Source: UNICEF

UNICEF released a report this week titled The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis. This report generated new evidence on the potential risk of climate and environmental hazards (including shocks and stressors caused by such events). This report was created with youth climate activists in mind and was launched on the third anniversary of Friday’s for Future (Greta Thunberg’s organization).

The report found that over 1 billion children are already at extreme risk of being impacted by the current climate crisis. This is especially the case when looking at natural disasters such as floods, heatwaves, natural fires, and drought, which have impacted developing nations’ disproportionality—it is within these developing nations (which hosts 1 billion children cumulatively) that natural disasters are most prominent.  Moreover, the study found that children were more likely to suffer the brunt of these disasters due to their developing state and other external factors (water and food scarcity, disease, etc.).

The message of the report was clear: our generation and all upcoming ones must focus on protecting those sensitive to the now prevalent climate crisis.

Exxon’s Ambitious Destruction of the Environment

Source: CNBC

An article published by the Guardian has reported on ExxonMobil’s new Guyana project which has experts worried about a potential oil-related environmental disaster. The largest worry both citizens and climatic researchers have had about the project is the potential further degradation of the sensitive marine ecosystem. The company has chosen this specific ecosystem to extract what is expected to be 9 billion barrels of oil.

The article details the company’s ambitious goal to produce 800 000 barrels of oil a day by 2025; Exxon hopes to increase its production of oil exponentially, disregarding the parallel of its increase with the environment’s decline. Such a pursuit is not inherently unique, as other oil industries are producing similar goals in hopes to keep up in the race within the fossil fuel industry.

However, Exxon has more intentional harm as the company has prioritized picking production locations without acknowledging its ecological sensitivity and overall importance to the global climate in its planning process. The article describes Guyana as a “rich” ecosystem that has 80% of its land dominated by biodiverse rainforests. This fact suggests that exploitation of natural resources (such as oil) in this nation not only results in natural spills in extraction and other damage to local biodiversity but also the massive release of carbon into the global atmosphere from rainforests (known to be carbon sinks)  that have been utilized in due process.

In the search for progress, Exxon has forgotten its most important stakeholder, the environment where it extracts its product, and our publication (and many others) will closely monitor its next steps.

The Montreal Protocol Has Saved Our Planet from A Climate Catastrophe

Source: BBC

A journal article published this week suggested that the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer first passed in 1987, has allowed the world to avoid an extreme climate crisis.

In doing so, it has stopped an additional 115-225 parts per million accumulation in atmospheric carbon dioxide—the call for action has allowed for the world to have at most a 1.0 degree cooler global temperature. Additionally, the protocol has also mitigated the growth of land carbon sinks. The report actually suggests that 580 billion tonnes of carbon stored in forests have been stopped because of the lack of growth!

Conclusion This study has found conclusive proof that harsh criticism from unified protests (through international agencies) has caused an immensely positive change and protected the global biosphere.

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Source: The Guardian

Stumbled upon an interesting and somewhat amusing story of an Italian team that has been, since 2008, covering a glacier in northern Italy, the Presena glacier, with huge reflective tarps during summer months to minimize the ice loss due to rising heat. The glacier has already lost one-third of its volume since 1993, and the project has managed to grow from covering an area of around 30,000 square metres in 2008 to more than 100,000 square metres today.

The work is carried out by a private firm under contract to the government, and one of the project’s key goals is to protect a glacier that supports a wintertime ski economy. The article continues:

Once in place, the sheets, which measure 70m by 5m, are hardly distinguishable from the packed white snow beneath. The Austrian-made tarps cost up to €400 ($450) each and it takes the team six weeks to install them – and another six weeks to remove them before winter sets in again.

Which got me thinking about the other vital glaciers and mountainous ice caps like those that lie atop the Himalayas. And some glaciers and their kin closer to home here in Canada. As we ponder the best ways to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate emergency that are already present in our lives – with an eye towards minimizing the duration and degree of devastation that we’ll need to endure before the worst is over – we’ll need to start getting more creative in taking small but meaningful steps to protect species at risks, including glaciers.

And given the recent headline in the Washington Post…

Earth is now losing 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year. And it’s going to get worse.

…we’re probably going to need a lot more blankets!

Quebec Chooses Environment Over 14 Billion Dollar Gas Project 

Source: Montreal CTV News

Quebec has rejected 14 billion dollars from a natural gas project in Saguenay, as it works to reduce the province’s overall environmental impact. The proposed development had to do with the creation of a power and processing plant in Port Saguenay, Quebec—the plant would primarily function in liquifying natural gas transported from Western Canada. Additionally, the project would also fund the development of a 780-kilometre pipeline connecting to other natural gas lines in Ontario.

