law to tackle the climate emergency
BC’s unprecedented heatwave highlights urgent need for action under federal law passed today
West Coast Reacts: BC must move more quickly on electric car law, align with Canadian targets
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER - Lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law are challenging the Province of BC to meet or beat the new Canadian standard for electric vehicles set today.