EcoWest News, June 10, 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

More than 90% of the water Albertans drink or use for irrigation comes from the Eastern Slopes. Scientists are studying how it functions and focusing attention on the large portion that comes from groundwater, “part of an extensive and mysterious network of flow pathways which deliver water from the mountains into some of Alberta’s most important rivers”. [Alberta Innovates]

BC’s Coastal Marine Strategy could make a real difference in addressing the problems of derelict vessels and Styrofoam floats, promoting natural shorelines, and monitoring coastal habitats. [West Coast Environmental Law]

BC has one of the cleanest power grids in the world. It can continue to grow its clean energy supply while maintaining reliability and affordability by employing energy efficiency programs to offset demand growth and by modernizing and growing grid infrastructure. [Pembina Institute]

Across Canada

It isn’t enough to install a heat pump; deep retrofits require multiple, coordinated upgrades (e.g. insulation and airtightness). Programs should be extended to include below-market, social housing, including low-rise, multi-unit residential buildings. [Pembina Institute]

Around the World

Gen Z is more environmentally aware than other generations, but its sustainability intentions are often sidelined by fast fashion, next-day delivery, and relentless trend cycles. “Gen Z’s struggle shows that living sustainably in a world designed for speed, savings and social validation is an uphill battle.” [The Conversation]

Wind turbines kill 1.17 million birds a year in the US, including ecologically important seabirds and birds of prey that breed slowly and whose populations can’t quickly recover from losses. Turbine site selection, including close study for several years of how birds use an area before a project moves forward, is the most effective way to minimize bird deaths. [Yale Environment 360]

Chinese companies are leading the way in adopting sodium-ion batteries, an alternative to batteries that require scarce raw materials such as lithium. Their lower energy density is well suited to scooters. [BBC]

Oceans

Bottom trawling – dragging a huge net, some large enough to hold a Boeing 747, across the sea floor – disturbs sediment, destroys habitat, and captures far more than the target species. [Euro News]

Check out the award-winning UN World Oceans Day photos: the eye of a whale, the curious face of a Japanese warbonnet, and the multi-coloured mantle of a blanket octopus. [Digital Photography Review]

Arts & Culture

Classical music professionals are committed to climate action and are calling for local residencies, green transport options, sustainable venue upgrades, and digital alternatives to printed materials. [Indigo]

The Creative Freelancers Climate Almanac offers practical tools, templates, wellbeing tips, and inspiring case studies. [Julie’s Bicycle]

A list of 10 new environmental books includes The Urban Naturalist: How to Make the City Your Scientific Playground for teens and A Hummingbird on my Balcony for 6–8-year-olds. [The Revelator]

Promoting conservation with humour: the front runners of the Nikon comedy wildlife photography awards. [Digital Photography Review]

Making a Difference

Cowichan, BC’s new hospital has achieved Zero Carbon Building – Design certification. The all-electric building incorporates low-carbon concrete, mass timber, high-performance insulation, heat recovery systems, solar panels, and low-GWP refrigerants. [Construction Business]

Concrete tunnels passing beneath a road reduced the death toll among migrating amphibians by 80%. The tunnels were also used by black bears, bobcats, and raccoons. [Anthropocene]

The most sustainable building is the one too beautiful to tear down. “European cities have proved that we can reinvent buildings for centuries.” [Lloyd Alter]

Nature’s Wonders

Marshes are one of the best places to go birding. Here’s how to use sight and sound to identify 5 of Canada’s top marsh birds. [Birds Canada]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/54566234009

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.