EcoWest News, May 20, 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

Low water levels and sandbars on the South Saskatchewan River as it flows through Saskatoon raise concerns about safety, recreation, and water supply while the provincial government moves ahead with a large irrigation project. [The StarPhoenix]

St. Albert, a fast-growing city northwest of Edmonton, is using natural asset management to inventory and find ways to protect natural areas. [Natural Assets Initiatives]

Every ingredient in Small Gods’ Peninsula Lager was produced and purchased in a 33-km stretch of land north of Victoria, BC – and it’s only available for purchase in that area as well. [The Tyee]

BC’s emphasis on LNG development risks abandoning the province’s climate policies for uncertain economic benefits. [Policy Alternatives]

BC’s Infrastructure Projects Act provides Cabinet with undefined powers to expedite projects without specifying what types of projects are covered, ignores Indigenous rights, and includes regulatory loopholes. [EcoJustice]

Across Canada

Repurposing existing buildings addresses both the housing crisis and the climate crisis. “We will never reach our climate targets if we build them new in concrete and heat them with gas. We have to fix what we have and convert what we can.” [Carbon Upfront]

Canada’s natural assets could become the foundation for long-term economic security by investing in green infrastructure and “disclosing in government financial statements the value, condition and trends of natural capital”. [Policy Options]

Around the World

Up to 25% of new solar installations include attached storage. This benefits the homeowner but can also benefit the neighbourhood and the community. [The Equation]

Reducing pharmaceutical contamination in our waterways will require greener drugs, adequate wastewater treatment facilities, and proper disposal of medical waste at an industrial level. [Inside Climate News]

Do UK investments into research on climate-cooling interventions, such as refreezing sea ice and brightening clouds, distract from efforts to phase out fossil fuels and reduce emissions? [Scientific American]

Shipping & Distribution

Regulations to control air pollution could incentivize fast-charging stations for electric trucks at loading docks and on-site renewable energy generation at shopping distribution warehouses. [The Equation]

New York City is launching a network of “microhubs” in an effort to reduce traffic and pollution from large delivery trucks and replace last-mile trips with cargo bikes, pushcarts, and zero-emission vehicles. [Planetizen]

Making a Difference

For Our Kids is a Canadian network of parents and families who are concerned about their children’s future and determined to take action to reduce the impacts of climate change. [For Our Kids]

A network of green worker cooperatives in Australia shows promise in an area transitioning away from coal. [The Conversation]

Sendero Verde in New York City is the world’s largest Passive House residential building. It includes 709 affordable apartments, multi-level green space, a school, community garden, social services, and retail. [Handel Architects]

DIY

An iNaturalist slideshow provides useful tips on how to make identifiable, verifiable observations. [iNaturalist]

Nature’s Wonders

Chimpanzees in Uganda have been observed caring for each other by helping to remove snares, cleaning wounds, and applying medicinal leaves. The chimps aren’t always related. [Yale Environment 360]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/52223333961

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.