Environment

This photo made available by NASA shows the planet Jupiter, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, on June 27, 2019. On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, scientists said they have discovered 12 new moons around the gas giant, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92. That's more than any other planet in our solar system. (NASA, ESA, A. Simon/Goddard Space Flight Center, M.H. Wong/University of California, Berkeley via AP)

Jupiter’s moon count jumps to 92, most in solar system

Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total count…

This photo made available by NASA shows the planet Jupiter, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, on June 27, 2019. On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, scientists said they have discovered 12 new moons around the gas giant, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92. That's more than any other planet in our solar system. (NASA, ESA, A. Simon/Goddard Space Flight Center, M.H. Wong/University of California, Berkeley via AP)
Chief John Powell, centre, of the Mamalilikulla First Nation, sits with Joyce Murray, back left, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and former chief Richard Sumner during an announcement about a new marine refuge in the Gwaxdlala/Nalaxdlala (Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound) area in Knight Inlet on B.C.’s central coast, at the International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, on Sunday, February 5, 2023. The federal and British Columbia governments alongside 15 coastal First Nations have officially endorsed the blueprint for a vast network of marine protected areas along the west coast of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Governments, B.C. coastal First Nations endorse marine protection action plan

New protected areas coming between the top of Vancouver Island to the Canada-Alaska border

Chief John Powell, centre, of the Mamalilikulla First Nation, sits with Joyce Murray, back left, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and former chief Richard Sumner during an announcement about a new marine refuge in the Gwaxdlala/Nalaxdlala (Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound) area in Knight Inlet on B.C.’s central coast, at the International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, on Sunday, February 5, 2023. The federal and British Columbia governments alongside 15 coastal First Nations have officially endorsed the blueprint for a vast network of marine protected areas along the west coast of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Bats come out of the Volcan de los Murcielagos, a cave that is home to three million bats, in the Balam-Ku reserve, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. One version of the Maya Train plan had the tracks passing less than a half mile from the bat cave. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In Mexico, worry that Maya Train will destroy jungle

$20 billion dollar project envisioned to grow economy of some of country’s most impoverished areas

Bats come out of the Volcan de los Murcielagos, a cave that is home to three million bats, in the Balam-Ku reserve, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. One version of the Maya Train plan had the tracks passing less than a half mile from the bat cave. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
B.C. has received only 18 per cent of federal support to deal with the effects of the 2021 atmospheric river that caused flooding and landslides across the province, including Merritt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. has received less than 20% of federal funds promised for 2021 flooding, landslides

More funding expected to arrive in March 2023, but pace appears slow so far

B.C. has received only 18 per cent of federal support to deal with the effects of the 2021 atmospheric river that caused flooding and landslides across the province, including Merritt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Joyce Murray, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, rises during question period on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Federal politicians are expected to make a significant announcement on ocean protection during an international conference in Vancouver on how to take action on promises to protect the marine world made at recent global environment meetings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Global ocean conservation conference in B.C. hopes to build on Montreal agreements

Significant announcements expected on ocean protection initiatives

Joyce Murray, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, rises during question period on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Federal politicians are expected to make a significant announcement on ocean protection during an international conference in Vancouver on how to take action on promises to protect the marine world made at recent global environment meetings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A shark is seen swimming across a sandbar on Aug. 13, 2021, off the Massachusetts’ coast of Cape Cod. Researchers say better fisheries management and conservation are turning the tide on shark and ray population declines in the Northwest Atlantic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Phil Marcelo

Tide begins to turn on declining NW Atlantic shark and ray populations: study

SFU probe finds declines halted in 3 species, and 6 species are rebuilding their numbers

A shark is seen swimming across a sandbar on Aug. 13, 2021, off the Massachusetts’ coast of Cape Cod. Researchers say better fisheries management and conservation are turning the tide on shark and ray population declines in the Northwest Atlantic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Phil Marcelo
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. The federal Liberals will not change Ottawa’s environmental protection law to make it mandatory for every toxic substance to have a pollution prevention plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Government says there is no need for every toxic chemical to have a pollution plan

Green party proposal for environmental bill amendment voted down

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. The federal Liberals will not change Ottawa’s environmental protection law to make it mandatory for every toxic substance to have a pollution prevention plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Martin Holzbauer with his recently purchased EV. (Staff photo) Martin Holzbauer with his recently purchased EV (staff photo). To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail michael.willcock@terracestandard.com. Include your full name and place of residence. Letters will be edited.

