Climate

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Canada will need more electricity to hit net-zero: IEA report

Report says hydro, wind, solar and nuclear power should be maximized to achieve climate targets

wind turbines pic from CBC (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

Seed-dropping drone company aims to plant 100 million trees by 2024

Drones equipped with seeds and artificial intelligence could change how we plant millions of trees in the future.

AirSeed drone (submitted to TWN by the company)

Nova Scotia aims to be powered by 80 per cent renewables in 8 years

The Nova Scotia Government is planning to phase out coal by the year 2030, but don’t expect a surge in oil and gas usage as a replacement. The plan is to use 80 per cent renewable energy.

wind turbine pexels

Controlled burns can help forests capture more carbon, here's how

Properly managed fires can improve an ecosystem’s biodiversity and ability to store carbon.

a prescribed or controlled burn. (© Santiago Urquijo/ Moment/ Getty Images)

Why Nova Scotia's fossil fuel energy megaprojects are going bust

Changing attitudes, financial hurdles posed challenges for troubled projects

The Donkin coal mine in Cape Breton closed permanently in 2020. (Radio-Canada)

Ozone layer hole that was once larger than Antarctica has finally closed

The 2021 Antarctic ozone hole was one of the largest and longest-living since 1979.

view of Earth from space (Adastra/ The Image Bank/ Getty Images)

Deadly floods left this German town in tatters. Now it's trying to climate-proof

In a matter of hours, 134 people were killed in Ahr Valley in July

germany flood (Natalie Carney/CBC)

This energy-saving glass 'self-adapts' to heating and cooling demands

Glass that takes advantage of the electromagnetic spectrum could be the answer to the high demand for heating and air conditioning in buildings.

self-adapting glass credit: NTU Singapore

Reuters

Brazil shuts illegal timber schemes, sheds light on Amazon logging

Under President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's Amazon deforestation in 2021 surged to the highest level in 15 years, according to official government statistics.

Piles of legal wood are seen in a wood company warehouse in the Amazon rainforest, inside Jamari National Forest Park in the County of Itapua do Oeste, Rondonia state, Brazil, September 28, 2021. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

Piles of legal wood are seen in the Amazon rainforest (REUTERS/Adriano Machado)

Here are some of the ways climate change influenced global finance in 2021

The past year featured several promising developments on climate finance, from pension funds and international lending, to tackling cryptocurrency’s enormous carbon footprint.

Stocks finance unsplash Jeremy Bezanger

Toronto Zoo is turning poop into power and helping the planet in the process

ZooShare facility produces enough energy to power 250 homes per year

Deserrai Buunk is a Grade 3 keeper in the Toronto Zoo's African Savanna region. (Talia Ricci/CBC)

Ottawa reveals its latest plan to plant 2 billion trees by 2030

Plan ramps up to 300 million trees in the ground annually by 2027, the government says

Trudeau tree planting (CBC/ THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

Just how many EV chargers are there in Canada — and how many will we need?

The number of EV charging stations took another big jump in 2021, but not every province has been as serious about the transition as others.

EV charger Chuttersnap Unsplash

Fossil fuel use in Canada will drop 62 per cent, modelling indicates

A forecast on the Canadian energy sector predicts a decline in fossil fuel use by 2050.

oil sands in Alberta (dan_prat/ E+/ Getty Images)

This Canadian province is set to phase out coal by 2030

Nova Scotia is a province with a rich history in coal mining, especially in Cape Breton. Former miner Sheldon Gouthro gives a tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery in Glace Bay and policy makers look towards the future of energy.

Coal plant chris leboutillier unsplash

New artificial reef technology being tested in Nova Scotia

Artificial reefs have been deployed in waters in Nova Scotia in an attempt to grow kelp forest. IntelliReefs worked to restore coral settlements in the Caribbean before but this is the first time they are being tested in cold waters.

Stefan Andrews/ Intellireefs 

This Ontario community can go off-grid with solar panels, Tesla batteries

Energy resiliency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions are sustainable features of the microgrid community. 

Pickering microgrid community (Marshall Homes)

2021 was a "record year of growth" for renewable energy, IEA report says

The International Energy Agency report provides an analysis of renewable energies and forecasts their trends from 2021 to 2026.

field of wind turbines renewable energy (Steve Proehl/ The Image Bank/ Getty Images)

COP26 included trillions of dollars in promises. Here’s what’s next

Hundreds of financial institutions committed the largest amounts yet to net-zero initiatives, but observers say the lack of details is concerning.

