Environment

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
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
Sidney Town Crier Kenny Podmore led the procession down Beacon Avenue on Sept. 19 as part of a ceremony organized by the Town of Sidney to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her funeral. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ukraine War, death of Queen Elizabeth II and municipal election define Saanich Peninsula in 2022

Housing, rising inflation and hunger among key issues in region

Sidney Town Crier Kenny Podmore led the procession down Beacon Avenue on Sept. 19 as part of a ceremony organized by the Town of Sidney to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her funeral. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria’s Fiona Hatherly, 10, won the eight to 10 category of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s second annual Kids Salmon Art Contest. (Courtesy Pacific Salmon Foundation)

Victoria girl scores top spot in salmon art contest

Pacific Salmon Foundation received more than 500 salmon-inspired art submissions from across B.C.

Victoria’s Fiona Hatherly, 10, won the eight to 10 category of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s second annual Kids Salmon Art Contest. (Courtesy Pacific Salmon Foundation)
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)
Father-daughter duo Dan and Millie Del Villano volunteer at Reynolds secondary’s 2022 tree chipping event – an environmentally friendly fundraiser for the school’s music program. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Last chance to chip your Christmas tree to help Greater Victoria causes

Start the year right by trashing your tree in a responsible way…

  • Dec 27, 2022
Father-daughter duo Dan and Millie Del Villano volunteer at Reynolds secondary’s 2022 tree chipping event – an environmentally friendly fundraiser for the school’s music program. (Black Press Media file photo)
While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)

Free plants boost biodiversity of Bowker Creek banks in Oak Bay

Volunteers plant camas bulbs, wildlife seeds to burst forth come spring

While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)
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
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
Maureen Alexander, a member of the Saanich Inlet Protection Society, along with many other is urging the CVRD to ask the province to carry out an environmental assessment on two proposed expansion projects at two sites in Bamberton owned by Malahat Nation, including the quarry close to the Malahat highway. (Citizen file)

CVRD urged to ask province for environmental assessment of Bamberton projects

Malahat Nation says expansion projects are in compliance with regulations

Maureen Alexander, a member of the Saanich Inlet Protection Society, along with many other is urging the CVRD to ask the province to carry out an environmental assessment on two proposed expansion projects at two sites in Bamberton owned by Malahat Nation, including the quarry close to the Malahat highway. (Citizen file)
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
Delegates take souvenir photos during a snowfall outside the convention centre at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Governments move closer to deal at biodiversity conference

China’s draft deal calls for greater protection, $200B raised by 2030

Delegates take souvenir photos during a snowfall outside the convention centre at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson