Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

• Strong Norwegian EV sales throw BC incentives into sharp relief
• Life cycle assessments drive consumption towards lower-carbon alternatives
• Most mammals too slow for climate change

Authors: Neil Thomson, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch, Justin Bull

Editors: James Tansey (ISIS), Jessica Worsley (PICS), Tom Pedersen (PICS)

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list Subscribe Here or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.

RESEARCH THEME I: THE LOW CARBON EMISSIONS ECONOMY

Food waste a major, but avoidable, source of emissions

May 13, 2012. Every year, 30% of global food production is wasted. Much of this is avoidable and researchers are looking into how consumers can help. In the UK, 360,000 tonnes of milk are wasted each year in the consumption phase, either as a result of too much being served or the product going sour. The nitrous oxide (N2O) associated with this wasted milk has the greenhouse gas (GHG) equivalent of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). Avoiding this waste would be similar to removing 20,000 cars from the road. The authorssuggest that, “Eating less meat and wasting less food can play a big part in helping to keep a lid on greenhouse gas emissions as the world’s population increases.” Changing milk consumption patterns, for example, could play a major role in mitigating emissions from agricultural waste.

In BC, approximately 640,000 tonnes of milk are produced each year. If waste patterns are similar to the UK, reducing milk waste here would be equivalent to removing 1,000 cars from the road. While a thousand cars is not a huge number, milk waste is only a fraction of avoidable waste from agriculture. Beyond reducing waste, changing patterns of consumption can also help decrease the footprint of agriculture. In the United States, meat consumption declined 12.2% between 2007 and 2012, the biggest drop in 60 years. However, increasingmeat consumption in China and other developing countries means that any declines in the West are offset. Moving forward, managing emissions from agricultural waste will be central to the efforts of feeding a growing population while mitigating food’s contribution to climate change.

RESEARCH THEME II: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Strong Norwegian EV sales throw BC incentives into sharp relief

May 1, 2012. Sales of the Nissan LEAF in Norway rose to over 1,000 units in April, six months after the first mass-market release of this electric vehicle (EV). The LEAF was launched in BC at around the same time, but here sales are just over one hundred units. Norway’s population of 5 million, the country’s resource-focused economy and even the Oslo region’s 1.4 million population and density are all comparable to BC and Metro Vancouver. There are nine LEAF dealerships in Norway, the same number as in BC. And while both gas and electricity prices are higher in Norway, the relative cost of energy from each source is comparable to the differential in BC.

Where the jurisdictions diverge is in the consumer price of the vehicle and the available charging infrastructure. In BC, EVs come with a $5,000 pretax rebate, but are still subject to HST and otherwise considered a normal vehicle. In Norway, EVs are exempt from the new car tax (calculated on the basis of fuel efficiency, and rarely less than $5,000). They are also exempt from sales tax, may park at no cost, are exempt from some road tolls and may use bus lanes. Furthermore, there are over 3,500 interoperable charge points in Oslo, making them a common feature of most parking garages and many streets. In Vancouver, charging stations are still considered something of an experimental novelty; the City plans to install 67 charge points from a variety of vendors, forcing EV owners to carry a multitude of member-ship cards. Facilitating EV use both economically and practically, as has been done in Norway, would help BC more easily reach its greenhouse gas emission goals.

RESEARCH THEME III: RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS

Most mammals too slow for climate change

May 14, 2012.   According to a new study, up to 40 percent of mammal species will be unable to keep pace with climate change in the coming decades. Most mammals are not expected to migrate fast enough to suitable habitats as the climate warms, particularly primates, moles and shrews. Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle have collected information on 493 species of mammals whose future ranges have already been predicted up to approximately the year 2100. Much of the work to date has been done on species’ ranges and projected migrations under future climate scenarios. This new research deals specifically with whether species can move fast enough from where they are today to where the habitat will be suitable. The researchers added: “Our figures are a fairly conservative – even optimistic – view of what could happen, because our approach assumes that animals always go in the direction needed to avoid climate change and at the maximum rate possible for them.”

The researchers expect animals such as armadillos, sloths, coyotes, elk and moose, some of which are found in BC, to be able to keep up with climate change. Frequency of reproduction of different mammal species also has implications for conservation planning, including the work being done by BC’s Species at Risk Task Force.

