nationalobserver--2020-09-04--Why won’t Biden promise to ban fracking?

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
At a campaign event in Pittsburgh on Monday , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden once again attempted to clarify his stance on the use of fracking to extract natural gas .
“ I am not banning fracking , ” he said .
“ Let me say that again : I am not banning fracking.
” It might also have to do with the limits of presidential power .
As president , Biden would have the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands , which he has already promised to do .
But 90 percent of fracking occurs on private and state lands , where it would take an act of Congress to ban the practice .
A Biden White House could add regulatory hurdles for those companies seeking to pull natural gas out of the ground , but that approach was tried already during the Obama Administration — and was stalled by the courts .
Some of Pennsylvania ’ s most prominent politicians and union representatives have warned that a fracking ban would push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union ’ s business manager told the New York Times in January that if any Democratic presidential candidate supported a ban , “ I ’ m going to tell my members that they either don ’ t vote or vote for the other guy.
” In 2016 , Trump won the state narrowly , edging out Hillary Clinton by around 44,000 votes .
If unions turn against Biden , it could be the difference between a Democratic win or loss .
That said , even as Biden claims that he supports some fracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not believe him , especially given his climate plan .
Natural gas isn ’ t a clean energy source , even if it is a “ bridge fuel.
” And if Biden truly intends to remake the electricity sector with carbon-free energy by 2035 , the country will have to phase out natural gas — unless it ’ s accompanied by a lot of carbon capture .
The former vice president was born and raised in Scranton , Pennsylvania , and while he ’ s popular in the region , so is natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is attempting to split the difference , promising environmental voters that Biden will go hard on climate change , while also telling fossil fuel workers they won ’ t lose their jobs .
In Pittsburgh , the former vice president promised to “ ease the financial burdens on millions of families — with a clean energy strategy that has a place for the energy workers right here in Western Pennsylvania .
”

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. At a campaign event in Pittsburgh on Monday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden once again attempted to clarify his stance on the use of fracking to extract natural gas. “I am not banning fracking,” he said. “Let me say that again: I am not banning fracking.” It was a moment of clarity from the former vice president on a question that has dogged his campaign from the start. While rival candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren promised to ban the practice on both public and private lands, Biden’s responses have left some scratching their heads. In a debate in March, Biden said he supported “no new fracking,” which his campaign later clarified meant Biden wouldn’t allow any new permits for fracking on government-owned lands. Now the Biden campaign seems to be taking a clear stance. But why has Biden — who has adopted many tenets of the Green New Deal, including a goal to generate all electricity from clean sources by 2035 — rejected activists’ calls to prohibit fracking?
It’s likely no accident that Biden made these remarks in Pittsburgh. The former vice president was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and while he’s popular in the region, so is natural gas. The fuel has found a home in Western Pennsylvania ever since it helped lift the region’s economy out of the Great Recession. The fracking and natural gas industry employed approximately 32,000 people in Pennsylvania last year, although some of those jobs may have been lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground to release natural gas. The U.S. fracking boom has helped many states move away from coal and lower their carbon dioxide emissions, but it has also released a toxic stew of air pollution and ramped up emissions of methane, another potent greenhouse gas. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Still, some experts think that natural gas is a crucial “bridge fuel” that can help the U.S. move away from other, dirtier fossil fuels. (Provided that the pipelines and power plants used to process natural gas don’t lock us in to using fossil fuels for decades to come.) So part of Biden’s reticence on fracking might have to do with a belief that fracking is one of the best short-term ways to cut emissions — particularly in states, like West Virginia and Wyoming, that depend on coal for power.


nationalobserver--2020-09-04--California’s attorney general sues Trump for the 100th time — to save the ‘Magna Carta’ of environme

California’s attorney general sues Trump for the 100th time — to save the ‘Magna Carta’ of environmental laws

Becerra and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson are leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general representing states and territories as far west as Guam and all the way east to the District of Columbia .
The goal , Becerra said : halt the administration from actually implementing the NEPA revision .
“ This is the 100th time that Donald Trump has been caught violating the law , ” Becerra told Grist .
“ And we had to act to protect our people , our values , our resources.
” Environmental advocates promised legal challenges to the new rule after it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday when California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that his office is suing the Trump administration for the 100th time in less than four years .
