Climate change

FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti of Kenia, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, May 26, 2022. A group of top climate scientists say the world needs to think about the ultimate climate catastrophe, human extinction, and how possible it is. They are calling on the world’s main climate science body to look at the ultimate climate catastrophes, no matter how remotely unlikely they are. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Chances of climate catastrophe are ignored, scientists say

“I do not believe civilization as we know it will make it out of this century”: B.C. scientist

FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti of Kenia, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, May 26, 2022. A group of top climate scientists say the world needs to think about the ultimate climate catastrophe, human extinction, and how possible it is. They are calling on the world’s main climate science body to look at the ultimate climate catastrophes, no matter how remotely unlikely they are. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
As plastic continues to pollute the ocean, Oceana Canada is calling on the government action (credit Oceana Canada/Elemental).

Plastic predicament: Federal group urges action on packaging legislation in Canada

Oceana Canada is calling on the government to reduce the amount of harmful single-use plastics

As plastic continues to pollute the ocean, Oceana Canada is calling on the government action (credit Oceana Canada/Elemental).
FILE - Wildfires burning hundreds of miles away create smoky conditions Monday, June 13, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska’s remarkable wildfire season includes over 530 blazes that have burned an area more than three times the size of Rhode Island, with nearly all the impacts, including dangerous breathing conditions from smoke, attributed to fires started by lightning. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Alaska experiencing wildfires it’s never seen before

530 wildfires already recorded this year, worst of season yet to come

FILE - Wildfires burning hundreds of miles away create smoky conditions Monday, June 13, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska’s remarkable wildfire season includes over 530 blazes that have burned an area more than three times the size of Rhode Island, with nearly all the impacts, including dangerous breathing conditions from smoke, attributed to fires started by lightning. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
A polar bear is seen walking along the road in Churchill, Man. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Climate change and human impacts on the land are behind a growing number of encounters between people and polar bears around the Arctic, new research concludes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Landfills and climate change increasing polar bear-human conflicts in Arctic: report

Climate change diminishing food supply for bears, while making the Arctic more hospitable for humans

A polar bear is seen walking along the road in Churchill, Man. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Climate change and human impacts on the land are behind a growing number of encounters between people and polar bears around the Arctic, new research concludes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo

Drastic fluctuations turning B.C. West Coast intertidal zone into ‘murder scene’

Rare tides, climate change occuring at a faster rate than intertidal animals can evolve or adapt to

A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo
People cool off at a splash pad as temperatures go above 30 celsius Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Temperatures expected to reach or surpass 30 C in parts of B.C. and Canada

Environment Canada issues heat warnings for PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec

People cool off at a splash pad as temperatures go above 30 celsius Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
People swim in the elevated pool, called Sky Pool, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

UK breaks record for highest temperature as Europe sizzles

Britain cracks 40 C for first time ever as heat draws attention to climate change

People swim in the elevated pool, called Sky Pool, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A woman uses an umbrella to shade herself from the sun in Greenwich Park, south east London, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

Millions swelter as UK endures its 1st extreme heat warning

Highest temperature ever recorded in Britain is 38.7 C, temperatures may reach 40 C this week

A woman uses an umbrella to shade herself from the sun in Greenwich Park, south east London, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
A tree towers above at Surrey Mound Farm. (File photo: Tom Zytaruk)

Surrey council approves report on climate action

The corporate report addresses the city’s access to B.C.’s Local Government Climate Action Program funding and how it will be used

A tree towers above at Surrey Mound Farm. (File photo: Tom Zytaruk)
June, 2009, the plastic bag monster at the Squamish Farmer’s Market. (Photo: Adrian Jones/ Greener Footprints Society).

‘It kind of makes my heart sing:’ Advocate welcomes federal single-use plastics ban

Squamish marine scientist who took the lead on plastic bag ban is excited for change

June, 2009, the plastic bag monster at the Squamish Farmer’s Market. (Photo: Adrian Jones/ Greener Footprints Society).
A queen of the species bombus kirbiellus, Credit: Hanna Jackson.

