Tuesday, July 29, 2025
NewsWave
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
Login
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
Login
No Result
View All Result
Login
NewsWave
No Result
View All Result
Home World Canada

Weekly roundup of climate change news to March 31, 2024

30 March 2024
in Canada
0
Weekly roundup of climate change news to March 31, 2024
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
How does this make you feel?


Breadcrumb Trail Links

NewsLocal News

Here’s your weekly roundup of local and international climate change news for the week of March 25 to March 31, 2024.

Published Mar 30, 2024 • 11 minute read

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.


Thwaits Glacier in Antarctica. NASA/Wikipedia. Handout [PNG Merlin Archive] Photo by NASA /Vancouver Sun

Article content

Here’s all the latest news concerning the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and the steps leaders are taking to address these issues.

In climate news this week:

Article content

• Environmental group alleges ‘greenwashing’ by FortisBC in advertising• Alberta scientists band together to shift climate change focus to health impacts• Canada’s coal exports up again in 2023 as government’s promised ban elusive

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Vancouver Sun

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Sign In or Create an Account

or

Article content

Human activities like burning fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This causes heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, increasing the planet’s surface temperature. The panel, which is made up of scientists from around the world, has warned for decades that wildfires and severe weather, such as B.C.’s deadly heat dome and catastrophic flooding in 2021, would become more frequent and more intense because of the climate emergency. It has issued a “code red” for humanity and warns the window to limit warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial times is closing.

But it’s not too late to avoid the worst-case scenarios.According to NASA climate scientists,if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the rise in global temperatures would begin to flatten within a few years. Temperatures would then plateau but remain well-elevated for many centuries. However, according to the

Check back here each Saturday for more climate and environmental news or sign up for our new Climate Connected newsletter HERE.

Climate change quick facts:

The Earth is now about 1.2 C warmer than it was in the 1800s.2023 was hottest on record globally, beating the last record in 2016.Human activities have raised atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by nearly 49 per cent above pre-industrial levels starting in 1850.The world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement target to keep global temperature from exceeding 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, the upper limit to avoid the worst fallout from climate change.On the current path of carbon dioxide emissions, the temperature could increase by as much as 4.4 C by the end of the century.In April, 2022 greenhouse gas concentrations reached record new highs and show no sign of slowing.Emissions must drop 7.6 per cent per year from 2020 to 2030 to keep temperatures from exceeding 1.5 C and 2.7 per cent per year to stay below 2 C.97 per cent of climate scientists agree that the climate is warming and that human beings are the cause.

(Source: United Nations IPCC, World Meteorological Organization, UNEP, Nasa, climatedata.ca)

Co2 graph
Source: NASA

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Latest News

Environmental group alleges ‘greenwashing’ by FortisBC in advertising

A B.C. environmental group is taking FortisBC to court, accusing it of greenwashing in advertising.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in B.C. Supreme Court, alleges FortisBC Energy Inc. has promoted the use of natural gas as more cost-effective and as good or better for the environment than alternatives like electric heat pumps. It alleges neither of these claims is true.

The use of fossil fuels to power buildings is a major contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, while electric heat pumps provide heating and cooling without burning fossil fuels, according to the case filed on behalf of Stand Environmental Society and two individuals — Lori Goldman and Eddie Dearden.

They allege the company continues to add thousands of new customers a year by falsely advertising gas as a climate-friendly source of home heating.

It says a cost-analysis posted on the FortisBC website last year comparing the cost of natural gas and electric pumps includes rebates for gas but fails to include the rebates in the cost of the pumps.

None of the claims has been proven in court.

FortisBC said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it was aware of the claim but would not comment on the allegations.

The company said it takes “climate change very seriously and is taking action” to help B.C. meet its climate goals.

Read the full story here.

—Tiffany Crawford

Alberta scientists band together to shift climate change focus to health impacts

Bodies and minds are just as affected by climate change as sea ice and forests, says University of Alberta scientist Sherilee Harper.

“Climate change impacts everything we care about,” she said. “It’s not just an environmental issue.”

That’s why Harper, along with 30 or so colleagues from disciplines as wide-ranging as economics and epidemiology, have banded together into what she calls Canada’s first university hub to shift the view of climate change from an environmental problem to a threat to human health.

“The hub is about helping people see that every climate change decision is a health decision,” said Harper, a professor in the School of Public Health and a vice-chair on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading scientific body on the issue.

“Every climate change research project has health implications.”