Premier François Legault had been in favour of this project In the beginning as it would diversify their economy, which had been largely dependent on metal and forestry industries. Although, this soon changed as the company in charge of the project had failed to pass three main criteria (provided by the provincial government) pertaining to its environmental impacts. This included: (1) aiding the province in the transition towards green energy; (2) lower the province’s greenhouse gas emissions; (3) garner public support for the project.

The company behind the proposal, known as GNL Quebec, had initial plans to make the plant carbon neutral in an effort to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the processing centre. However, the Quebec environmental review board estimated that these “reductions” would not likely occur. The project was then rejected by the province in lieu of consultation from the aforementioned review board and due to protests from many environmental groups; including most prominently the David Suzuki Foundation and Greenpeace. It is also important to note that many indigenous communities within the province had also opposed the project, likely further fueling the government’s decision to halt it.

Join Ontario’s Youth Environment Council!

Source: Ontario.ca

The Ontario provincial government is creating a new Youth Environment Council to allow young environmental activists to help solve climate change and other environmental issues in their area! The group would be a collection of passionate nine to 12 year-olds who would apply to have a position in the council through a volunteer-based system. The applications would be due on August 4^th, 2021 and the program would begin in the fall of 2021 (at the beginning of the school year)—the final members will be announced this summer.

The list of topics that the government would like the youth group to work on would be as follows:

• How can the government strengthen its understanding of youth climate issues regionally?
• How can the government ensure that youth voices are fully inclusive in creating environmental solutions?
• What connections/relationships can be created between policy-makers and young environmental activists?

This program would also provide learning opportunities to its council, such that they might have a future career in environmental assessment or law-making. The group is expected to meet monthly (from September 2021 – April 2022) and will be sourced from all regions of Ontario, including from Indigenous communities.

If you or your child is interested and has a passion for the environment, then this opportunity might be your gateway into changing the world for the better!

Ancient Threats Uncovered in Melting Glaciers

Source: BBC

This week, a team of scientists and researchers released a study detailing that they’ve recently uncovered 33 species of viruses found frozen in two glaciers in the Himalayas, 28 of which have never been detected before.

From the news report:

Researchers from Ohio State University report that the glacial ice containing the viruses dates as far back as 14,500 years. It was found more than 6,700 metres above sea level, at the Guliya ice cap in western China, and removed for analysis in 2015.

As you can see, we’re literally just scratching the surface of our knowledge of the natural world, while we wrestle with our own worst efforts to destroy much of nature. And all the while wrestling with the impacts of one virus – the coronavirus – on the human population across the planet. So should we be worried about the viruses ‘re-animating and inflicting some prehistoric pox upon the people?

Again, from the report:

The remaining viruses had previously been cataloged, and – perhaps adding another bit of relief to this discovery – tend to infect bacteria, not humans or animals. Additionally, the researchers say, environmental clues suggest that the newly discovered viruses didn’t attack humans either. More likely, they thrived in plants and soil.

So, in this case, we’re pretty sure that nothing untoward will happen. But with the number of potential viruses buried in permafrost and glaciers starts melting measured in the millions (if not billions), we humans have another good reason to be more careful as we engage with an awakening natural world less than enamored with our collective behavior

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Source: The Independent

A ship currently sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, containing a couple of hundred tonnes of oil, is expected to cause massive amounts of environmental damage. The vessel, named MV X-Press Pearl, had already been burning for 12 days (due to a nitric acid leak) when it suddenly starting sinking on Wednesday close to Sri Lanka’s main shipping port.

There have been efforts to remove the ship and bring it into deeper waters, however, this quickly failed as the vessel became lodged into the seabed. The fear for the environmental consequences from this ship sinking is extreme and, as other media and experts have stated, might possibly be “the country’s (Sri Lanka) worst-ever man-made environmental disaster”.

This entire situation might have been avoided, had the crew of the ship and the management chose to not set sail when they first became aware of the leak in the vessel, prior to the actual burn event.

The greatest threat this ship poses is not the chemical cargo it was carrying as this was burned away during the fire, but rather a massive oil leak into marine ecosystems. Additionally, the ship’s deterioration has already released debris (including tons of deadly plastic pellets) into the ocean, which will likely cause immense damage permanently to surrounding marine life.

Currently, the Sri Lankan government is monitoring the ship for any signs of oil pollution and is supported in the endeavor to remove the spill by India, which has sent three ships of their own for assistance. Although, the government is still not sure about the true environmental damage of such an event, which now could be an international matter. 