It ’ s a milestone that Becerra said reveals the lengths states must go to in order to protect citizens against the actions of the president .
Trump ’ s revised rule frees federal agencies from having to consider the cumulative and indirect effects of proposed projects , like pipelines , airports , and highways , on surrounding areas .
NEPA had helped to spare the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollution by mandating that those agencies prepare environmental impact assessments and consider alternatives to proposed developments , as well as mitigation measures .
Environmentalists fumed last month when the Trump administration ’ s Council on Environmental Quality announced its final revision of the National Environmental Policy Act .
Better known as NEPA , the act was signed into law in 1970 by President Richard Nixon and was a bedrock for future environmental protections .
The new challenge is part of a broader effort to preserve the public ’ s voice in federal decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Becerra said that allowing federal agencies to ignore cumulative impacts is particularly troublesome for residents of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that are already besieged by pollution from environmental hazards , like industrial facilities and major roadways .
“ If you ’ re able to cut corners , to take shortcuts , the folks who are going to get left behind are the folks who are already struggling just to stay on the margins , ” Becerra said .
“ And so no doubt that for vulnerable communities , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just harmful , but I think , devastating.
” At a joint press conference with Becerra , Ferguson noted that Washington was particularly proud to join California in the suit because Henry Martin “ Scoop ” Jackson , who represented Washington as a U.S .
Senator from 1953 to 1983 , authored NEPA .
Ferguson referred to the act as the “ Magna Carta ” of federal environmental laws .
“ [ NEPA ] basically requires the federal government to look before they leap , ” Ferguson explained .
“ What the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on before the federal government leaps.
” NEPA has long been used as a legal tool by grassroots environmental advocates who are fighting projects that would add new environmental hazards to their neighborhoods .
These advocates say Trump ’ s new rule will allow major industrial projects to proceed without adequate consideration of existing pollution burdens or disclosure of new harmful impacts to surrounding communities .
Preserving cumulative impact assessments , particularly at the federal level , is crucial to protecting these communities , said attorney and Vermont Law School Professor Marianne Engelman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contamination affects vulnerable populations .
She points to places like Flint , Michigan , where multiple sources of pollution are concentrated predominantly in low- income neighborhoods and communities of color .
Knowing what ’ s already happening on the ground , she explained , is crucial when determining whether to proceed on new projects .
“ When we do any expansions or re-permitting or permitting or zoning or decision-making at the local , state and federal level , we have to recognize that [ these facilities are ] already concentrated , ” Engelman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should say : We ’ re going to look at the cumulative impact of facilities that are already there.
” Understanding the current environmental burdens on one California community is what drove Becerra last February to sue the Federal Aviation Administration , along with the San Bernardino International Airport Authority and the developer of an air cargo facility , for unlawfully approving a controversial airport expansion in San Bernardino without the environmental analysis required under NEPA .
The city and surrounding region are already burdened with some of the worst air quality in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of logistics facilities that attract a lot of truck traffic and its accompanying emissions .
In announcing the NEPA revisions in July , the Trump Administration stated that its new rule makes approving projects more efficient and effective , and “ will ensure consideration of environmental impacts of major projects and activities.
” But Becerra and environmental advocates say that claim couldn ’ t be farther from the truth .
Brett Hartl , government affairs director for the Center for Biological Diversity , an environmental group , told the New York Times that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clock to when rivers caught fire , our air was unbreathable , and our most beloved wildlife was spiraling toward extinction.
” He too expressed exasperation at the ignoring of cumulative effects , which he argued would also eliminate the need for federal agencies to consider the future effects of climate change while evaluating infrastructure projects .
“ This may be the single biggest giveaway to polluters in the past 40 years , ” Hartl told the Times .

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. Environmentalists fumed last month when the Trump administration’s Council on Environmental Quality announced its final revision of the National Environmental Policy Act. Better known as NEPA, the act was signed into law in 1970 by President Richard Nixon and was a bedrock for future environmental protections. Trump’s revised rule frees federal agencies from having to consider the cumulative and indirect effects of proposed projects, like pipelines, airports, and highways, on surrounding areas. NEPA had helped to spare the health of communities that often disproportionately suffer from pollution by mandating that those agencies prepare environmental impact assessments and consider alternatives to proposed developments, as well as mitigation measures.
