Stefan Labbé

B.C. logging deal sparks clash over Indigenous rights and endangered owl A B.C. Supreme Court judge has approved Teal-Jones' interim sale of a Fraser Valley forest licence, leaving endangered spotted owl habitat open to logging before the province consults First Nations

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has approved Teal-Jones' interim sale of a Fraser Valley forest licence before the province could consult First Nations.

Some worry the deal leaves endangered spotted owl habitat open to logging.

Others claim the deal represents an “end run” around Indigenous rights.

Failed B.C.-Alberta transmission line holds lessons for a national grid The cross-border intertie has never met capacity, offering lessons on what stands in the way of the Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan for an east-to-west grid

B.C. and Alberta have shared a major electricity intertie for almost 40 years.

It has chronically failed to meet capacity — offering lessons on what stands in the way of the Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan for an east-to-west grid

Port of Vancouver seeks to dredge Burrard Inlet for oil tankers The project raises environmental concerns and questions over Indigenous rights

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says it is in the early stages of a plan to dredge Burrard Inlet to allow more oil to be shipped through the harbour.

The project raises environmental concerns and questions over Indigenous rights

via @brentrichter.bsky.social

BC Timber Sales pauses logging in threatened caribou habitat The pause applies to new logging investments in the Revelstoke-Shuswap region, where the Columbia North caribou herd is losing habitat faster than it's replaced

"The B.C. government-run corporation responsible for administering a fifth of the province’s annual logging quota says it will pause new operations that overlap with habitat of a threatened caribou herd north of Revelstoke" via @stefanlabbe.bsky.social #bcpoli
www.biv.com/news/bc-timb...

Canada’s failure to monitor Fraser sands threatens region's future Ottawa stopped measuring sediment years ago, throwing the future of flood defences, farmland, cities and delta health into question

At least 260 ha. of tidal marsh that protect Metro Vancouver's dikes have disappeared in recent decades.

Some worry the 9 million tonnes of sand dredged out of the Fraser River annually is playing a role.

But unlike other jurisdictions, Canada stopped measuring the problem years ago.

‘Bot-like’ network attacked Carney over ‘net zero agenda,’ says analysis Social media bot network suspected of using climate change disinformation campaign against Liberal leader

A network of “bot-like” social media accounts targeted Liberal Leader Mark Carney in the lead-up to the federal election, a new analysis says

The accounts claimed Carney's old firm would benefit from the party’s “net zero agenda” in what experts say is a familiar climate disinformation tactic

B.C. company to seek U.S. approval for deep sea mining in international waters Head of United Nations seabed authority warns move would be 'violation of international law' and undermine multilateral efforts to govern the world's oceans.

Vancouver-based The Metals Company says it is now seeking U.S. approval for deep sea mining in international waters.

The head of the United Nations seabed authority warned the move would be “violation of international law” and undermine multilateral efforts to govern the world's oceans.

Nearly half of B.C. landslides linked to logging, wildfires, study finds Study finds nearly half of 1,300 landslides that occurred during B.C.'s November 2021 atmospheric river event started in areas burned by wildfire or disturbed by logging.

Nearly half of 1,300 landslides that occurred during B.C.'s November 2021 atmospheric river event started in areas burned by wildfire or disturbed by logging.

The study raises questions over the long-term safety of B.C.’s highways and communities downstream of disturbed hillsides.

B.C. company plans to ignite fusion within three years General Fusion says its new fusion reactor will produce more power than it consumes by 2027 — a breakthrough that could eventually help scale the technology into a power plant.

B.C. company says its fusion reactor will produce more power than it consumes by 2027 — a breakthrough that could eventually help scale the technology into a power plant without risks of emissions, a runaway reaction, nuclear waste or weaponization.

I visited the new test reactor to learn more

Rising temperatures could transform B.C. wine sector Climate change could improve grape-growing conditions for the province—at a cost

Climate change could improve grape-growing conditions in British Columbia -- at a cost

Nearly 40 fossil fuel companies shaping Canadian K-12 curriculums, report finds Report found more than 50 oil and gas companies and industry groups influenced 34 educational institutions across Canada, who, in turn, provided education to K-12 students

Across Canada, more than 50 oil and gas companies and their industry groups have influenced K-12 education on climate change, a new report has found.

Among them is the FortisBC-funded “Energy Champions”program that sends BC Lions football players into schools

'Slap in the face': B.C. communities frustrated with new federal disaster funding A new financing program will help protect communities from future floods and wildfires, but it won't help municipalities still vulnerable from the last strike.

A new financing program will help protect communities from disaster, but it won't help those still vulnerable from the last strike

Merritt's Sean Strang said the city has been left behind

“It’s frankly a slap in the face.”

www.biv.com/news/economy...

Drax power station didn't properly disclose burning forest wood - BBC News The Drax facility, which burns wood pellets, is required to report where it sources its wood from.

Logging records show Drax still sources whole trees from primary forests felled by other companies in B.C. despite its own sustainability criteria saying the company will "avoid damage or disturbance to high carbon forests" including “primary forest"

www.bbc.com/news/article...

B.C. orders changes at slaughterhouse following animal welfare investigation Animal welfare group calls for more oversight after province sanctions B.C. slaughterhouse.

The B.C. government has sanctioned a Chilliwack slaughterhouse and is “re-focusing the role of inspectors” at all slaughter facilities across the province.