Two Species of Pygmy Monkey (Smallest Monkey in the World) Discovered

Source: Dino Animals

A recent study found that Pygmy Marmosets, the smallest monkeys in the world, are actually divided into two different species. These primates weigh only 100 grams and are typically difficult to research morphologically. They reside in either northwest South America (Ecuador) or the southern Amazon Basin (Peru), respectively. The study later found that the two populations of monkeys were actually different species that had adapted to their specific location.  

The study had estimated that there might be a variation in species with this monkey, due to the ecosystem properties in each location. In which, it might be advantageous for the monkeys to have different eating methods/physiological components as their available resources were different. Additionally, through further analysis of their skull structure and genetic identifiers, it was concluded that two species of the Pygmy exist with scientific certainty.

This information might be useful to better create species distribution maps for the current IUCN Red List of Threatened Species used for the conservation of sensitive species in South America. These maps are especially important, as they govern sustainable development and the protection of endangered animals in the highly biodiverse Amazon. Moreover, the discovery of two new species also requires ecologists (primatologists in this case) to evaluate both the resilience of said species’ and different strategies of conservation for each group. 

Using Oysters to Rebuild the Ocean

Source: The Nature Conservancy

Oysters, which have been mass-produced during the pandemic and are in desperate need of disposal, are being considered by conservation authorities as a new environmental solution to degraded marine ecosystems! Millions of oysters, collected from restaurants (which could not serve them due to the lockdown), to rebuild reefs in the ocean.

These shelled creatures have many ecological benefits. Firstly, they can be used to filter water in ecosystems, to remove pollutants and other alien chemicals found in the ocean. It is suspected that one oyster can filter about 50 gallons of water a day. Moreover, these oysters can be used to create “a living sea wall”, similar to that of a coral reef, and will replenish the currently declining numbers of reef ecosystems.

The program that will be funding the oyster reef building initiative, is named the Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR). This plan includes spending over 2 million dollars on millions of oysters, which will be used to restore more than 20 acres of shellfish reefs. This plan will work with local restaurants, shellfish suppliers, and fishermen to maintain oyster supply, in the case that the current supply leftover from 2020 is completely depleted.

Climate change might be destroying our marine life, but oysters might just be the way to save them! 

The U.S. Suspends Oil Drilling Activities in the Arctic

Source: Earth Justice

This week the Biden administration suspended leases on oil drilling in the Arctic, to maintain the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This was in direct opposition to lease contracts taken out by the Trump administration in 2017—it was determined that the U.S government would hold at least two lease sales for oil drilling in the Arctic by 2024, regardless of whether it was fueled by Republicans.

However, the Biden administration has remained determined to follow through on their campaign promises to reduce fossil fuel pollution which directly or indirectly links to American activities. This was included in Biden’s plan for clean energy and environmental justice. Though, such a plan might not be able to hold off future drilling expeditions in the Arctic, as currently, the administration has only been able to temporarily suspend these activities.

It is crucial to stop these projects from occurring, as fossil fuels are key contributors to the ever-increasing global temperatures and other climate-related disasters. Moreover, there are sensitive species, ecosystems, and biological features in the arctic that would most definitely face eradication if oil expeditions were to continue.

The wildlife in the Arctic are rare and beautiful, the last thing that they need are big drills coming to shatter their home.

Heat Deaths and Climate Change 

Source: Wilx

A recent study conducted by researchers to begin to ascertain the connection between ‘climate change’ and warm-season heat-related deaths has found an alarming correlation. Researchers had examined ‘heat deaths’ in 732 cities across the planet from 1991 to 2018 and calculated that 37 percent of those deaths were caused by higher temperatures from human-caused warming (a.k.a. ‘anthropogenic climate change’)

The study, the first of its kind in examining this connection, is comprehensive and data-driven. And for the broader community concerned about climate change (which should be all of us….just sayin’), this study begins to give us some empirical evidence to directly demonstrate the urgency of the work that needs to be done to mitigate the worst of the upcoming impacts. It also begins to tangibly connect our actions and inactions to real people and real deaths.

According to the study of the 732 cities (list of cities included in the study), the heat-deaths amount to about 9,700 people a year from those 732 cities alone, but it is certain to be more worldwide, the study’s lead author said.

“These are deaths related to heat that actually can be prevented. It is something we directly cause,“ said Ana Vicedo-Cabrera, an epidemiologist at the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

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During the Cold War Russia had created a base called the Nagurskoye airbase that included a weather station and a communications outpost in the Franz Josef Land archipelago. Originally, the runway could only handle planes that would be equivalent to the B-52 American airplane. The air base has now been expanded to include icebreaking submarine nuclear missile bombers called the Delta IV. It can have up to 12.8 megatons of nuclear firepower with only 4 missiles. Russia also possesses almost 40 icebreakers with more on the way, making it the largest fleet of icebreakers in the world.