These new findings help practitioners and conservationists identify where to create corridors for animals that will need to migrate due to climate-induced habitat change. Connectivity, or the linking together of areas that could serve as pathways to new territories, will be of particular importance to conservation planners. For those species that cannot move fast enough, reducing non-climate related stressors could help make them more resilient.

RESEARCH THEME IV: SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

Life cycle assessments drive consumption towards lower-carbon alternatives

May 15, 2012. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has released a report intended to encourage action from business managers and decision-makers at the local level. Life cycle thinking (assessment) (LCA) seeks to better quantify environmental impacts and improve decision-making between alternative products and services, with the intent to select those that emit less carbon and are more environmentally-friendly. Standardizing LCAs of environmental impacts is one way the European Union is tackling climate change and improving resource use. A key component of the Europe 2020 strategy, ‘life cycle thinking’ is being used to understand the full environmental impacts of products and services, from design through produce use and end-of-life. Other relevant research and policy information can be found in theInternational Journal of Life Cycle Assessments.

In BC, Bill 44 introduced the concept of a carbon neutral government and instructs all public sector organizations to report on and offset their greenhouse gas emissions, setting an example for the public to follow. However, unlike LCAs of products and services, the current policy for carbon neutrality in BC only covers scopes 1 and 2, paper emissions, and some business travel, leaving out many other products and services the government consumes. Further details on BC’s carbon neutral government mandate are available in a March 2011 PICS White Paper. The BC Climate Action Toolkit provides some background knowledge on LCAs. Presenting this information to the public in a more accessible manner would help businesses and interested individuals with their environmentally conscious decision-making.

RESEARCH THEME V: CARBON MANAGEMENT IN BC FORESTS

Forest products can help fight climate change

May 14, 2012. Land use change is responsible for 17 to 20% of annual carbon emissions caused by humans.Researchers have found that the bulk of these emissions stems from clearing forests, but the carbon impacts of forestry can vary greatly across the globe. In tropical countries, forests are commonly cleared for agricultural use, to provide wood fuel, or for conversion into paper. In temperate countries like Canada, forests are cleared but immediately replanted, and harvested trees are converted into products like plywood or lumber. These products can store carbon for a long time, impacting how emissions are released. Using wood to produce energy immediately releases carbon back into the atmosphere. Paper, which can be recycled a finite number of times, retains carbon, although it is eventually released through burning or decomposition in a landfill. Semi-permanent wood products, in contrast, can store carbon for decades. According to the authors, “The median carbon stored after 30 years is 2 percent for rest of world and 36 percent for Europe, the United States, and Canada.” This highlights the role of the forest industry in potentially mitigating emissions from land use change.

BC has temperate forests that offer opportunities to store carbon. Companies operating on Crown land are legally required to replant trees to replace those logged, thus helping to mitigate net emissions. Moreover, softwood lumber is ideal for building homes; indeed, wood products from BC act as a semi-permanent sink in construction projects around the world. But more can be done. Recently, a 30 storey wood skyscraper wasproposed in Vancouver, but zoning laws forbid wood structures over 6 storeys. ‘Very tall wood buildings’ offer an opportunity to transform the construction industry. At the provincial level, it is clear that the product portfolio of the forest industry has carbon implications. The more permanent the product, the more carbon is stored, with semi-permanent products being economically viable while providing jobs. Given that economic realities will always shape the products produced in BC, planning for a future where the carbon storage of wood products is recognized and valued will give the province a competitive advantage.

ALSO IN THE NEWS

Model forecasts long-term impacts of forest land-use decisions

Environment Canada’s scientific expertise at risk, report says

Climate change threatens crucial marine algae

Inclusive green growth: The pathway to sustainable development

California takes step toward linking CO2 market to Quebec

Disaster losses set to outpace economic growth – study

Study shows trees absorb less carbon than earlier thought; Leaf activity drops during summer

Peatlands – guidance for climate change mitigation by conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use

WWF: We will need two Earths by 2030

What the oil industry wants – in charts

Download pdf version: Week 137 PICS News Scan 22 May 2012

PICS Climate News Scan by PICS & ISIS, Sauder School of Business is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://isis.sauder.ubc.ca/contact/

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

• NASA visualizes how temperatures have increased in the last 131 years
• Climate policy: oil’s tipping point has past
• Clean up world seas to boost economy, UN body says

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.

Authors: Neil Thomson, Calyn Shaw, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch

Editors: James Tansey (ISIS), Tom Pedersen (PICS), Jessica Worsley (PICS)

RESEARCH THEME I: THE LOW CARBON EMISSIONS ECONOMY

Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies ‘could provide half of global carbon target’

January 19, 2012.  The Guardian newspaper has presented a new analysis of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s global survey of fossil fuel subsidies between 2007 and 2010. According to the IEA’s research, taxpayer support for fossil fuels in 2010 totaled over $400 billion, with over $360 billion of that spent in the developed world. If this support were completely removed by 2035, the forecast reduction in fossil fuel demand (in response to price increases) would meet half the carbon reductions required for a still-habitable planet. The IEA suggests the monies saved could be used for low carbon infrastructure investments (such as renewable energy and complete streets) as well as on schools, hospitals and other public services.

The research notes that most developed countries support fossil fuel industries via tax breaks or infrastructure grants, rather than through direct fuel price support. This is the case for British Columbia (BC), where exploration and development expenses are tax-deductible, and fugitive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not subject to the carbon tax paid by drivers and homeowners. The Pembina Institute and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives have called on the provincial government to put the fossil fuel industry on a level footing with other businesses in BC. Across the country, the Pembina Institute estimates Canadian governments lose roughly $2 billion a year in revenue because of tax incentives for the fossil fuel industry.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/19/fossil-fuel-subsidies-carbon-target

Climate policy: oil’s tipping point has passed

January 25, 2012. We have entered the era of higher and more volatile oil prices, according to a recent article in Nature. ‘Peak cheap oil’ has arrived, as easily accessible sources of crude oil are exhausted, and the remaining sources – such as tar sands – are expensive and difficult to extract. Production of oil has peaked and has become inelastic, unable to quickly respond to rising demand and resulting in higher prices. The implication is that, without a swift move to alternative sources, the economy could take a huge hit as energy prices rise. As the study cites: “Of the 11 recessions in the United States since the Second World War, 10, including the most recent, were preceded by a spike in oil prices”.

BC is not immune to increasing oil prices, which affect all areas of the economy including tourism. In light of these new findings, it’s imperative that communities, businesses, and governments transition away from crude oil, towards alternative fuel sources such as wind, solar, and other renewables. Delaying action will cost the province more in the long run; the IEA calculated that, “for every $1 of investment avoided before 2020, an additional $4.3 would need to be spent after 2020 to compensate for the increased emissions”.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/study-oil-tipping-point-has-passed-much-higher-prices-come

RESEARCH THEME II: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Clean up world seas to boost economy, UN body says

January 24, 2012. The world’s oceans are critical to a “low-carbon, resource efficient economy”, according to a recent report from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). With 40 percent of people living within 100 km of coastline, the ocean provides employment and food for much of the world’s population. Clean oceans create opportunities for eco-tourism, renewable energy, and, if managed correctly, renewable sources of food. Yet oil spills, agriculture run-off and over-fishing have significantly damaged the health of the oceans, resulting in reduced economic output.

BC has the longest coastline in Canada and the ocean plays a pivotal role in the province’s economy, both as a source of jobs and means of transportation. BC is currently engaged in a number of debates about the safety of oil tankers, pipelines and the health of BC salmon, all of which impact or rely on the oceans. The UNEP report highlights the long-term importance of the oceans and emphasizes the role communities must play in keeping them clean and well managed. It also points to new economic opportunities. Other countries with large coastlines are already moving to develop offshore wind, wave and tidal energy production as well as the associated technologies, yet BC has been slower to act on these opportunities.

https://research.tdwaterhouse.ca/research/public/Markets/CommoditiesNews?documentKey=1314-L5E8CO3OL-1

Independent expert panel in Massachusetts releases wind turbine health impact study

January 18, 2012.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection together with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued the results of a study commissioned to examine possible adverse health impacts arising from proximity to wind energy installations. The independent panel, which included mechanical engineers, physicians and experts on acoustics, public health, sleep disturbance, and other scientific fields, found little evidence of the so-called “wind turbine syndrome” – a theory put forward by some who believe wind turbines cause a litany of health problems. The study concluded that there is insufficient epidemiological evidence to support a conclusion that noise or vibration caused by wind turbines has adverse health effects and that self-reports of “annoyance” caused by wind turbine noise and vibration “appear to be some combination of the sound itself, the sight of the turbine, and attitude towards the wind turbine project.”