Take bike lanes, for example.

City planners look at them as a way to decrease tailpipe emissions from cars. But riding a bike also improves health.

Read the full story here

—The Canadian Press

coal
Canadian exports of thermal coal increased another seven per cent last year reaching the highest level in almost a decade. Gantry cranes are shown as a container ship is docked at port in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Sunrise presented by Vancouver Sun Banner

Sunrise

Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Thanks for signing up!

A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Article content

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Canada’s coal exports up again in 2023 as government’s promised ban elusive

Canadian exports of thermal coal increased another seven per cent last year, reaching the highest level in almost a decade.

The boom in exports of the kind of coal burned to make electricity comes as Canada leads a charge to end the use of coal as a source of power worldwide.

The Liberals also promised three years ago that all thermal coal exports will stop from Canada by 2030, but exports have risen almost 20 per cent since that promise was made.

Statistics published this month by the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert show 19.5 million tonnes of thermal coal were exported through their terminals last year.

That’s up from a little more than 18 million tonnes in 2022 and is almost twice the amount Canada exported in 2015 when the Liberals took power.

Fraser Thomson, a staff lawyer at Ecojustice, says he thinks some companies know their days of shipping thermal coal are numbered and are trying to get out as much as they can before they get cut off.

Coal is considered the dirtiest fuel for making electricity when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. It produces almost twice the amount of carbon dioxide when burned as natural gas to make the same amount of energy.

Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

Study says since 1979 climate change has made heat waves last longer, spike hotter, hurt more people

Climate change is making giant heat waves crawl slower across the globe and they are baking more people for a longer time with higher temperatures over larger areas, a new study finds.

Since 1979, global heat waves are moving 20 per cent more slowly _ meaning more people stay hot longer — and they are happening 67 per cent more often, according to a study in Friday’s Science Advances. The study found the highest temperatures in the heat waves are warmer than 40 years ago and the area under a heat dome is larger.

Studies have shown heat waves worsening before, but this one is more comprehensive and concentrates heavily on not just temperature and area, but how long the high heat lasts and how it travels across continents, said study co-authors and climate scientists Wei Zhang of Utah State University and Gabriel Lau of Princeton University.

From 1979 to 1983, global heat waves would last eight days on average, but by 2016 to 2020 that was up to 12 days, the study said.

Eurasia was especially hit harder with longer lasting heat waves, the study said. Heat waves slowed down most in Africa, while North America and Australia saw the biggest increases in overall magnitude, which measures temperature and area, according to the study.

Read the full story here.

—The Associated Press

Othello Tunnel
The never ending Othello Tunnels in British Columbia in Canada. Getty. Photo by WillEye /Getty Images/iStockphoto

Advertisement 5

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Coquihalla Canyon Park, Othello Tunnels near Hope to partly reopen in July

Coquihalla Canyon Park and the Othello Tunnels — major tourist attractions near Hope that were damaged during the catastrophic 2021 flooding — will partly reopen in July, the B.C.

The government made an announcement on Wednesday regarding the commencement of construction work to repair infrastructure damaged by severe weather. The restoration work will be done in two phases, with the first phase focusing on restoring facilities and access from the park entrance and parking lot to the end of tunnel two. The trail will be resurfaced and elevated to prevent future flooding damage. The rest of the park is expected to open in 2025.

In November 2021, heavy rain and severe flooding damaged over 30 sites in the park, including all five of the historic Othello Tunnels built in 1914 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Scientists have warned that as the planet warms up, regions worldwide will experience more frequent and intense atmospheric rivers, like the one in November 2021 that caused catastrophic flooding.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses to combat climate change. The new rules, effective for model years 2027 through 2032, are estimated to avoid up to 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades. The EPA emphasized the benefits of these standards for public health and the environment.

A study predicts significant shifts in urban wildlife populations due to climate change. The mix of urban birds, bugs, and other critters familiar to humans is expected to change as the climate warms. The simulation conducted by researchers combines climate models and species data from North American cities to estimate future impacts on wildlife.

Canada’s wildfires were identified as a major source of pollution in the United States last year, affecting air quality in both countries. The 2023 World Air Quality report highlighted the impact of Canadian wildfires on air pollution levels, with Canadian cities dominating the list of most polluted cities in North America. The report underscores the need for cross-border collaboration to address air quality issues.

Social media posts and advertisements related to climate change and environmental issues are also highlighted in the content. Links to guides and additional resources on climate change are provided for further reading and information.