Although this military base is the main threat to Canadian and other Western countries, Russia’s goal is to discover the untapped natural resources and new shipping routes that are being uncovered from the melting snow. According to Administrator Alexander Moiseyev, chief of Russia’s Northern Fleet,

“The complex ice conditions make it necessary to organize safe shipping, so Russia insists on a special regime of its use.”

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at $30 trillion. This is part of the first plan for Russia’s climate change mitigation in terms of lowering the threat of climate change to their country. Russia’s two-year plan to mitigate climate change has also written that there are positives to climate change, and finding the untapped reserves in the Arctic is one of them.

This has been the most activity the North Arctic has experienced and has caught the world’s attention. With Russia’s high military presence, it would be difficult for other countries to be active without conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it “increases the dangers of accidents and miscalculations and undermines the shared goal of a peaceful and sustainable future for the region. So, we have to be vigilant about that.”

Russia views the Northern Sea Route (NSR), as a domestic passageway, while other countries see it as an international passageway. Blinken has also made it clear to the Arctic Council that it is warming 2.5 times as fast as the rest of the world. According to predictions, the Arctic is assumed to be completely ice-free by 2050. The Arctic is responsible for regulating the climate for the rest of the world and absorbing dangerous UV rays the sun emits.

With current testing of the nuclear missiles Russia carries, it can have an impact on the environment if ever launched. Nuclear bombs decimate anything that is within the radius of the missile’s potential. Effects from fallout can include future genetic mutations. In this case, to be surrounded by water may have a greater impact when Russia is testing in the Arctic to the eggs and larvae of marine organisms.  The fallout can cause immense darkness [to the area] and cause plant death-causing starvation up the food chain. The Arctic already has a scheduled lack of daylight annually, and it could be made worse if the activity continues.

Authors of an article published in “The Atomic Scientist, further speculate even small-scale use of nuclear warheads could deplete the ozone layer, shorten the growing season, increase temperature, and hasten the effects of global warming.

However, despite these warnings, it seems that Russia is on a steadfast mission for economic growth regardless of the environmental costs. Though it is important to note that it is not alone in doing so and many other countries are also in the process of developing in the Arctic, including Canada. 

This story is not new in the current era of development, although there is one difference. This time people are noticing and cautioning against such a move if anything to protect a testament of time. The Arctic, stubborn, beautiful, cold, and, with hope, untouchable even by the hands of cruel progress. 

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Almost every sector of the economy would benefit from oil sand development. But through all the positive economic growth Canada would receive, it is necessary to look at the impact on the environment it will have.

The refined oil will be transported through pipelines. Any released bitumen through a spill, leak, or rupture can contaminate the surrounding land or water. Tailing ponds to store the liquid to retrieve the oil can be shown to leak chemicals into the surrounding water supply like the Athabasca River and the Mackenzie River. Additionally, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) conducted in the area shows that the overall quantity of chemicals (PAH) is lower than that which naturally occurs in recovering petrol. A change in formula can have health risks to the surrounding population.

These chemicals can cause upper respiratory issues on site. Moreover, the chemicals that are released through a spill, leak, or rupture, that do not work directly on-site will soon have more complicated issues like headache, nausea, skin rashes, and respiratory symptoms which coincide with exposure to crude oil.

Working on the oil sands can have an increased health risk, and during the current COVID-19 pandemic it will make it much worse. According to unnamed contractors, workers did not have inadequate distancing, testing, or sanitization Those that currently work at CNRL Horizon in the Alberta Oil sands have stated, “We don’t feel safe here, but we keep working because everybody wants to work,” one contractor at Horizon said.

It is difficult for these workers to bring complaints about these safety issues to those higher on the corporate ladder,  due to fear of losing their job. The liability does not fall on the oil sand operators anymore regarding the environment or the health and safety of the workers.

“We’re all feeling like, head down, blinders on. Don’t even look around you and just try to get through your shift without getting sick.”

It is frivolous to think that mining for crude oil will disappear in the next 10 years. But companies should have federal and provincial policies in place to protect the health of their workers – and the general public – from irreversible harm. “Personally, with experience in seeing all sides of corporate and environmental relationships, I know products must exist for now. But it is difficult for me to understand why an unexplored market could be so scary to a company when investments are made all the time for new products. 

Do you think you could help me understand?

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