Environmental advocates promised legal challenges to the new rule after it was revealed. And one lawsuit arrived Friday when California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that his office is suing the Trump administration for the 100th time in less than four years. It’s a milestone that Becerra said reveals the lengths states must go to in order to protect citizens against the actions of the president. “This is the 100th time that Donald Trump has been caught violating the law,” Becerra told Grist. “And we had to act to protect our people, our values, our resources.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Becerra and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson are leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general representing states and territories as far west as Guam and all the way east to the District of Columbia. The goal, Becerra said: halt the administration from actually implementing the NEPA revision.
The new challenge is part of a broader effort to preserve the public’s voice in federal decisions that may threaten the environment and public health. Becerra said that allowing federal agencies to ignore cumulative impacts is particularly troublesome for residents of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that are already besieged by pollution from environmental hazards, like industrial facilities and major roadways. “If you’re able to cut corners, to take shortcuts, the folks who are going to get left behind are the folks who are already struggling just to stay on the margins,” Becerra said. “If you’re able to cut corners, to take shortcuts, the folks who are going to get left behind are the folks who are already struggling just to stay on the margins,” Becerra said. “And so no doubt that for vulnerable communities, this Trump rule change would be, not just harmful, but I think, devastating.” At a joint press conference with Becerra, Ferguson noted that Washington was particularly proud to join California in the suit because Henry Martin “Scoop” Jackson, who represented Washington as a U.S. Senator from 1953 to 1983, authored NEPA. Ferguson referred to the act as the “Magna Carta” of federal environmental laws. “[NEPA] basically requires the federal government to look before they leap,” Ferguson explained. “What the Trump administration wants to do is put blinders on before the federal government leaps.” NEPA has long been used as a legal tool by grassroots environmental advocates who are fighting projects that would add new environmental hazards to their neighborhoods. These advocates say Trump’s new rule will allow major industrial projects to proceed without adequate consideration of existing pollution burdens or disclosure of new harmful impacts to surrounding communities.
Preserving cumulative impact assessments, particularly at the federal level, is crucial to protecting these communities, said attorney and Vermont Law School Professor Marianne Engelman Lado, an expert on how environmental contamination affects vulnerable populations. She points to places like Flint, Michigan, where multiple sources of pollution are concentrated predominantly in low- income neighborhoods and communities of color. Knowing what’s already happening on the ground, she explained, is crucial when determining whether to proceed on new projects. “When we do any expansions or re-permitting or permitting or zoning or decision-making at the local, state and federal level, we have to recognize that [these facilities are] already concentrated,” Engelman Lado said. “The federal standard should say: We’re going to look at the cumulative impact of facilities that are already there.” Understanding the current environmental burdens on one California community is what drove Becerra last February to sue the Federal Aviation Administration, along with the San Bernardino International Airport Authority and the developer of an air cargo facility, for unlawfully approving a controversial airport expansion in San Bernardino without the environmental analysis required under NEPA. The city and surrounding region are already burdened with some of the worst air quality in the nation, as well as dozens of logistics facilities that attract a lot of truck traffic and its accompanying emissions.


nationalobserver--2020-09-04--Canada’s youth miss out on much of country’s August job gains

Canada ’ s young workers are having a hard time getting back into the job market after COVID-19 shut down the retail and hospitality sectors where many earn their livings .
The sharp contraction in the workforce that started in March due to the public health emergency is only now coming back within range of the Before Times .
And young people and other marginalized groups are struggling to keep up .
Overall , 246,000 jobs were added in August , Statistics Canada said on Friday , compared with a 419,000 jump in July .
Combined with 1.2 million jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only 1.1 million short of its pre-pandemic February level .
But the gains have been uneven .
Employment among young men and women remain more than 15 per cent below pre-pandemic levels , after 873,000 youth aged between 15 and 24 lost their jobs between February and April .
That was a loss of more than one-third of the youth workforce .
Just 55,000 more found work in August .
And almost a third of racialized young Canadians were out of work last month , the government statistics agency said , compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• How a B.C .
snow plow dispute made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada • After MP ’ s offensive tweet , O ’ Toole says Tories will counter anti-Semitism • Eight candidates on the ballot for race to succeed Elizabeth May as Green Party leader StatCan collected the racial background of those it reached for the labour force survey for the second time in August , giving the agency a clearer view into how the pandemic has affected racialized Canadians .
As in July , it said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August of 11.1 per cent among the population aged 15 to 69 “ masks significant differences across population groups.
” People who identified as Arab , Black and southeast Asian Canadians had unemployment rates around 17 per cent , StatCan said , compared to 9.4 per cent of white people .
The youth unemployment rate was 23.1 per cent in August , down from the record high of 29.4 per cent in May .
This compares to the 2008-09 recession when the youth unemployment rate peaked at 16.4 per cent .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , as are one fifth of young women .
Those rates are roughly double what they were in February .
Young people lag the wider working population in getting back to work following the sharp retrenchment due to the COVID-19 pandemic , @ StatCan_eng job data for August shows Youth employment in accommodation and food services was down 24.6 per cent from a year earlier , while it had mostly recovered in sectors such as wholesale and retail trade and construction , and expanded in health-care and social assistance jobs .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the pandemic closed down much of public life , this during a period when students often earn the bulk of the income to cover their expenses for the academic year .
A government emergency relief effort was slower to reach students than full-time workers and a proposed multimillion-dollar volunteer program for youth was cancelled after those given the job of running it were found to have close ties with the families of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-finance minister Bill Morneau .
Students aged between 15 and 24 who intend to resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs than a year ago , StatCan said , while the deficit was even more pronounced among non-student youth , falling by 181,000 .
Almost 90 per cent of the employment losses among those returning students occurred in Ontario , where restrictions were eased later than in other provinces , the federal agency said .

Canada’s young workers are having a hard time getting back into the job market after COVID-19 shut down the retail and hospitality sectors where many earn their livings. The sharp contraction in the workforce that started in March due to the public health emergency is only now coming back within range of the Before Times. And young people and other marginalized groups are struggling to keep up. Overall, 246,000 jobs were added in August, Statistics Canada said on Friday, compared with a 419,000 jump in July. Combined with 1.2 million jobs created in May and June, employment is only 1.1 million short of its pre-pandemic February level. But the gains have been uneven. Employment among young men and women remain more than 15 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, after 873,000 youth aged between 15 and 24 lost their jobs between February and April. That was a loss of more than one-third of the youth workforce. Just 55,000 more found work in August.
And almost a third of racialized young Canadians were out of work last month, the government statistics agency said, compared to 18 per cent of white youth. StatCan collected the racial background of those it reached for the labour force survey for the second time in August, giving the agency a clearer view into how the pandemic has affected racialized Canadians. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions As in July, it said the national, seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in August of 11.1 per cent among the population aged 15 to 69 “masks significant differences across population groups.”
People who identified as Arab, Black and southeast Asian Canadians had unemployment rates around 17 per cent, StatCan said, compared to 9.4 per cent of white people. The youth unemployment rate was 23.1 per cent in August, down from the record high of 29.4 per cent in May. This compares to the 2008-09 recession when the youth unemployment rate peaked at 16.4 per cent. Young people lag the wider working population in getting back to work following the sharp retrenchment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, @StatCan_eng job data for August shows More than a quarter of young men are without work, as are one fifth of young women. Those rates are roughly double what they were in February. Youth employment in accommodation and food services was down 24.6 per cent from a year earlier, while it had mostly recovered in sectors such as wholesale and retail trade and construction, and expanded in health-care and social assistance jobs. Many students lost summer placements and other jobs when the pandemic closed down much of public life, this during a period when students often earn the bulk of the income to cover their expenses for the academic year.
A government emergency relief effort was slower to reach students than full-time workers and a proposed multimillion-dollar volunteer program for youth was cancelled after those given the job of running it were found to have close ties with the families of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-finance minister Bill Morneau. (The NDP is asking the Liberal government to redirect the $900 million post-haste to an existing summer jobs program it extended and amended in April.) Students aged between 15 and 24 who intend to resume their studies in September had 152,000 fewer jobs than a year ago, StatCan said, while the deficit was even more pronounced among non-student youth, falling by 181,000.


Footprint Fantasy

If only there were an app that would let you track your personal carbon footprint in real-time , like a FitBit .
You could watch the weight of your emissions grow as you drove to the store , took a bus to the park , or rode the train around town .
As the number ballooned , the app would prompt you to assuage your guilt by buying carbon offsets — helping programs that promote biogas in Indonesia , cleaner cookstoves in Mexico , and tree-planting in the United Kingdom .
VYVE is still testing out new features , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and United States are already using it , said Mike Capper , the company ’ s founder .
Older carbon calculators required you to check last month ’ s energy bill or remember what you ate for lunch on Tuesday .
VYVE keeps things simple by focusing on emissions from transportation .
Capper , who has worked on efforts to reduce emissions in BP ’ s supply chain , envisions a future where VYVE is on smartphones around the world .
“ I want to be the leading organization that people turn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
That ’ s the real-life story of VYVE ( rhymes with “ five ” ) , one of a handful of new carbon-tracking apps .
It ’ s backed by a subsidiary of BP called Launchpad , a venture capital-like group that funds low-carbon startups which might one day become billion-dollar companies — “ unicorns ” in startup lingo .
The corporate promises are new , but the conversation about our personal carbon emissions has been around for decades .
Environmentalists have long obsessed over the emissions associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fly , own a car , and eat red meat .
It ’ s a concept made popular by — get this — BP itself .
More than 20 years ago , one of the company ’ s marketing campaigns helped cement the perception that the responsibility for reducing emissions lay with individuals , working the phrase “ carbon footprint ” onto our tongues .
The underlying message : Let ’ s talk about how to solve your emissions problems .
The “ carbon footprint ” concept is everywhere these days , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slash their carbon emissions to tackle global warming .
Amazon plans to get to “ net-zero ” emissions by 2040 , Microsoft vowed to go “ carbon negative ” by 2030 , and Lyft plans to have an entirely electric fleet of vehicles by 2030 .
One such skeptic is the inventor of the “ ecological footprint ” idea , William Rees , an emeritus professor of ecology at the University of British Columbia .
Rees doubts that companies will do what it takes to avoid disastrous climate change .
“ It may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ but mainstream governments and the corporate sector really have no interest in making the fundamental structural changes needed for the economy to become ‘ sustainable.
’ ” That kind of transformation would mean overhauling businesses for the sake of the planet at the expense of profits .
Funding projects like VYVE in tandem with carbon-cutting promises could be viewed as part of a larger , earnest effort to take on climate change .
Of course , a skeptic might see it as another example of “ greenwashing , ” a type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface , but only serves to hide the muck underneath .
BP has recently made some big promises , announcing this month that it would produce 40 percent less oil and gas within a decade , as part of a shift in strategy to broaden its range of energy sources .
And it ’ s doubled down on the carbon footprint .
Last October , BP tweeted a link to a different calculator it had created , saying : “ The first step to reducing your emissions is to know where you stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our new calculator & share your pledge today !
” The oil giant is now reckoning with — or at least acknowledging — that legacy .
In recent years , the company ’ s direct greenhouse gas emissions have started to dip , though they rose in 2019 after some major acquisitions .
BP ’ s new CEO , Bernard Looney , admitted in an interview with the Sunday Times earlier this month that his work is “ socially challenging , ” saying that some BP employees were becoming disillusioned with the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added that he understands the view that oil “ is a bad industry.
” You might think that a company evangelizing the carbon footprint would have its own house in order .
But research shows that since the late 1980s , just 100 big companies — including BP — are responsible for about 70 percent of global emissions .
BP is near the top of the list of the highest-emitting companies in the world , responsible for more than 34 billion metric tons of carbon emissions since 1965 .
The corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about our personal carbon emissions has been around for decades .
Environmentalists have long obsessed over the emissions associated with their lifestyle decisions — whether to fly , own a car , and eat red meat .
It ’ s a concept made popular by — get this — BP itself .
More than 20 years ago , one of the company ’ s marketing campaigns helped cement the perception that the responsibility for reducing emissions lay with individuals , working the phrase “ carbon footprint ” onto our tongues .
The underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to solve your emissions problems .
The “ carbon footprint ” concept is everywhere these days , as a range of big corporations pledge to slash their carbon emissions to tackle global warming .
Amazon plans to get to “ net-zero ” emissions by 2040 , Microsoft vowed to go “ carbon negative ” by 2030 , and Lyft plans to have an entirely electric fleet of vehicles by 2030 .
