Environment

Paper Excellence acknowledges that two discharges of wastewater from Crofton’s Catalyst mill into the ocean in 2021 were due to equipment failures, but said the mill has a good environmental record. (Citizen file photo)

Paper Excellence says equipment failure led to discharges, $25,000 fine

But company says mill has good environmental record

 

Catalyst mill in Crofton has been fined $25,500 for two discharges in 2021 that spilled more than one million litres of waste water into the ocean. (Citizen file photo)

Catalyst mill in Crofton fined $25,500 for discharging waste water into ocean

More than 1 million litres of effluent spilled in two incidents in 2021

 

A site overview of the former pulp mill site. (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy photo)

Port Alice pulp mill site could likely be stabilized by March

Province overseeing cleanp of former Neucel property through courts and trustees after bankruptcy

 

A fishing crew brings aboard a net filled with herring, foreground, during the 2017 harvest off the mouth of French Creek near Parksville in March. J.R. Rardon photo

Collapse of herring fishery near Vancouver tied to development: study

Forage fish like herring, smelt and eulachon showed dramatic decreases

A fishing crew brings aboard a net filled with herring, foreground, during the 2017 harvest off the mouth of French Creek near Parksville in March. J.R. Rardon photo
This 2023 wildfire near Entiako Park, located approximately 150 km southeast of Houston and 150 km southwest of Vanderhoof, directly east of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, helped to pump 102 megatonnes of carbon from provincial wildfires into the atmosphere. The figure comes from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

2023 B.C. wildfires pumped 102 megatonnes of carbon into atmosphere: EU

B.C.’s total greenhouse emissions in 2021 were 40 megatonnes less than 2023 wildfires on their own

This 2023 wildfire near Entiako Park, located approximately 150 km southeast of Houston and 150 km southwest of Vanderhoof, directly east of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, helped to pump 102 megatonnes of carbon from provincial wildfires into the atmosphere. The figure comes from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
Dozens of people protesting phase three of the Shawnigan Village Rail Trail project temporarily delayed work at the site on Jan. 5, 2024. (Submitted photo)

Protesters delay work on Shawnigan Lake trail expansion

Concerns raised about environmental issues and property rights

Dozens of people protesting phase three of the Shawnigan Village Rail Trail project temporarily delayed work at the site on Jan. 5, 2024. (Submitted photo)
Earthquakes Canada photo

4.7 magnitude earthquake hits off the coast of Port Hardy

The earthquake occurred at a depth of five kilometres

Earthquakes Canada photo
The charity with the highest-paid executives was Ducks Unlimited Canada, based in Manitoba. Its 2023 declaration indicates that two people earned more than $350,000, three others received between $250,000 and $300,000, and four received compensation between $200,000 and $250,000. (Photo courtesy of Ducks Unlimited)

Heads of 17 Canadian environmental charities collecting major compensation packages

At Vanouver’s David Suzuki Foundation, one manager received compensation of between $250K and $300K

The charity with the highest-paid executives was Ducks Unlimited Canada, based in Manitoba. Its 2023 declaration indicates that two people earned more than $350,000, three others received between $250,000 and $300,000, and four received compensation between $200,000 and $250,000. (Photo courtesy of Ducks Unlimited)
BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Debate over B.C.’s climate action tax credit takes another fowl turn

Green MLA Adam Olsen plucks Conservatives’ climate change policy with his own chicken reference

BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
A small group of leaders of Canadian charities in the environment, conservation, and animal protection sectors are taking home compensation packages equivalent to, and in some cases higher than, the salaries of provincial premiers. Snow geese are seen during their migratory movements at the Reservoir Beaudet, in Victoriaville, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bernard Brault

17 Canadian environmental charity executives making $200K or more

Canadian Press reviewed registered charities in the categories of ‘environment’ and ‘animal protection’

A small group of leaders of Canadian charities in the environment, conservation, and animal protection sectors are taking home compensation packages equivalent to, and in some cases higher than, the salaries of provincial premiers. Snow geese are seen during their migratory movements at the Reservoir Beaudet, in Victoriaville, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bernard Brault
New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

B.C. blames clean hydro power for low StatsCan ranking on emissions cuts

Figures used by StatsCan, not B.C., show greenhouse gas emissions by households barely budged

New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C.’s Environment Minister welcomes COP28 agreement

But George Heyman also acknowledged it could have sent a ‘more positive signal’

Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Extreme heat poses extreme threat to trees and plants of Pacific Northwest

High-heat instances can pose greater risk to plant life than typical low-moisture droughts

Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young

Oily sheen across Vancouver’s False Creek sparks Coast Guard investigation

Probe looking at possibility pollution came from land-based source during heavy rain

A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said he is ‘optimistic’ about meeting climate change goals. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. Environment Minister to promote B.C. climate change policies at COP28

George Heyman also said Thursday he is “optimistic” will meet its climate change goals

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said he is ‘optimistic’ about meeting climate change goals. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A remarkably low chum salmon return at Goldstream River this year means no fertilized eggs for creek restoration programs across the south Island usually supported by the Goldstream Hatchery. (Black Press Media file photo)

Low Goldstream chum return a ‘disaster’ for hatchery programs, ecosystem

No babies for Oak Bay’s Bowker Creek salmon restoration project this year

A remarkably low chum salmon return at Goldstream River this year means no fertilized eggs for creek restoration programs across the south Island usually supported by the Goldstream Hatchery. (Black Press Media file photo)
Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)

B.C.’s soon-to-be ban on certain plastics feeds entrepreneurial boom

Co-founder of company offering sustainable foodware products welcomes Dec. 20 ban

Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)
Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

‘Not a crisis’: B.C. Conservatives promise to scrap climate taxes, programs

Party Leader John Rustad says current climate change measures a $2.8 billion burden B.C. doesn’t need

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)

BC United calls the NDP’s climate change plan an attack on B.C.’s well-being

Premier David Eby accused BC United of being ‘desperate’ and saying ‘anything to get elected’

Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)
Coho salmon swim after being released from a hatchery. (National Marine Fisheries Service/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team photo)

B.C. stream watchers link coho salmon kill to tire toxin and drought

Streamkeeper Society says lack of rain may have allowed tire chemical to build up on roads

Coho salmon swim after being released from a hatchery. (National Marine Fisheries Service/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team photo)