Bumble bees are being harmed by temperature changes due to climate change: B.C. study

New study found bumble bee species are impacted by temperature changes due to climate change

A queen of the species bombus kirbiellus, Credit: Hanna Jackson.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Surging energy prices harmful to families, should drive green transition: Freeland

Deputy PM says transitioning from fossil fuels is an “insurance policy” against higher energy prices

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Michael Yellowlees and his Alaskan Husky, Luna, are embarking on another cross-Canada trip—this time in a car—to revisit places they walked in 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Kilted Scotsman, dog retrace steps across Canada, reinforcing climate change message

Michael Yellowlees starts second cross-country tour with a July 3 gig on Vancouver Island

Michael Yellowlees and his Alaskan Husky, Luna, are embarking on another cross-Canada trip—this time in a car—to revisit places they walked in 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Heat warnings and special weather statements cover much of Yukon from the northwest to the southeast and Environment Canada says residents in the territory can’t expect much relief until at least mid-week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Unseasonable heat prompts warnings, adds to growing wildfire risk in Yukon

About 6,000 lightning strikes are peppering the territory daily

Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Heat warnings and special weather statements cover much of Yukon from the northwest to the southeast and Environment Canada says residents in the territory can’t expect much relief until at least mid-week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station after the price of a litre of regular grade gasoline reached a new high of $2.28, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Canada’s new emissions standards for gasoline and diesel will allow oil companies that get a federal tax break for installing carbon capture and storage systems to generate credits based on those systems, which they can then sell to refineries and fuel importers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada to allow companies to get tax credits and sell carbon credits

Cabinet approved the final regulations for the Clean Fuel Standard last week

People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station after the price of a litre of regular grade gasoline reached a new high of $2.28, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Canada’s new emissions standards for gasoline and diesel will allow oil companies that get a federal tax break for installing carbon capture and storage systems to generate credits based on those systems, which they can then sell to refineries and fuel importers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Burned trees are seen in the aftermath of the July 2021 White Rock Lake wildfire, in this aerial view southeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, on Thursday, August 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. scientists see recovery but fear more heat domes could change ecosystems forever

Cold-water marine species could be replaced by warm-water organisms, triggering cascading effects

Burned trees are seen in the aftermath of the July 2021 White Rock Lake wildfire, in this aerial view southeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, on Thursday, August 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A young boy is silhouetted as he jumps off the pier at Crescent Beach into Boundary Bay, in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, July 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A timeline of B.C.’s record-setting extreme heat event in June 2021

Environment Canada heat warnings covered most of British Columbia one year ago…

A young boy is silhouetted as he jumps off the pier at Crescent Beach into Boundary Bay, in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, July 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Susie Rieder, a spokeswoman for BC Hydro, who uses a heat pump to heat and cool her Burnaby, B.C. home, is shown in a handout photo.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Susie Rieder

Heat pump might help B.C. residents save utility costs, but do your research first

Unit can eliminate need for air conditioner, reduce your household’s environmental footprint

Susie Rieder, a spokeswoman for BC Hydro, who uses a heat pump to heat and cool her Burnaby, B.C. home, is shown in a handout photo.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Susie Rieder
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)

Ancient Vancouver Island fish bones may hold lessons for adapting to climate change

5,000-year-old bones show how Indigenous people worked with warming oceans

  • Jun 22, 2022
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman speaks during an announcement at Burns Bog, in Delta, B.C., on Monday, June 29, 2020.The British Columbia government has released its new strategy to get the province ready to fight extreme weather. Heyman says the plan includes enhanced roles for the BC Wildfire Service to prepare and prevent fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. urges preparedness and strategy to fight extreme climate events

Communities urged to take steps to minimize the potential damage

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman speaks during an announcement at Burns Bog, in Delta, B.C., on Monday, June 29, 2020.The British Columbia government has released its new strategy to get the province ready to fight extreme weather. Heyman says the plan includes enhanced roles for the BC Wildfire Service to prepare and prevent fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck