crc blog feed

Yesterday, Alberta introduced its carbon tax legislation, as outlined in this Globe and Mail article. Improving Alberta’s environmental reputation is seen as crucial by the NDP government and some energy industry leaders, who believe that the strategy will help attract investment in the oil and gas sector, put greater emphasis on technology and renewable energy and win support to build one or more new pipelines to Canadian coasts.

Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Reading, is making waves after creating a viral gif that animates the rapid nature of global warming.

Connecting individuals to the issue of climate change has proven to be difficult for many reasons. Psychological barriers and the complexity of this phenomenon keep many in a comfort zone of apathy, avoidance or denial. As a result, communicators, psychologists and behavioural experts have struggled with how best to increase engagement.

Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature. Nature is essential to every aspect of our lives. From the soil that nourishes our food to the visual inspiration feeding our artistic masters, it’s the subtle elements in our natural world that support our existence.

The Ontario government is considering one of this country’s most ambitious climate action plans and it is prescient, given the recent research by one of Britain’s most influential energy experts. He warns that international oil companies such as Shell and BP must completely change their business model or face a “nasty, brutish and short” end within 10 years.

Tracking and observing the changing weather patterns linked to climate change is one of the best ways to understand the effects of our carbon intensive lifestyles have on the planet.

Since wildfires razed the Canadian town of Fort McMurray last week, the link between climate change and such fires has been much discussed. Verbal fisticuffs erupted across social media and in the comment sections of most online articles on either side of this debate.

"The best thing for being sad, replied Merlyn, "is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may see the world around devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then--to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.

Resistance is Futile, A very interesting analysis by Don Pittis, about the argument “if climate optimism won’t save us, goes the argument, we might as well keep profiting from carbon".