BP has recently made some big promises , announcing this month that it would produce 40 percent less oil and gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shift in strategy to broaden its range of energy sources .
And it ’ s doubled down on the carbon footprint .
Last October , BP tweeted a link to a different calculator it had created , saying : “ The first step to reducing your emissions is to know where you stand .
Find out your # carbonfootprint with our new calculator & share your pledge today !
” The oil giant is now reckoning with — or at least acknowledging — that legacy .
In recent years , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to dip , though they rose in 2019 after some major acquisitions .
BP ’ s new CEO , Bernard Looney , admitted in an interview with the Sunday Times earlier this month that his work is “ socially challenging , ” saying that some BP employees were becoming disillusioned with the company ’ s role in contributing to pollution .
He added that he understands the view that oil “ is a bad industry.
” You might think that a company evangelizing the carbon footprint would have its own house in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 1980s , just 100 big companies — including BP — are responsible for about 70 percent of global emissions .
BP is near the top of the list of the highest-emitting companies in the world , responsible for more than 34 billion metric tons of carbon emissions since 1965 .
Funding projects like VYVE in tandem with carbon-cutting promises could be viewed as part of a larger , earnest effort to take on climate change .
Of course , a skeptic might see it as another example of “ greenwashing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks good on the surface , but only serves to hide the muck underneath .
One such skeptic is the inventor of the “ ecological footprint ” idea , William Rees , an emeritus professor of ecology at the University of British Columbia .
Rees doubts that companies will do what it takes to avoid disastrous climate change .
“ It may sound cynical , ” he said , “ but mainstream governments and the corporate sector really have no interest in making the fundamental structural changes needed for the economy to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transformation would mean overhauling businesses for the sake of the planet at the expense of profits .
Capper , VYVE ’ s founder , thinks the scale of the problem posed by climate change means governments , businesses , and individuals all need to take action .
The capacity of individual action is untapped , he said , since “ 99 percent ” of the population doesn ’ t know what their footprint is , let alone know how to reduce it .
“ People haven ’ t got a clue , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long argued that ditching plastic straws , bringing reusable bags to the grocery store , and other small steps could be a gateway to getting politically involved .
The thinking is that the more people recycle , the more likely they are to identify as environmentalists , the type of folks who would join the Sierra Club or a get-out-the-vote campaign in a community overburdened by pollution .
There ’ s also evidence that green habits are contagious ; if you get solar panels and drive an electric car , your neighbors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks to peer pressure .
The narrative of individual action rose to prominence in 1990 , after years of weakened protections for the environment under the Reagan administration .
It gave environmentalists a sense of agency when they ’ d given up on policy .
Recent research , however , suggests that engaging in environmentally-friendly lifestyle behaviors can sometimes backfire .
It might lead you to think you ’ ve already done enough by taking plastic bottles to the recycling center last week .
Looking at your own footprint could also distract you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polluters out there .
Experts caution that tracking your carbon footprint with an app like VYVE might play into that trap .
Julie Doyle , a professor of media and communication at the University of Brighton , said in an email that VYVE appeared to focus on “ individual behaviour rather than the systemic and structural changes required for addressing climate change — particularly as it encourages individual financial payment to carbon reduction projects.
” This year , we got a taste of how far individual action might get us .
As coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns meant that a lot fewer people were flying around and driving their gas-guzzling cars .
The drop in transportation activity led to a dip in carbon emissions , at least for a spell : The Global Carbon Project estimates that the lockdowns will put a 4 to 7 percent dent in global emissions this year .
Not bad , right ?
Well , one recent analysis called the overall effect “ negligible.
” In order to keep global warming to 2 degrees C ( 3.6 degrees F ) above pre-industrial levels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 to 8 percent cut in emissions year after year , Rees said .
In other words , eliminating transportation wouldn ’ t get us very far — 20 percent of the way there , tops .
The other 80 percent of emissions come from electricity , heating , agriculture , manufacturing , and other types of industry .
Even if we were trapped in permanent lockdown , that still wouldn ’ t get us close to solving climate change .
On a hot summer day in the early 1950s , Rees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was eating a feast at his grandparents ’ farm .
