canada

Ontario and Quebec Don’t Like Carbon

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

I’m not a big fan of carbon trading but there is good news insofar that two Canadian provinces, Ontario and Quebec have decided to tackle environmental concerns. The Canadian federal government has followed the lead of Bush’s administration and have tried to stop any environmental progress, indeed they even say Ontario and Quebec are wrong because they are doing something. I sure this is the first of many headlines that show the provinces leading the environmental way in Canada.

It’s great to see two large provinces in Canada teaming up to show the federal government that they are open to legislating improved environmental protection.

Charest called tackling the issue of climate change a “tremendous challenge for humanity.”

He said whoever becomes the next U.S. president will be doing a “180-degree turn” on climate change policy, and the two provinces shouldn’t wait for that to happen before making changes of their own.

“Why wait for the Americans? We want to subscribe to everything that is being done on the European level and the North American level,” Charest told reporter

Have Your Coffee in a Ceramic Cup

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

Using paper cups for our coffee is absolutely ridiculous, a Canadian writer proposes we use some really awesome ceramic cups.

We have some amazing technology developing here in Canada. Homegrown high-tech whiz-bang — Nobel Prize material, really.

This system is too good to be true: it can provide fuel, or be easily processed into one of our most versatile building materials; it can sequester CO2 to slow global warming; be harvested for food; increase ecosystem health and biodiversity by providing habitat for animals, birds, plants and insects; slow damaging storm-water runoff; purify water; and help remediate contaminated soils. The feedstock is free and abundant, and maintenance on the system is negligible.

Canadian Environmental Art

- Adam Clare

The CBC has a neat article that examines the state of Canadian art that tackles how we look at the environment. Art is so fun!

Anyone who’s driven down Toronto’s Don Valley Parkway has seen Noel Harding’s most famous public artwork. Elevated Wetlands consists of large, plastic, tooth-like sculptures that serve as planters for wetland vegetation. In addition to fashioning whimsical, inverted storage sheds that act as birdhouses (A Chirp), Harding has recently moved into full-scale environmental planning with a project called Green Corridor. This collaboration with University of Windsor visual arts professor Rod Strickland will see the gradual construction of a two-kilometre “regenerative green zone” surrounding the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. The corridor will feature numerous science and art projects, including wind turbines, “botanical interventions,” pedestrian walkways and water gardens.

Ontario Banning ‘Cosmetic’ Pesticides

- Adam Clare

People in Ontario will have nicer grass to roll around in next year – except on golf courses and farmer’s fields. No, I have no idea how using pesticides on a golf courses aren’t classified as a cosmetic use, although golf course might still be subject to the law (I don’t know yet). The main thrust of the legislation is to ban the sale of consumer pesticides, municipal bans could be circumvented by buying the pesticides and using them anyway. Now that loophole will be closed.

The provincewide ban is aimed at replacing a patchwork of local pesticide bylaws, but Ontario farmers will be exempt. There’s no word yet if the province also plans to exempt golf courses from the ban.

The Conservatives and New Democrats said Monday they would likely support the legislation, but they first want to make sure the ban will actually help the environment and isn’t just a public relations move by the Liberal government.

“I think our inclination is to probably support it, but at the same time we want to hear from the folks who are experts in this area, and whether they think it’s all politics or whether there is going to be some meaningful benefit to the environment,” said Opposition Leader Bob Runciman.

Canada to Label Bisphenol A dangerous

- Adam Clare

Bisphenol A is chemical that is used to make plastic containers like Nalgene water bottles. Health Canada has been looking into the chemical for some time now and will announce today that Bispehnol A is considered dangerous in Canada. Some stores have banned products that use the chemical, with San Fransico providing some legislation against the chemical.

It is believed that bisphenol A can leach out of food and beverage containers when they are exposed to high heat or highly acidic foods.

Studies show that it mimics the hormone estrogen in the bloodstream, and is linked to health problems including breast cancer and infertility.

If bisphenol A is indeed declared dangerous, it could be up to a year or more before the health minister is able to issue regulations controlling its use.

Previous reports claimed the announcement would come as early as last Wednesday. That prompted several Canadian retailers to pull products containing bisphenol A from their shelves.

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