Wind power generation has increased in Ontario as a result of the Green Energy Act, which provides a substantial feed-in-tariff for renewable energy power projects. Ontario now leads all Canadian provinces with approximately 2,000 megawatts of wind power capacity. However, wind turbine installation in Ontario has been met with some criticism. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) called for a moratorium on wind power development in the province due to unanswered questions about its value as well as health and noise concerns raised by community members. The wind independent power producers (IPP) industry is growing slowly in BC as a result of the F2006 Call for Power. BC Hydro has signed Electricity Purchase Agreements (EPA) with three wind farms and more wind projects are expected to result from future power calls.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/

RESEARCH THEME III: RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS

Is Canada ready for an invasion of alien species?

January 19, 2012. A new multi-disciplinary study from a team of researchers at York University’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS), published in Environmental Reviews, says interactive effects of climate change and invasive alien species (IAS) pose serious threats to biodiversity, ecosystems and human well-being that require further investigation and urgent policy development. IAS are predicted to experience widespread changes in distribution in response to climate change, with many expanding their ranges into new areas. The review reveals the barriers to predicting invasive species’ range changes under climate change, including the complexity of the issue, lack of ecological data, and failure to address climate change-IAS interactions in research and policy. The authors believe a shift in research focus is important because very few studies examine the socio-economic dimensions of the problem and research has tended to focus on predictions of how the distribution of existing invasive species in Canada (including mountain pine beetle, gypsy moth, smallmouth bass and lyme disease) will be affected by climate change, rather than on potential invasive species that might expand their range into Canada.

This review follows a recent study from NASA identifying Canada as a likely ‘hot spot’ of ecological change. The NASA study forecasts major ecological shifts by 2100, including shifts northward of plant and animal species. Furthermore, a recent report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services identifies the risks to biodiversity posed by climate change and encourages urgent action to mitigate biodiversity loss. The review from IRIS identified the newness of the field, the complexity of the interactions between climate change and IAS, and the uncertainties involved in predicting IAS range changes under climate change as explanations for why policy is lacking on this issue at both the federal and provincial/territorial level in Canada. The review acknowledges that bridging the gap between science and policy is notoriously challenging, but concluded that scientific information is accumulating with which policy can be informed and directed. Improved and more extensive bioclimatic modeling will be essential for mounting an effective policy response to IAS range shifts under climate change across the country.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119102008.htm

RESEARCH THEME IV: SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

NASA visualizes how temperatures have increased in the last 131 years

January 19, 2012. NASA has featured prominently in the last two News Scans. Last week, we wrote aboutthe Agency’s findings that Canada’s Prairies and boreal forest will be among the areas hardest hit by climate change. The study forecast a significant species turnover as some species invade areas occupied by others. The NASA study said that 37% of Earth’s land surface would transform from one major ecosystem zone, or biome, into another, while 49% of land surfaces will see at least some changes in plant species. One of the sound bites that stood out from the study was that “it is much easier for plants and animals to migrate or adapt to this level of climatic change over 10,000 years than it is over 100 years”. This week, NASA released an updated, visual analysis showing temperatures around the globe in 2011 compared to the average global temperature dating back to 1884: Watch 131 Years of Global Warming in 26 Seconds. Global warming is often explained to the public through a well-reasoned summary of what we know of the issue. Although there are benefits to this form of communication, research suggests that visual communication, such as this time-lapse video, can sometimes be just as, if not more effective.

http://www.climatecentral.org/videos/web_features/nasa-finds-2011-ninth-warmest-year-on-record

Download pdf version: Week 121 PICS News Scan 31 January 2012

PICS Climate News Scan by PICS & ISIS, Sauder School of Business is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://isis.sauder.ubc.ca/contact/

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

• Solar power much cheaper to produce than most analysts realize
• Climate skepticism in media an English-speaking phenomenon
• Canadians want more from feds on climate change

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business in partnership with the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: picsscan@uvic.ca.

