I Hate That, Despite the Lofty Promises, Canada Remains a Climate Pariah: Liberal or Conservative, it doesn’t make a whit of difference which party governs. Canada remains in the grip of petro-pimps and, yes, that includes the current Liberal government.

The National Observer has an analysis piece showing that Canada, in the midst of the pandemic, is supporting fossil fuels at 10 times the G20 average.

There are rumours that the Trudeau government is on the verge of going all progressive on our arse. Yeah, right. This would be the same, progressively-inclined regime that’s pushing through the massive, overpriced, no longer needed Trans-Mountain pipeline expansion even as foreign investors and energy companies are abandoning the Athabasca Tar Pits, openly declaring bitumen a “stranded asset.” What’s that line about, when you’re trying to get out of a hole, you must first stop digging?

I Hate That, Despite the Lofty Promises, Canada Remains a Climate Pariah: Liberal or Conservative, it doesn’t make a whit of difference which party governs. Canada remains in the grip of petro-pimps and, yes, that includes the current Liberal government.The National Observer has an analysis piece showing that Canada, in the midst of the pandemic, is supporting fossil fuels at 10 times the G20 average.There are rumours that the Trudeau government is on the verge of going all progressive on our arse. Yeah, right. This would be the same, progressively-inclined regime that’s pushing through the massive, overpriced, no longer needed Trans-Mountain pipeline expansion even as foreign investors and energy companies are abandoning the Athabasca Tar Pits, openly declaring bitumen a “stranded asset.” What’s that line about, when you’re trying to get out of a hole, you must first stop digging?Read More

Planting trees is no substitute for reducing fossil fuels – Environmental Defence: In the last election the federal Liberals promised to plant two billion trees, a pledge that upon re-election has become a government commitment. While it’s true that nature should be part of the climate change solution, some caution is needed. It could be the next version of greenwashing, or even climate denial.

The research is clear that protecting and enhancing ecosystems can play an important role in climate action, but also that these activities couldn’t possibly make up for the very high carbon emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels. Some oil and gas companies may be pointing to forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems as a replacement for the crucial goal of phasing out of fossil fuels. But avoiding climate catastrophe can’t be done on the back of nature alone.

Planting trees is no substitute for reducing fossil fuels – Environmental Defence: In the last election the federal Liberals promised to plant two billion trees, a pledge that upon re-election has become a government commitment. While it’s true that nature should be part of the climate change solution, some caution is needed. It could be the next version of greenwashing, or even climate denial.The research is clear that protecting and enhancing ecosystems can play an important role in climate action, but also that these activities couldn’t possibly make up for the very high carbon emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels. Some oil and gas companies may be pointing to forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems as a replacement for the crucial goal of phasing out of fossil fuels. But avoiding climate catastrophe can’t be done on the back of nature alone.Read More

Mauritius is reeling from a spreading oil spill – and people are angry with how the government has handled it: On the evening of Saturday July 25, the MV (Merchant Vessel) Wakashio
grounded on coral reefs in the south-east of the Indian Ocean tropical
island of Mauritius. The ship, a Japanese-owned but Panama-registered
bulk carrier designed to transport unpackaged goods such as coal or
grain, was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and
3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The ship sat for over a week
before cracks emerged in its hull.

Fuel oil began to leak into the expansive turquoise blue lagoon outside the coastal village of Mahébourg. Striking satellite images
show the resulting oil spill weaving a black slick between the mainland
at Pointe D’Esny and the flat round island of Ile-aux-Aigrettes. The
impacts seen closer up are gruesome. On August 7, nearly two weeks after the shipwreck, the government declared the incident a national emergency.

Mauritius is reeling from a spreading oil spill – and people are angry with how the government has handled it: On the evening of Saturday July 25, the MV (Merchant Vessel) Wakashio
grounded on coral reefs in the south-east of the Indian Ocean tropical
island of Mauritius. The ship, a Japanese-owned but Panama-registered
bulk carrier designed to transport unpackaged goods such as coal or
grain, was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and
3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The ship sat for over a week
before cracks emerged in its hull.Fuel oil began to leak into the expansive turquoise blue lagoon outside the coastal village of Mahébourg. Striking satellite images
show the resulting oil spill weaving a black slick between the mainland
at Pointe D’Esny and the flat round island of Ile-aux-Aigrettes. The
impacts seen closer up are gruesome. On August 7, nearly two weeks after the shipwreck, the government declared the incident a national emergency.Read More

Ecological Disaster in the Making as Oil Slick Spreads Off Mauritius Coast – The Energy Mix: The spill threatens an ecological disaster that would affect corals, fish, and other marine life on and around the island, Al Jazeera writes.

“Our country doesn’t have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Friday, warning that the spill “represents a danger” for a nation of 1.3 million that depends on tourism and has been hit hard by the pandemic.

“Thousands of species around the pristine lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny, and Mahebourg are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security, and health,” said Greenpeace Africa climate and energy manager Happy Khambule.

Ecological Disaster in the Making as Oil Slick Spreads Off Mauritius Coast – The Energy Mix: The spill threatens an ecological disaster that would affect corals, fish, and other marine life on and around the island, Al Jazeera writes.“Our country doesn’t have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Friday, warning that the spill “represents a danger” for a nation of 1.3 million that depends on tourism and has been hit hard by the pandemic.“Thousands of species around the pristine lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny, and Mahebourg are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security, and health,” said Greenpeace Africa climate and energy manager Happy Khambule.Read More

50% Global Emissions Cut Would Avoid Severe Climate Impacts to Tropics – The Energy Mix:

But if countries carry on with their inadequate response to the
climate crisis, extreme sea level rise and major GDP losses in those
regions will continue for decades and centuries to come, the think tank says.

50% Global Emissions Cut Would Avoid Severe Climate Impacts to Tropics – The Energy Mix: But if countries carry on with their inadequate response to the
climate crisis, extreme sea level rise and major GDP losses in those
regions will continue for decades and centuries to come, the think tank says.Read More