Electric vehicles: Let’s look at the facts and data

Letter writer compares battery electric vehicle with internal combustion engine

  • Jan 29, 2023
Martin Holzbauer with his recently purchased EV. (Staff photo) Martin Holzbauer with his recently purchased EV (staff photo). To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail michael.willcock@terracestandard.com. Include your full name and place of residence. Letters will be edited.
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman (here seen in 2020) fulfilled statutory reporting requirements under the Climate Change Accountability Act, according to a court ruling Tuesday. But the ruling also found that the province is not likely to meet change goals for 2025, 2030. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judge rejects lawsuit claiming B.C. failed to properly report climate change plans

Court hands B.C. government a victory, but finds province unlikely to meet its climate change goals

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman (here seen in 2020) fulfilled statutory reporting requirements under the Climate Change Accountability Act, according to a court ruling Tuesday. But the ruling also found that the province is not likely to meet change goals for 2025, 2030. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Illecillewaet Glacier viewed from the Hakai-UNBC Airborne Coastal Observatory on Sept. 2, 2022. (Contributed by Brian Menounos)

After They’re Gone: The state of the Illecillewaet Glacier and what will happen after it melts away

Experts say it’s ‘only a matter of time’ until the iconic glaciers surrounding Revelstoke melt away

Illecillewaet Glacier viewed from the Hakai-UNBC Airborne Coastal Observatory on Sept. 2, 2022. (Contributed by Brian Menounos)
The Ruby Princess docked at the Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Terminal on May 17. (Melissa Ash/The Northern View)

Prince Rupert port set to ban cruise ships from dumping contaminated wastewater

Port of Vancouver adopted similar regulations last March

The Ruby Princess docked at the Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Terminal on May 17. (Melissa Ash/The Northern View)
Boats moored on Okanagan Lake, which has some partially frozen spots but is still dangerous for anyone to venture out on. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Cows removed from Okanagan Lake, two weeks after drowning

Water quality a concern as closest licensed public drinking water system is located over 10 kilometres from the incident

Boats moored on Okanagan Lake, which has some partially frozen spots but is still dangerous for anyone to venture out on. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Computer sciences student Parushrut Dubey walks along a snow covered walkway at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. The city is expecting 10 to 25 centimetres of snow to fall throughout the day Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta government won’t release data on snowpack contamination from coal mines

The Alberta government is refusing to release information on toxic contaminants in…

Computer sciences student Parushrut Dubey walks along a snow covered walkway at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. The city is expecting 10 to 25 centimetres of snow to fall throughout the day Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Claudia Copley, an entomologist at the Royal BC Museum, on the hunt for spiders. Copley is one of three biologists asked to champion a less lovable endangered species by Canada’s National Observer. (Photo by Jennifer Heron)

B.C. biologists standing up for at-risk slugs and bugs

The slimy, creepy creatures are worth saving too, researchers say

  • Jan 3, 2023
Claudia Copley, an entomologist at the Royal BC Museum, on the hunt for spiders. Copley is one of three biologists asked to champion a less lovable endangered species by Canada’s National Observer. (Photo by Jennifer Heron)
Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Friday, December 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

An activist in office: Steven Guilbeault’s first year as Canada’s environment minister

Guilbeault has worked on plastic pollution, electric cars and emissions caps, among other areas

Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Friday, December 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Food is packaged into a polystyrene foam box in Honolulu in a Thursday, March 14, 2019 file photo. Restaurants have been going through months of trial and error in preparation for the phase-in of a federal plastics ban that will eventually aim to remove many single-use plastics, such as takeout containers, from the market altogether. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Audrey McAvoy

Restaurants debut new takeout ware amid phase-in of single-use plastics ban

Recyclable fibre lids, bamboo cutlery and paper straws among alternatives being tested out

Food is packaged into a polystyrene foam box in Honolulu in a Thursday, March 14, 2019 file photo. Restaurants have been going through months of trial and error in preparation for the phase-in of a federal plastics ban that will eventually aim to remove many single-use plastics, such as takeout containers, from the market altogether. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Audrey McAvoy
Canadian environmental groups have filed a complaint against Sustainable Forestry Initiative, claiming the company is not in fact following sustainable practices. (Credit: Pixabay)

Greenwashing complaint filed against Canada’s biggest certifier of sustainable forestry

Sustainable Forestry Initiative not actually following any criteria, critics say

  • Dec 28, 2022
Canadian environmental groups have filed a complaint against Sustainable Forestry Initiative, claiming the company is not in fact following sustainable practices. (Credit: Pixabay)
Trees felled for the expansion of Trans Mountain pipeline are seen in a fenced off construction area in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, September 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trans Mountain pipeline fine for bird disturbances upheld while penalty slashed

Penalty dropped from $88,000 to $4,000

Trees felled for the expansion of Trans Mountain pipeline are seen in a fenced off construction area in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, September 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Negotiators reach nature deal at COP15 despite objections from African countries

Deal calls for protection of at least 30 per cent of land and marine areas

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, left, and Northwest Territories MLA for Nahendeh Shane Thompson bow during a prayer performed via videoconference and shown on screen during a news conference at the COP 15 summit on biodiversity, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

Feds, Northwest Territories to create Indigenous protected area for Great Bear Lake

‘It will be a place of refuge for the future of people, for all living things.’

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, left, and Northwest Territories MLA for Nahendeh Shane Thompson bow during a prayer performed via videoconference and shown on screen during a news conference at the COP 15 summit on biodiversity, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe