EcoWest News, July 29, 2025
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
Many cruise ships, cargo ships, and tankers employ scrubbers to “wash” sulphur dioxide, toxic metals, and carcinogens from ship fumes and flush them into the ocean along Canada’s west coast, an estimated 88 million tonnes in 2022. [Castanet]
A small Alberta wetland is removing half the selenium from an inactive coal mine. Could engineered wetlands downstream of BC’s Elk Valley coal mines supplement existing but inadequate water treatment plants? [Wildsight]
The newly created Gipsy Gordon Wildland Provincial Park permanently protects 186,000 hectares of boreal forest in Alberta. [CPAWS-NAB]
There have been complaints about poplar tree roots creating sidewalk upheavals. A Calgary Climate Hub member recommends keeping the mature, shade-providing trees and updating the sidewalks to a more flexible material. [Live Wire Calgary]
The Alberta government paid more than $30 million in land rent on behalf of delinquent oil and gas companies in 2024. Less than half a percent was reimbursed. [The Narwhal]
Saskatoon residents are encouraged to show their support for nature conservation and protecting the entire Little Swale in the National Urban Park survey. [Swale Watchers]
Across Canada
Canada’s nation-building initiatives should prioritize retrofitting homes and buildings so they’re more resilient, more comfortable, and more affordable to heat and cool. In return, energy resources and efficiency will create jobs and investment. [Pembina]
New LNG export projects will require as many as 32,000 new fracking wells over the next 25 years, which will consume depleted freshwater reserves and arable land and produce serious health risks in the northeastern part of BC. [DeSmog]
Wetlands, covering 14% of Canada’s land mass, are biodiversity hotspots, mitigate floods, and store carbon. [The Conversation]
Around the World
The world’s highest court has confirmed that countries have a legal obligation to protect the environment, a healthy environment is a human right, and governments must regulate fossil fuel companies. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
The global switch to renewable energy has passed a “positive tipping point”. Solar power is now 41% cheaper and wind power is 53% cheaper globally than the lowest-cost fossil fuel. [The Energy Mix]
Space tourists, thousands of satellites and rockets being launched into space, launch pads and infrastructure, space junk, and debris are contributing to land, water, air, and space pollution. [Mongabay]
Making a Difference
Led by the Shuswap Band, a wildlife overpass is being constructed to protect the bighorn sheep near Radium, BC. [7-minute video, Shuswap Communication]
An Edmonton apartment building has earned a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest solar panel artwork. [The Energy Mix]
Beaver dams and canals slow the flow of water, increase water storage both above and below ground, promote green growth that is less likely to burn, and aid in post-fire recovery. [Raincoast Conservation]
Holler, a graphic novel, shares the stories of ordinary people who opposed the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The author says, “I hope that this book can be part of people’s journey, whether they’re shifting from the mentality of fighting big projects to fighting many smaller projects, or they’re newer to the climate movement and they’re trying to learn about the history of the fight and all the possibilities that are before them in terms of how they resist.” [The Revelator]
DIY
“Over 3.5 million iNaturalist users are now helping researchers track species ranges, detect invasive species, monitor climate impacts, and even discover new species.” [Gizmodo]
Biodiversity
Manitoba’s tall grass prairie – where to find it and getting to know the local grasses. [CPAWS-MB]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/54677245656
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 BlueSky, X, and Mastodon, or subscribe by email.