Authors: Chris Kantowicz, Calyn Shaw, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch

Editors: James Tansey, Jessica Worsley

RESEARCH THEME I: THE LOW CARBON EMISSIONS ECONOMY

Rapid growth in CO2 emissions after the 2008–2009 global financial crisis

December 6, 2011. The Global Carbon Project (GCP) published its annual analysis of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities, reporting a jump of 5.9 percent in 2010. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 in 2010 rose by 10 billion tonnes to reach 389.6 parts per million, the highest level recorded in at least the last 800,000 years. The global financial crisis was responsible for a global reduction in 2008-2009, but increased coal burning and cement production in 2010 led to rising CO2 production in developed and developing countries. The largest contributors to emissions growth were China, the US, India, the Russian Federation, and the European Union. The research team also studied the link between emissions and other significant economic events since 1960. The study suggests that in times of crisis, countries maintain economic output by supporting less energy-intensive activities. In previous cases the changes led to longer-term reductions in CO2. According to the authors of the report, the financial crisis was a missed opportunity to move the global economy away from a high-emissions trajectory.

One reason suggested for the rapid return to high CO2 emission levels was government investment intended to expedite economic recovery. In British Columbia (BC), green groups criticized the budgets in 2009 and 2010 as making only token investments in clean tech and demand-side management programs, while continuing with large subsidies to the traditional resource-extractive industries. According to the 2011 inventory submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Canada emitted 690 million tonnes of CO2in 2009 (down from 730 million tonnes in 2008). Canada’s 2010 emissions totals will be released in the 2012 inventory submission. BC’s 2010 inventory data will also be released in 2012. Canada and BC’s emissions were in line with the global trend and dropped from 2008 to 2009. When the 2010 data are released, it will be interesting to find out if, and by how much, the national and provincial emissions increased. Did we also miss the opportunity to emerge from the global recession with a less energy-intensive economy?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111206102527.htm

RESEARCH THEME II: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Solar power much cheaper to produce than most analysts realize, study finds

December 7, 2011. A new study conducted at Queen’s University finds that solar panels are more economically viable than realized by industry analysts. The authors believe many estimates are based on older technology and don’t adequately account for the advancements that have led to a 70 percent reduction in the cost of solar panels since 2009. Equipment costs are calculated based on dollars per watt of electricity produced. According to the authors, a 2010 study estimated the cost at $7.61, while a 2003 study set the amount at $4.16. The new study suggests that the real cost in 2011 is under $1 per watt for solar panels purchased in bulk on the global market. Another aspect often not considered is that the output of top-of-the-line solar panels only drops between 0.1 and 0.2 percent annually, rather than the 1% often cited.

The study uses Ontario as an example to assess the economic viability of solar energy compared to other electricity sources. BC’s hydro-dominated electricity generation has led to rates roughly 60%of those in Ontario and is at the low end ($0.06/kWh) of the range considered as economically feasible for solar power deployment. According to the BC Sustainable Energy Association, Canada currently lags behind the rest of the world in solar deployment, largely due to our cheap power and a lack of political will. The study makes a number of policy recommendations that could aid implementation if BC sought to effectively expand solar panel usage. The government, for example, could encourage third party sales of solar electricity to the grid at a retail price (beyond a feed-in-tariff) to increase the profitability of the system. Further tax breaks (sales or income) could also be considered for cleaner and renewable technologies to encourage their adoption.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207132916.htm

Transport report launched at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 17)

December 6, 2011. Creating low-carbon transportation alternatives will also have positive health outcomes, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) policy report announced at the UN COP 17 in Durban. The transportation sector is one of the dirtiest, but efforts such as rapid transit and initiatives to promote cycling and walking have the dual benefit of reducing CO2 emissions and improving the health of a community. Active modes of transport combined with better land use planning promote improved physical activity as well as reduce stress and urban air pollution. The policy brief is part of a broader series on ‘Health in the Green Economy’, which seeks to identify the health co-benefits that will result from various sector-specific initiatives to mitigate CO2emissions.

