Welcome to EcoWest News, a weekly round-up of news and resources that you can put to use in addressing environmental issues and protecting the wild in your community.
Across the West
Saltspring Island is hosting a month-long arts festival in September navigating climate grief and action. Events include art making and shows, storytelling, cabaret theatre, dance, poetry, grief circles, teen discussions, poetry, a procession and celebration, and a rainwater harvesting tour. [Transition Salt Spring]
False Creek Friends are volunteers working together to clean up Vancouver’s False Creek. A Sept. 3-7 bio-blitz is intended to build up an inventory of all life in the area. [The Tyee]
The Nooksack River never leaves the United States, but if the river rises too high, millions of gallons are detoured north into Canada. Here’s why. [Fraser Valley Current]
The Autumn edition of the Alberta Wilderness Association magazine is now available online. There are 3 articles about sage grouse protection as well as articles about coal and caribou, the false promise of carbon capture, and much more. [Alberta Wilderness Association]
Strict rules to limit methane emissions in Alberta’s Peace River region implemented in 2014 have resulted in a near elimination of methane emissions without having any impact on oil production and can serve as an example for Canada as a whole. [Pembina Institute]
The federal government’s plan to cut fertilizer emissions by using fertilizers more efficiently is very different from the Netherlands’ proposal and will not jeopardize food security. [The Conversation]
Reporting Back
Four key takeaways from a workshop on building climate resilience in Manitoba municipalities: adaptation plans help safeguard communities, adaptation planning needs to be collaborative and built into municipal operations, and it’s a long-term process. [Climate West]
Representatives from conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, government agencies, and civil society working near or across the Canada-US boundary held 4 virtual dialogues in 2021 to consider landscape connectivity and cross-border conservation initiatives. They have published a report summarizing the common themes and key findings. [US-Canada Transboundary and Indigenous-led Conservation of Nature and Culture: Priority Recommendations]
The summary report for the 2022 Renewables in Remote Communities conference outlines the key themes and recommendations, including the importance of Indigenous and youth leadership in the clean energy transition, storytelling and collaboration to build a greater sense of community and support, increased access to affordable private capital, and capacity-building programs reflecting individual community needs and values. [Pembina Institute]
Around the World
Researchers across Canada and globally are using artificial intelligence to address climate change by predicting extreme weather, optimizing energy usage, and preventing waste. Check out the Climate Change AI website, read an article on Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning, or an article about what is happening in Canada.
Buses can carry up to 8 times more people than a personal car. To improve bus service, cities need to offer frequent, all-day bus service; redesign streets to prioritize buses; and discourage driving. [Smart Cities Dive]
There is greater support for climate action policies than we imagine: “While 66–80% Americans support these policies, Americans estimate the prevalence to only be between 37–43%.” [Nature]
Follow the Leader
France has become the first European country to ban advertisements for all energy products related to fossil fuels. Amsterdam banned ads from fossil fuel companies and the aviation industry (e.g. ads for gas cars and flights) last year. [Euro News]
When trains are for everyday travel and not just a once-in-a-lifetime tourism adventure, there are play areas for kids, family compartments, and spaces for strollers. [Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains]
France prepares to ban and/or regulate private jet flights. [EurActiv]
Sale of peat-based compost for use on private gardens in the UK will be banned effective 2024. [The Guardian]
In the News
We talked about EcoFriendly West and Nature Companion on Radio-Canada’s program Culture et Confiture. [Radio-Canada]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/52283885594/ (Black Turnstone)
EcoFriendly West informs and encourages initiatives that support Western Canada’s natural environment through its online publication and the Nature Companion website/app. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or subscribe by email.