Staring absently at the beef , chicken , potatoes , and baby carrots on his plate , Rees had a realization : He had helped raise all of it .
“ I knew deep in my bones that farm work and food made me a product of soil and land , ” he wrote in a reflection later on .
That moment led him to study , and later teach , ecology .
His work at the University of British Columbia has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the land to provide for humanity ’ s needs .
It wasn ’ t a popular line of research among his academic colleagues , who argued that with people congregated in cities and towns , the Earth was still mostly empty .
Rees thought differently .
“ That ’ s just where we keep our bodies , ” he said .
“ The land we use in cities is not in the city , it ’ s everywhere else.
” In the early 1990s , Rees was writing a paper on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new one took up less area on his desk , so it had a smaller “ footprint ” — and that ’ s when the lightbulb turned on .
In a much-cited 1992 paper , Rees coined the term “ ecological footprint , ” a measure by which people could understand how any population — an individual , a city , a country — was affecting the planet .
For climate change specifically , “ carbon footprint ” was the next logical step .
You could say the rest was history , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s turn .
In 2000 , BP launched an award-winning ad campaign with the assistance of the public relations agency Ogilvy & Mather .
The goal was to rebrand BP as an environmentally-friendly company .
“ British Petroleum ” was out , “ Beyond Petroleum ” was in .
In 2004 , BP unveiled a carbon footprint calculator , and the following year , it released a series of advertisements asking questions such as “ What on earth is a carbon footprint ?
” and “ What size is your carbon footprint ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rees and the president of the Global Footprint Network , later told a reporter that BP ’ s backing gave the term its “ biggest boost.
” According to Google Ngram , a tool that tracks the usage of words in books over time , the phrase soared in popularity after BP ’ s marketing campaign .
The idea of the footprint took off , but not in the way Rees had hoped .
By his definition , a footprint is physical ; it ’ s the amount of land area required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure with finite limits .
“ When industry talks about carbon footprints , they just talk about the weight of carbon being emitted each year , ” Rees said .
“ If 37 billion tons of CO2 goes up into the atmosphere — well , what does that mean ?
” Without a point of reference as to what amount of carbon dioxide the world can sequester , “ it doesn ’ t mean anything.
” In a recent article on the news website Mashable , some communication experts denounced the phrase “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda.
” The emphasis on personal responsibility , they argued , subtly shifts the burden of climate change from governments and corporations to individuals .
BP ’ s ads in the 2000s echoed the earlier marketing campaigns .
Consider the famous “ Crying Indian ” ad from the 1970s , in which a Native American man sheds a tear after someone passing by in a car throws trash at his moccasins .
“ People start pollution , ” the narrator says .
“ People can stop it.
” Turns out that the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beautiful , was funded by Coca-Cola and Dixie , maker of the Dixie Cup , the very same companies making all the trash scattered on the road .
“ Corporate America in general has always tried to , with the help of all kinds of other actors , put the onus of environmental protection in general and dealing with climate change on individuals , ” said Riley Dunlap , a professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University .
In the United States , a country with a strong streak of individualism and belief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were more likely to accept this narrative of personal responsibility for a society-wide problem .
The story that individual choices could save us has been repeated so many times that the idea often passes without discussion and plays an outsized role in policy discussions and company decisions .
“ I ’ m not trying to impugn the motives of some of the people working for VYVE , ” Dunlap said of the personal emissions-tracking app .
“ But they ’ ve bought into this thing , too .
BP and others have convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or else they wouldn ’ t be working on this.
” Once you ’ ve logged your first trip with VYVE , a message comes up on the bottom of your screen .
“ CONGRATULATIONS , ” it says .
“ You just took another step to understanding yor impact.
” Capper , the founder of VYVE , said he was unaware of BP ’ s history of promoting the carbon footprint .
“ I absolutely believe BP ’ s on the right path with the commitments it ’ s made and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ I have a lot of pride in that , actually.
” In response to questions about whether VYVE ’ s focus on individuals could let companies off the hook , David Nicholas , a spokesperson for BP , pointed to the company ’ s new carbon-cutting goals as an example of its sincerity .
Within a decade , he said , it ’ s likely that BP ’ s investment in low-carbon energy will increase 10-fold , with “ oil and gas production falling by a million barrels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carbon offsets will play a role in helping both businesses and VYVE users reach net-zero emissions , he added , and the app would help people do that through “ gold-standard offsetting projects , ” as measured by United Nations guidelines .
