OTTAWA – The Conservative government has responded to an international report on “unequivocal” global warming by slamming past Liberal inaction and renewing its warning of an alleged NDP carbon tax. The latest report Friday from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirms the planet is heating up and that it’s
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The Common Sense Canadian: Panel: Climate change ‘extremely likely’ man-made
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change STOCKHOLM – Scientists can now say with extreme confidence that human activity is the dominant cause of the global warming observed since the 1950s, a new report by an international scientific group said Friday. Calling man-made warming “extremely likely,”
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Scientists as certain of climate change as they are that smoking kills
by Seth Borenstein – Associated Press WASHINGTON – Top scientists from a variety of fields say they are about as certain that global warming is a real, man-made threat as they are that cigarettes kill. They are as sure about climate change as they are about the age of the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Site C Dam hearings delayed as panel seeks answers from BC Hydro
Proposed Site C Dam – artist’s rendering FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – It could be some time before a joint review panel considering the proposed Site C Dam in northeastern B.C., makes a decision about sending the project to a public hearing. The panel is now seeking even more information
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: BC LNG a gateway to carbon pollution, says new report
Australia’s Colongra gas-powered electrical plant – similar technology would be needed to power BC’s LNG VICTORIA – British Columbia’s pledge to develop the world’s cleanest liquefied natural gas plants looks hazy to an environmental organization that says the province appears to be prepared to allow oil and gas companies to
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Alberta scientist Jessica Ernst warns Newfoundland of fracking risk
Environmental consultant Jessica Ernst on her land in Alberta (Colin Smith photo) ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Alberta resident Jessica Ernst is warning Newfoundland about the risks of hydraulic fracturing, saying she blames the contentious fracking process for making her well water flammable. “It does ignite like a blow torch,” she
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: CN, Harper Government eyeing oil-by-rail to Prince Rupert
A 2012 CN derailment near Calgary OTTAWA – CN Rail, at the urging of Chinese-owned Nexen Inc., is considering shipping Alberta bitumen to Prince Rupert, B.C., by rail in quantities matching the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, documents show. Internal memos obtained by Greenpeace under the Access to Information Act show the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Russians storm Greenpeace ship with 2 Canadians, tow to port
Greenpeace activists attempt to scale a Russian arctic drilling rig (photo: Greenpeace) The Russian Coast Guard says a Greenpeace ship it stormed, with two Canadian activists among people they are holding, is being towed toward the nearest port. It said Friday the ship’s captain refused to operate the Arctic Sunrise,
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Old buildings get new life through innovative architecture
shipping containers are now being converted into homes – part of a growing trend of recycling architecture VICTORIA – The concept of a house is changing as architects and home owners reinvent the buildings they decide to use for their homes. Vancouver architect Tim Ankenman has been part of designing
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: The End of Coal?
China is coal’s last great hope – but even that may be changing by Jonathan Fahey NEW YORK – The future of coal is getting darker. Economic forces, pollution concerns and competition from cleaner fuels are slowly nudging nations around the globe away from the fuel that made the industrial
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: First Nation says CNRL up to 6 leaks in Cold Lake, Alberta
One of 6 leaks believed to be coming from CNRL’s Cold Lake operation (Chester Dawson/WSJ) COLD LAKE , Alta. – A First Nation says it is concerned about two other leaks at an oilsands project in northeastern Alberta, bringing the total in recent months to six. Chief Bernice Martial of
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: No flood insurance without better maps, factoring in climate change
Calgary’s flooded Bow River on June 22 OTTAWA – Insurance executives say homeowners will never have access to comprehensive flood insurance in Canada unless there are new maps of flood-prone areas that take climate change into account. That’s the finding of a study that surveyed senior executives at 13 Canadian
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Canada mulls crackdown on pesticide suspected of killing bees
OTTAWA – The federal Health Department is proposing tighter rules for the use of a pesticide that is suspected of killing honey bees. It is asking for public comment on the issue over the next 90 days. The department wants to hear from stakeholders and other interested parties people about
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Wal-Mart applauded for pulling toxins from shelves
NEW YORK – Wal-Mart announced Thursday that it will require its suppliers to phase out 10 hazardous chemicals from personal care products, cosmetics and cleaning products sold in its stores. It will also require the suppliers to disclose chemicals in those products. The moves follow an announcement made by Procter
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Alberta’s pipeline safety faces auditor review after series of spills
2011 Rainbow Pipeline leak in Alberta (Rogu Collecti/Greenpeace) EDMONTON – Alberta’s auditor general is going to take a deeper look at the safety of oil and natural gas pipelines in the province. Merwan Saher said his audit will examine pipeline inspections and will look at how well companies are following
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Métis fight Manitoba hydro line
WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s Métis federation is appealing an environmental licence granted for the construction of a controversial $3-billion hydro line. President David Chartrand said the federation has formally registered an appeal with Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh. A plan to build a 1,300-kilometre transmission line up the west side of Lake
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Whales thriving on coast, threatened by oil tankers: study
VANCOUVER – The number of humpback whales on the northern coast of British Columbia nearly doubled in eight years, but possible oil spills could seriously hamper recovery efforts involving the threatened mammals, a new study suggests. The acoustic animals known for their songs on breeding and feeding grounds were photographed
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Neil Young: ‘Fort McMurray is a wasteland’
Singer comes out swinging against Keystone Pipeline. OTTAWA – Neil Young is singing a new tune, claiming he’s seen the pipeline and the damage done. The Canadian music legend has waded into the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline with inflammatory comments that compare Fort McMurray, Alta., to the scene
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