Flood: Read all our coverage on the Fraser Valley and beyond

Frequently asked questions about climate change: NASA

What is climate change? A really simple guide from the BBC

Climate change made B.C. heat wave 150 times more likely, study concludes

B.C.’s heat wave: Intense weather event is linked to climate crisis, say scientists

Expert: climate change expected to bring longer wildfire seasons and more area burned

COVID-19 may have halted massive protests, but youth are taking their fight for the future to the courts

Climate displacement a growing concern in B.C. as extreme weather forces residents out of their homes

Bookmark our website and support our journalism:Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today:The Vancouver Sun|The Province.

Article content

Share this article in your social network

Sure! Please provide the content that you would like me to rewrite while keeping the HTML tags intact.



Source link

🪄 Creating a simple explanation...

Tags: ChangeClimateMarchNewsroundupWeekly
Previous Post

OpenAI’s new voice synthesizer can copy your voice from just 15 seconds of audio

Next Post

An Ode to .. ex-King Chipkins

Related Posts

'Unbound by laws': B.C. court gives man 6 years for illegal sea cucumber fishing
Canada

'Unbound by laws': B.C. court gives man 6 years for illegal sea cucumber fishing

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

Scott Steer, a commercial fisherman, has received a lifetime fishing ban and other penalties after facing eight charges, including illegally fishing in a closed area and selling over $1 million in unlawfully harvested sea cucumbers. Additionally, he breached a prior order that prohibited him from possessing fishing vessels. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
WestJet must pay K for cancelled flights after B.C. tribunal rejects airline's 'highly technical' evidence
Canada

WestJet must pay $2K for cancelled flights after B.C. tribunal rejects airline's 'highly technical' evidence

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

A B.C. tribunal ordered WestJet to compensate passengers Nathan and Leah Baugh over $2,000 after ruling the airline did not prove that weather conditions justified the cancellation of their March 7, 2022, flight. The airline's failure to provide adequate evidence for safety concerns led to the decision, obligating them under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations to issue compensation. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
Bianca Andreescu withdraws from National Bank Open with ankle injury
Canada

Bianca Andreescu withdraws from National Bank Open with ankle injury

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from the National Bank Open due to a left ankle injury sustained during her first-round match against Barbora Krejcikova, which she won 6-3, 6-4. The 25-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, suffered the injury on match point Sunday night. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
Sean Feucht facing more concert permit uncertainty for second leg of Canadian tour
Canada

Sean Feucht facing more concert permit uncertainty for second leg of Canadian tour

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

U.S. Christian musician Sean Feucht is facing permit reviews and public safety concerns for his upcoming performances in Western Canada from August 20 to 24, following the revocation of six permits during his previous tour. The cities involved are closely examining applications and security plans amid public safety considerations, while Feucht, who holds conservative views, continues to advocate for his events. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
Man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues 'to kill as many Jews as possible' gets house arrest as punishment
Canada

Man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues 'to kill as many Jews as possible' gets house arrest as punishment

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

A man named Waisuddin Akbari, sentenced to 60 days of house arrest and three years of probation for making threats to bomb synagogues in Toronto, caused significant fear within the Jewish community. The lenient sentence has raised concerns about Canada's hate crime laws amid rising antisemitism, prompting calls for reform as the impact of Akbari's threats reverberates throughout the community. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
Scientists are studying ways to make your blood deadly to mosquitos
Canada

Scientists are studying ways to make your blood deadly to mosquitos

by My News Wave
29 July 2025
0

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that monthly doses of ivermectin reduced malaria cases by 26% in children in Kenya, making their blood toxic to mosquitoes. Additionally, research on nitisinone revealed it could be lethal to various mosquito populations, suggesting both drugs may enhance malaria control efforts amid rising insecticide resistance. Want More Context? 🔎

Read more
NewsWave

News Summarized. Time Saved. Bite-sized news briefs for busy people. No fluff, just facts.

CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
  • Australia
  • Business
  • Canada
  • Entertainment
  • Europe
  • India
  • Middle East
  • New Zealand
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • UK
  • USA
  • World

LATEST NEWS STORIES

  • Saudi Arabia – Middle East Monitor
  • UK could recognise Palestinian state at United Nations General Assembly in September
  • Tributes to ‘shining example’ Charlton Athletic youth player who died aged 10
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 News Wave
News Wave is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology

Copyright © 2025 News Wave
News Wave is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In