This fall, the University of British Columbia (UBC) hosted a one-day conference on integrating active transportation and health into transportation planning and Transport Canada also recognizes the health impacts of transportation options. Research from UBC’s Health and Community Design Lab identifies the most walkable areas in Metro Vancouver using theWalkability Index. The study noted that residents living in “the top 25% most walkable areas in Metro Vancouver were between two and three times more likely to walk or take transit for any home-based trip compared to those in the least walkable neighbourhoods.” The report lists the health benefits of a more walkable lifestyle and ties them to access to grocery stores and other retail services. While some neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver and elsewhere in the province are walkable, however, there is still a need to improve urban planning to promote active transportation, reduce CO2 emissions and improve health outcomes for BC communities.

http://www.who.int/hia/green_economy/en/index.html

RESEARCH THEME III: RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS

Study of wolves will help scientists predict climate effects on endangered animals

December 2, 2011. Based on observations and data on wolf populations in Yellowstone National Park, an international research team has developed a mathematical model that explores the relationships between the changes in wolves’ physical characteristics and population sizes in response to environmental changes. The team was led by Imperial College of London Professor,Tim Coulson who states: “We know that climate change is having an impact on the lives of animal species around the world… We now have a way to predict with unprecedented detail how populations of many different animals will respond to environmental change, including those animals threatened with extinction. However, we simply don’t have sufficient information about most of these species and their environments to confidently make such predictions.”

Of particular interest is the fact that this model can be used to inform conservation policy with regards to multiple animal species wherever there is sufficient data available. Earlier this month, BC introduced a new wildlife harvest allocation policy that attempts to address and balance the economic needs of BC’s guide outfitters and resident hunters with conservation goals. The new policy will be in place for five years and be reviewed in 2014. This research highlights the opportunity and need to model data over this period in order that climate change impacts on animal populations can be incorporated into the next round of hunting-license quota allocations.

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/

RESEARCH THEME IV: SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

Climate skepticism in media an English-speaking phenomenon

November 28, 2011. The print media in developing nations and continental Europe do a better job at communicating objective climate change news than their counterparts in the Anglo-Saxon world, according to a new report by the Reuters Institute. The report is based on a survey of 3,000 articles from two newspapers in each of Brazil, China, France, India, the UK and the US – supplemented by an overview of research on the media of other countries – and finds that US and UK media were the most climate-skeptic, while the French, Brazilian and Indian media were noted for their respect and reverence in science reporting. The Chinese media were found to be notably oriented toward solutions and adaptation.

Unfortunately, Canadian media were not included in the survey, as it would be interesting to see at which end of the spectrum the country lies. There have been past concerns that federal rules governing scientific communication with the media, introduced in 2007, contributed to a decline in climate science reporting since then. ‘Bias masquerading as balance’ is a common problem in fast-paced journalism – one that Canadian news consumers and producers should be careful to avoid.

http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Canadians want more from feds on climate change

December 1, 2011. Canadians want the Conservative government to do more to combat climate change, according to a recent poll by Environics. ‘Be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem’ is the message.  According to the poll, 74% of respondents support the government imposing regulations to reduce CO2 emissions despite the possibility of higher energy prices. Canadians ranked climate change and environmental concerns as the world’s most pressing issue.

British Columbians similarly feel that government should take a leadership stance on climate change issues. A summer 2011 poll by the Pembina Institute indicated that 70% of British Columbians want BC to continue to demonstrate leadership around climate change. BC mayors from eight communities lent their voice earlier this year in a letter addressed to provincial leadership candidates, calling for them to support a low-carbon economy. Both provincially and nationally, it is clear that communities want governments to lead on climate change, take bold action, and actively support the transition to a new low-carbon future.

http://cupe.ca/environment/canadians-feds-climate-change

Download pdf version: Week 116 PICS News Scan 13 December 2011

PICS Climate News Scan by PICS & ISIS, Sauder School of Business is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://isis.sauder.ubc.ca/contact/