Team Polar Bear uses $2 coin to "Save Winter" With record temperatures threatening the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, an unexpected team from the north is using the Canadian $2 coin to help Save Winter. Meet Team Polar Bear, a family of three furry giants, who are decaling Canadian coins to raise awareness about Canada's contribution to Global Warming and the threat it poses to Canadian winter. Team Polar Bear, which is the creation of BC-based watchdog group Dogwood Initiative, is distributing "Save Winter Toonie Decals" in Vancouver throughout the 2010 Games. "Winter gives us pond hockey, skiing in the Rockies and Carnaval de Quêbec," says Charles Campbell, Dogwood Initiative's Communications Director. "Canada's identity as a northern nation is threatened ... continue reading.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics have made the podium with a bronze medal for their efforts to reduce the event's climate impact, according to a climate scorecard released today by the David Suzuki Foundation. Achievements of the 2010 Olympics include building energy-efficient venues, using clean-energy sources, relying on public transit during the Games, and offsetting part of the Games' emissions."Climate change is a defining issue of our time, and the winter Olympics are an opportunity to show leadership by reaching and inspiring billions of fans and spectators with solutions to global warming," says Paul Lingl of the David Suzuki Foundation. "Despite some missed opportunities, the positive steps taken by the 2010 Olympics demonstrate that climate solutions are doable, affordable and can ... continue reading.

Ottawa -- Sierra Club Canada wishes it were surprised by the government's announcement to lower Canada's emissions target for the second time in four years. Yesterday Minister Prentice lowered the target to 17%. "While the government is off on their vacation, they're busying themselves by lowering to another meaningless target. It has always been the intention of this government to ignore the climate crisis and do nothing about it," said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada. "The only thing interesting here is the numerous ways in which they try to mislead Canadians." Over 150,000 Canadians and 150 organizations signed the Kyotoplus petition calling for an emission reduction plan to reduce emissions 25 % below 1990 levels by 2020--the ... continue reading.

Vancouver - Reducing business air travel by using teleconferencing software turns out to be the most popular strategy for companies that are trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.That is the finding from Climate Smart, a Vancouver-based high-tech startup that provides carbon tracking tools, training and technical support for over 172 small and medium-sized enterprises. Climate Smart was launched by Ecotrust Canada in 2009, and its online greenhouse gas management tool was rated No. 1 in North America by CarbonZero.Climate Smart offers the following Top 10 most popular carbon reduction strategies among small and medium-sized businesses:Reducing business air travel by using teleconferencing softwareReducing paper use by increasing electronic communication and using paper with higher recycled contentImproving ... continue reading.

The B.C. government should strengthen its carbon tax in the 2010 budget, according to a set of recommendations released by the Pembina Institute today. If adopted, the recommendations will ensure more investment, innovation and job creation in low-carbon businesses, while achieving greater greenhouse gas emissions reductions, says the Institute."B.C. has shown leadership in moving toward a low-carbon economy by implementing North America's most ambitious carbon tax, but it's important to continue to strengthen the tax so it is as fair and effective as possible," says Matt Horne, director of B.C. Energy Solutions for Pembina."Broadening the carbon tax's coverage and continuing to increase protection for low-income families should be the top priorities for 2010," Horne says.When asked to comment on Pembina's ... continue reading.

Vancouver - British Columbia's fight against climate change should focus on conserving at least 50% of its land base using new strategies for nature conservation and carbon storage, says a new peer-reviewed report by senior ecologist Dr. Jim Pojar."Our survival is intertwined with nature's survival, and climate change is forcing us to re-evaluate the way we protect nature," said Dr. Pojar. "A minimum conservation target of 50% is what's necessary to give our plants and animals a fighting chance to adapt, while also keeping and drawing more carbon out of the atmosphere so that over time we can slow and reduce climate change."The 50% figure emphasizes expansion and connection of existing protected areas plus development of new buffer zones and ... continue reading.

BC businesses take action on global warming as Province shows leadership in Copenhagen. VANCOUVER, BC (Dec. 17th) -- Climate Smart announced today that about 52,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions have been tracked by over 160 BC small businesses as part of its program to help them reduce costs by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. That's equivalent to annual emissions from more than 9,450 passenger vehicles or 4,700 homes. "A growing number of businesses see a competitive advantage in greening their operations," says Elizabeth Sheehan, President of Climate Smart, a leading provider of carbon tracking tools, raining and technical support for small- and medium-sized enterprises. "They want to build brands that customers can trust and respect. In these tough economic times, ... continue reading.

Media Release from the Pembina Institute: Canada can succeed economically while meeting targets to reduce global warming pollution, according to an economic modelling study commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation. Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity is the first Canadian study of its kind to show regional impacts on employment and gross domestic product, and the first to comprehensively examine how Canada can meet a greenhouse gas reduction target for 2020 that goes beyond the federal government's target. Leading economic modelling firm M.K. Jaccard and Associates, on behalf of the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, conducted an in-depth study of federal and provincial policies needed for Canada to meet two targets to reduce its greenhouse gas ... continue reading.

New study reveals substantial, unreported quantities of greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands in the Boreal Forests of Alberta, Canada. Media release from Global Forest Watch Canada: October 2, 2009 (Edmonton, AB) -- A new research paper, Bitumen and Biocarbon, was released this week by Global Forest Watch Canada. The paper reveals that significant amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted through the disturbance and/or removal of biocarbon (trees, shrubs, peats), which overlay Alberta's oil sands. These emissions have not previously been measured nor reported by governments and industry. "We wanted to know what volumes of greenhouse gases will be emitted by the oil sands industries from existing and planned levels of development within boreal forest ecosystems," said Peter Lee, ... continue reading.

Low-carbon economic development zones designed to spur economic activity and create jobs. Press release from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Economic Development Commission: At an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade today, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced a number of economic development initiatives, including the introduction of 'Vancouver, Green Capital,' a new economic branding strategy for the City. "The Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to do everything we can to help our local economy capitalize on it," said Mayor Robertson. "That means being aggressive in terms of how we market ourselves to the world. The 'Vancouver, Green Capital' branding strategy allows us to define Vancouver on our terms." Mayor Robertson ... continue reading.