Cash Money Jason Leung Unsplash

Scientists ask the public to help count walrus from space 

The Walrus from Space initiative is a rare chance for the public to make a meaningful contribution to climate science, experts say.

Walrus Russia Mike Korostelev/Moment/Getty Images

Offshore wind farms could make Nova Scotia an 'energy-exporting region'

Marine renewable energy conference in Halifax explores province's energy and environmental options

Offshore wind is long-established in Europe. Some people think it's time for Nova Scotia to follow suit. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

These carbon-rich ecosystems urgently need protection, study urges 

Certain ecosystems with exceptionally large reserves of carbon should be “considered irreplaceable from a climate perspective,” the researchers say.

helicopter flying over forest in squamish B.C. (Alex Ratson/ Moment/ Getty Images)

Nova Scotia’s first package-free grocery store achieves B Corp Certification

A certified B Corp takes stock in its employees, the local community, and the environment to redefine success in business.

nova scotia tare shop nathan coleman

Major investments needed to curb staggering emissions from cities

Land use and future development are big concerns when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in cities.

chicago (nate.low/ Pexels)

Canada made some big promises at COP26. Here are the next steps

Canadian oil and gas production emissions will be capped at today’s levels, the government stated. Those emissions were 191 million tons (Mt) in 2019, which was much higher than what many other countries released.

Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada (Splash of Rain/ Pexels)

Age of electric: Why Ontario rinks are slowly ditching their old ice resurfacers

Manufacturers say interest in electric models has shot up, but uncertainties remain.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/electric-ice-resurfacers-zambonis-1.6233356

CBC - ice resurfacer

Endangered Atlantic salmon are returning to N.B. in record numbers

Over 100 endangered Atlantic salmon were counted as they made their return to rivers in New Brunwick’s Fundy National Park. It’s the highest number since 1989 and ecologists are hoping the trend continues.


John Whitelaw holds an Atlantic salmon at Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. (Parks Canada)

COP26 agrees deal aimed at averting climate catastrophe, after late drama

There was last-minute drama as India, backed by China and other coal-dependent developing nations, raised objections to this part of the agreement and asked for the wording to be rewritten.

COP26/REUTERS/Phil Noble

Final commitment needed at COP26 for road ahead

Cautious hope and simmering frustration as COP26 comes to a close.

Photo by Paul ELLIS:AFP (Photo by PAUL ELLIS:AFP via Getty Images)

Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault

Greater climate ambition is needed in the transportation sector, experts say

Transport Day at COP26 produced key commitments and declarations for the transportation sector.

electric vehicle (Westend61/ Getty Images)

Renewable energy is making a sustainable life feasible for a farmer in P.E.I.

Cheaper solar panels are making living life off grid easier. 

Off the grid farmer in PEI (Nathan Coleman)

COP26 pledges represent historic reduction in projected global warming

In a first for UN climate summits, commitments made by world leaders actually have a good chance of limiting global warming to less than 2°C, however they now need to follow through on those pledges.

COP26 pledges - 1pt9C graph - Nov3 - Climate Resource

Obama tells COP26 to help poor nations, chides China and Russia

In recent weeks and months, rich nations including the United States, Japan, Spain and Italy have raised their "climate financing" pledges, but some still fall short of what international bodies say is a fair contribution.

REUTERS/Yves Herman

Halfway through COP26, where do climate negotiations stand?

Experts say that so far, countries have not meaningfully shifted from the positions they held coming into COP26.

A child runs as climate change activists gather to protest outside of BlackRock headquarters ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), in San Francisco, California, U.S., October 29, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

cop26 REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The Conversation

Artificial mini glaciers bring water to the driest, coldest places on Earth

The size and shape of the ice stupas make them particularly efficient, inexpensive, and easy to maintain.

ice stupa - University of Aberdeen/ Matteo Spagnolo

Youth protesters call for urgent action on climate change in march at COP26

Thousands of youth around the world have attended protests to call for effective actions that will address climate change.

youth climate change protest (LeoPatrizi/ E+/ Getty Images)

YouTubers show us what it's like to live off-grid at a remote Ontario farm

Living off-grid can be challenging, but these YouTubers show us that science, creativity, and help from knowledgeable experts can result in electricity and agriculture that is sustainable. 

