Renewable natural gas program launched for Kootenay region
Kootenay folk will now be able to give a green boost to the environment, and receive a carbon tax credit to boot. FortisBC announced it has launched its renewable natural gas product offering for residential customers in the Kootenays. Eligible customers now have the option of designating 10 per cent of their household’s natural gas […]
Assessing infrastructure requirements in BC to make electric vehicles more viable option
A pilot project that will see the installation of up to 15 public charging stations at EasyPark lots throughout the city should help accelerate use of plug-in electric vehicles in the province’s largest city. EasyPark Easy Charge Pilot Project will assess the viability of commercially available EV charging solutions provided by several leading global providers. […]
Experts puzzled by big decline in honeybees over winter
By Alison Benjamin, guardian.co.uk Honeybee populations declined by 13.6 per cent over the winter, according to a survey of beekeepers across England. Losses were most severe in the northeast, where the survey recorded a loss rate of 17.1 per cent. Experts worry that the declines will affect plant productivity. There are also concerns that the […]
BC's poverty rate still highest in Canada: First Call
British Columbia’s child poverty rate rose to 12 per cent in 2009 in the wake of the international economic downturn, Statistics Canada reported recently — it was the highest child poverty rate of any province for the eighth year in a row. The BC rate also remained higher than the national child poverty rate of […]
Which way will Barack Obama turn on solar power?
By Suzanne Goldenberg, guardian.co.uk It looks like Barack Obama may be reneging on his promise to put solar panels on the roof of the White House by the end of this spring. On the other hand, the administration is pushing ahead with its plan to expand the deployment of large-scale solar power plants. The interior […]
Preston Manning and the Vancouver riots
Yes, of course, it is a big stretch to suggest that Preston Manning, for the former head of the Reform Party had anything to do with the rioting in Vancouver after the hockey game. But in trying to determine what is at the root of this mindless violent – and the almost equally mindless spectator […]
Nearly two billion people worldwide now overweight
By Editor, Worldwatch Institute More than 1.9 billion people worldwide were overweight in 2010, a 25 per cent increase since 2002, a new Worldwatch analysis shows. A survey of statistics in 177 countries shows 38 percent of adults — those 15 years or older — are now overweight. The trend is strongly correlated to rising […]
LETTER: Atamanenko replies to Yelich
Dear Editor: It is with interest that I read the comments of Minister Lynne Yelich in regard to my statement on the budget. Rather than reiterate what I had originally said, I would like to make a few other comments. It is certainly reassuring that Western Diversification will continue to provide effective programs. However,...
Leaked documents ahead of key Lima meeting suggest UN body looking to slow emissions with technological fixes rather than talks
By John Vidal, guardian.co.uk Read the documents here Lighter-coloured crops, aerosols in the stratosphere and iron filings in the ocean are among the measures being considered by leading scientists for “geo-engineering” the Earth’s climate, leaked documents from the UN climate science body show. In a move that suggests the UN and rich countries are despairing […]
BC's clean technology industry poised to become star of BC economy
British Columbia’s cleantech industry is one of the province’s fastest growing industries and has the potential to be a significant economic generator by creating thousands of new high paying jobs, attracting significant new investment and generating billions of dollars in exports. These are among the findings of the Cleantech Report Card for British Columbia, conducted […]