Their new mandate, said the ministry — focus on both food safety and the humane treatment of animals.

www.nsnews.com/resources-ag...

Big trees crucial to migrate B.C. forests under climate change, finds study The B.C. study could help planners ramp up 'assisted migration' of forests under stress from climate change.

Big trees crucial to migrate B.C. forests under climate change, finds study

The goal of the experiment was:

- find out how Douglas fir trees handle human-assisted migration

- if they would do better in forests left partially intact after logging

www.nsnews.com/environment/...

Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion despite risks to whales Both Canada's environment minister and Cabinet acted reasonably in approving the expansion of a shipping terminal near Vancouver, B.C., estimated to add $3 billion to the country's GDP.

A legal challenge claiming the planned expansion of Canada’s largest port would threaten the survival of endangered southern resident killer whales has been struck down by a federal judge.

Underwater volcano off B.C. coast primed to erupt The Axial Seamount is not expected to threaten human population centres but it could help scientists forecast the eruption of more dangerous volcanoes.

Underwater volcano off B.C. coast is primed to erupt.

The Axial Seamount is not expected to threaten human population centres but it could help scientists forecast the eruption of more dangerous volcanoes.

B.C. researchers aim to make the perfect T-shirt — from lumber The bid to locally produce a sustainable high-end textile is still in its early stages, but researchers hope to have enough material to create prototypes within a year.

“We’re going to spin it. And we’re going to knit it. And we’re going to see what happens.”

www.biv.com/news/bc-rese...

B.C. tree planting to plummet 23% amid wildfire boom British Columbia's government expects to plant nearly 60 million fewer trees next year — a 23 per cent drop from this year's planting season.

British Columbia's government expects to plant nearly 60 million fewer trees next year — a 23 per cent drop from this year's planting season.

The steep decline is the biggest in years and comes after two massive wildfire seasons.

New data shows parts of B.C. are losing icy winters faster than the rest of Canada

Vancouver leads Canada's major cities, losing 19 days of winter over the past decade

And at the regional level, two Island communities lead the rest of the country

www.nsnews.com/highlights/t...

Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is better for the planet? Choosing the most eco-friendly Christmas tree can be tough. We wade through the options: plastic, cut, or something else altogether.

I wade into the perennial eco-friendly tree debate: plastic, freshly cut or something else altogether?

Here’s what some of the science says:

www.timescolonist.com/environment/...

Contrary to industry claims, red tape not slowing B.C. mineral boom, finds audit Audit finds delays to approve dozens of B.C. mines were largely caused by market forces — not government permitting.

Audit finds delays to approve dozens of B.C. mines were largely caused by market forces — not government permitting.

“These fly directly in the face of this narrative that these mines are delayed by regulation,” said one researcher

'Are they going to walk away?': Charges 10 years after B.C.'s Mount Polley disaster Doug Watt won't forget the sound of a tailings pond collapsing at the Mount Polley Mine more than 10 years ago, sending millions of cubic metres of waste into waterways in the British Columbia Interio...

'Are they going to walk away?': Charges 10 years after B.C.'s Mount Polley disaster

Leaded gasoline legacy linked to surge in schizophrenia, ADHD and anxiety disorders, finds study Study links leaded gasoline to surge in U.S. mental health illnesses. Experts warn same multi-generational problem could be quietly playing out in Canada.

A new study links leaded gasoline to surge in U.S. mental health illnesses — especially for people born between 1966 and 1986.

Experts warn the same multi-generational problem could be quietly playing out in Canada

Metro Vancouver takes aim at 'flushable' wipes with federal plea As sanitary wipes labelled 'flushable' clog up Canadian sewers, Metro Vancouver calls on the federal government to define what should really go down the toilet.

Metro Vancouver has approved a motion seeking federal intervention on what is truly "flushable."

The move comes as mislabeled sanitary wipes continues to cost Canadian cities hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Canada will keep tabs on Paper Excellence’s promises, says natural resources minister

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Vancouver council stays course on natural gas ban in new homes ABC Vancouver Coun. Rebecca Bligh switches earlier vote, which now keeps policy from 2022 in place

Vancouver council stays course on natural gas ban in new homes

At the meeting, the mayor questioned the validity of his own staff’s report on the effects of electrification

Canadians pollute 1,465 tonnes of microplastics every year, finds report A new report analyzes Canada's contribution to a global problem and how the country might help fix it.

A first national estimate shows Canadians dump 1,465 tonnes of microplastics into the environment.

Here are some ways to help:

www.timescolonist.com/highlights/c...

Critical natural areas shield half of Canada's population from flooding, study finds Study finds forests and wetlands protect 3.7 million people in 358 Canadian population centres.

Critical natural areas shield half of Canada's population from flooding, a new study has found.

B.C. & Quebec — two particularly wet and forested places — receive the most natural flood protection.

www.timescolonist.com/highlights/c...

After denying links, Canadian forestry giant owner openly seeks control over Asian conglomerate Jackson Wijaya aims to consolidate control over Domtar (formally Paper Excellence) and Asia Pulp & Paper, after both companies spent years denying they were linked.

ICYMI this week

After denying links for years, the owner of Canadian forestry giant Paper Excellence has quietly moved to take control over Asia Pulp & Paper.

The conglomerate has long been accused of widespread deforestation.