Youtube/ AsapScience

COP26 coalition worth $130 trillion vows to put climate at heart of finance

Experts say the finance industry must find ways to raise private money to tackle the climate crisis. 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Finance Adviser for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), pose for a picture with world finance ministers during COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain.

COP26 Christopher Furlong/Pool via REUTERS

International clean technologies plan announced at COP26

Over 40 governments have signed a COP26 pledge to accelerate low-carbon solutions in key sectors

Credit: Hildegrade / Moment / Getty Images. 1314148583

Getty Images: Credit: Hildegrade / Moment / Getty Images.

Trudeau calls on a big step to cap carbon emissions at COP26

Climate change affects people around the world disportionately. Delegates at COP26 suggest high-carbon producing countries like Canada need to commit to solutions.

GETTY - Trudeau COP26

Over 100 countries agree to end and reverse deforestation by 2030 at COP26

Delivering effective policies that are carefully monitored will be essential for the success of the Glasgow Declaration, experts say. 

dense forest in ontario (jimfeng/ E+/ Getty Images)

COP26: World will try again to avert climate disaster

World leaders will kick start COP26 on Monday with two days of speeches that could include some new emissions-cutting pledges, before technical negotiators lock horns over the Paris accord rules.

REUTERS CLIMATE-UN

Despite 30 years of climate mitigation and policies, emissions keep rising

Radical actions that will effectively tackle climate change include strict regulations for corporations, dismantling carbon-emitting industries, and more effective leadership.

youth going to a climate change protest (Marko Geber/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images)

Green wave presenting major opportunities and risks for Canadian businesses

Experts from the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices say many companies in Canada will see both wins and challenges as the world moves towards a low-carbon future.

plants growing in the soil farming (Maryna Terletska/ Moment/ Getty Images)

This is what Canadians are asking Google about electric vehicles

Extreme weather events in Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic, and e-commerce are all factors that are influencing Canadian interest in electric vehicles.

person charging an electric vehicle (krisanapong detraphiphat/ Moment/ Getty Images)

The toughest of tasks at U.N. climate talks: Article 6 on CO2 markets

Many countries' national climate pledges hinge on the use of international cooperation through carbon markets.

REUTERS CLIMATE-UN-CARBON

To be resilient, the Canadian Prairie needs lots of wetlands

Agriculture has transformed the Prairie landscape into one of the most heavily managed in the world.

UGC farming agriculture (Davia Paige, Hazelwood, Saskatchewan)

Ontario is running out of places to dump garbage, here's one company's solution

Repurposing waste is an example of how circular business models can be both financially lucrative while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. 

garbage at a landfill (ugurhan/ E+/ Getty Images)

Experts ponder how to save downtown Vancouver inlet from sea level rise

In False Creek sea levels are projected to rise 50 cm by 2050 and 100 cm by 2100, so the City of Vancouver has decided to take action by launching the Sea2City design challenge. 

false creek in downtown vancouver BC (Photography by Harry Traeger/ Moment/ Getty Images)

Costa Rica, Milan among winners of Prince William's Earthshot prize

British royals have recently made a series of comments on environmental issues.

REUTERS prince william speaking at earthshot prize (Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS)

Online shoppers, hold on to that bubble wrap! There's a use for it

More and more people are turning to online shopping to make their purchases, and with that, comes the extra non-recyclable bubble wrap. Here’s what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.

GETTY IMAGES: Bubble wrap. Link - https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/photo/woman-pupping-bubbles-on-bubble-wrap-royalty-free-image/1142027956?adppopup=true

How green is your pension? For thousands of workers, it’s about to get greener

Two of Canada’s largest pension funds are slashing investments in CO2-heavy sectors – but activists say future retirees’ bottom lines depend on going further.

Financial pension investments campaign creators Unsplash

Global carbon capture projects surge 50% in 9 months - research

Planned capacity has grown the most in North America, partly due to tax credits for carbon capture and storage.

CO2 storage tanks (REUTERS/David Stanway)

Cloth sheet helps protect Swedish glacier from global warming

The project hopes to raise awareness about the dangers many societies will face if glaciers disappear.

reuters CLIMATE-CHANGE-SWEDEN-GLACIER

Australia's Daintree Rainforest returned to Indigenous owners

The Daintree Rainforest is located in northern Australia and is one of the most biologically diverse rainforests in the world.

daintree rainforest in australia (Neal Pritchard Photography/ Moment/ Getty Images)

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