Greta: We must fight the climate crisis and pandemic simultaneously

Mar 30, 2020 – New Scientist –

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg observes: “If one virus can wipe out the entire economy in a matter of weeks and shut down societies, then that is a proof that our societies are not very resilient. It also shows that once we are in an emergency, we can act and we can change our behaviour quickly.”

How coronavirus could help us fight climate change: Lessons from the pandemic

Mar 30, 2020 – Forbes –

A Brazilian economist and former chief financial officer of the World Bank says that the immediate danger of coronavirus has a great deal in common with the threat of climate change: “One: it’s global. Two: it affects different people in different ways. Three: it shows the importance of government.”

Government urged to consider environment in economic recovery plans

Mar 28. 2020 – Winnipeg Free Press –

University of Alberta political science Prof. Laurie Adkin is lead author of an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, published this week — and signed by 265 fellow academics, experts and advocates — that decries any move toward backstopping the fossil fuel industry. “We call for federal leadership to support an economic recovery plan that encompasses a green transition, not stop-gap measures, with income security for workers and a strong public sector,” the letter reads.

Parents rally for electric school buses

Mar 9, 2020 – National Observer –

Prince Edward Island has pledged to make that province’s entire school bus fleet all-electric. Now a network of parents called “For Our Kids” has organized to convince other provincial governments to do the same. “Reducing our kids’ exposure to harmful diesel fumes is good for their lungs and the planet.”

Economic reality scuttled Teck project

Feb 27, 2020 – Winnipeg Free Press –

OPINION – Some have tried to blame the cancellation of the Teck Frontier tarsands project on the federal government’s lack of support for the oil industry in countering massive public protests. It’s much more likely, however, that purely a business consideration — the price of oil — was the overriding factor in Teck’s decision.

A who’s who of the Wet’suwet’en pipeline conflict

Feb 26, 2020 – CBC News –

This article provides a guide to some of the main Wet’suwet’en people who have emerged as leaders, spokespeople, advocates and opponents of the project, and how they fit into the nation’s elected, hereditary and corporate organizational structures.

A quarter of all tweets about climate change are produced by bots

Feb 23, 2020 – Grist –

A new analysis has found that a quarter of all tweets about climate on an average day are produced by bots.

“These findings suggest a substantial impact of mechanized bots in amplifying denialist messages about climate change, including support for Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement,” states the draft Brown University study.

Sky-high potential for airships

Feb 12, 2020 – Winnipeg Free Press –

University of Manitoba professor Barry Prentice believes that investing in airships (as Quebec is doing) is exactly what governments should do. “Government has to be involved. It provides the infrastructure and regulates the sector. Trucks don’t provide the roads. The airlines don’t provide the airports.

Quebec invests $30-million in airship company

Feb 5, 2020 – Canadian Press –

The Québec government is investing $30-million in a French company, Flying Whales and its Quebec subsidiary. The company is hoping to use the airships to transport up to 60 tonnes of material at a time over regions that are difficult to access by road, such as the province’s northern region.

Permafrost collapse is speeding climate change: study

Feb 4, 2020 – CTV News

“Although abrupt permafrost thawing will occur in less than 20 percent of frozen land, it increases permafrost carbon release projections by about 50 percent” – Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research