Although the website of Launchpad , BP ’ s “ unicorn factory ” that ’ s backing VYVE , says it aims to “ accelerate the energy transition , ” some of the companies it supports appear to be tied to fossil fuel production .
Take Stryde , a company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface to help explore for more oil .
Stryde ’ s website says that its heritage “ is firmly in oil and gas ” and that unlocking oil and gas fields “ lies at the core of our offer.
” The company is investigating how its technology could be used for carbon sequestration , mining , and renewables .
Tom Burke , the chair of environmental think tank E3G and a former adviser to BP , doesn ’ t think there ’ s any hidden political strategy behind VYVE .
Rather , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been borne out of a desire to do some good , perhaps driven by younger BP staff .
Given the lack of public trust in the oil industry , Burke suggested that VYVE be more transparent by , for example , posting on its website a list of who on its board of directors works for BP .
“ If they don ’ t make it absolutely clear that they are the major player in this , then it undermines confidence in it , ” Burke said of BP .
That wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really problematic , ” he said .
Carbon offset projects have earned a shaky reputation for not always working out as planned .
Despite decades of talking about carbon footprints and “ feel-good carbon offsetting , ” the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps rising , Rees said .
“ Individuals are really almost powerless to do anything , ” Rees said .
“ You can change your purchasing habits a little , but on the whole what we do as individuals is relatively trivial , because the heavy lifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a real difference — are actions taken for the common good.
” So is it time to forget about your carbon footprint ?
Rees thinks the idea can still be useful , though it would help if the climate movement reclaimed the concept and took it out of the hands of oil companies .
“ Look , what ’ s the alternative here ?
” Rees asked .
“ Stop talking about the carbon emissions altogether ?
”

That’s the real-life story of VYVE (rhymes with “five”), one of a handful of new carbon-tracking apps. It’s backed by a subsidiary of BP called Launchpad, a venture capital-like group that funds low-carbon startups which might one day become billion-dollar companies — “unicorns” in startup lingo.
If only there were an app that would let you track your personal carbon footprint in real-time, like a FitBit. You could watch the weight of your emissions grow as you drove to the store, took a bus to the park, or rode the train around town. As the number ballooned, the app would prompt you to assuage your guilt by buying carbon offsets — helping programs that promote biogas in Indonesia, cleaner cookstoves in Mexico, and tree-planting in the United Kingdom.
VYVE is still testing out new features, but thousands of people in the United Kingdom and United States are already using it, said Mike Capper, the company’s founder. Older carbon calculators required you to check last month’s energy bill or remember what you ate for lunch on Tuesday. VYVE keeps things simple by focusing on emissions from transportation. Capper, who has worked on efforts to reduce emissions in BP’s supply chain , envisions a future where VYVE is on smartphones around the world. “I want to be the leading organization that people turn to track their carbon footprint and reduce it,” he said.
BP has recently made some big promises, announcing this month that it would produce 40 percent less oil and gas within a decade, as part of a shift in strategy to broaden its range of energy sources. And it’s doubled down on the carbon footprint. Last October, BP tweeted a link to a different calculator it had created, saying: “The first step to reducing your emissions is to know where you stand. Find out your #carbonfootprint with our new calculator & share your pledge today!”
The oil giant is now reckoning with — or at least acknowledging — that legacy. In recent years, the company’s direct greenhouse gas emissions have started to dip , though they rose in 2019 after some major acquisitions. BP’s new CEO, Bernard Looney, admitted in an interview with the Sunday Times earlier this month that his work is “socially challenging ,” saying that some BP employees were becoming disillusioned with the company’s role in contributing to pollution. He added that he understands the view that oil “is a bad industry.”
You might think that a company evangelizing the carbon footprint would have its own house in order. But research shows that since the late 1980s, just 100 big companies — including BP — are responsible for about 70 percent of global emissions . BP is near the top of the list of the highest-emitting companies in the world, responsible for more than 34 billion metric tons of carbon emissions since 1965.
The corporate promises are new, but the conversation about our personal carbon emissions has been around for decades. Environmentalists have long obsessed over the emissions associated with their lifestyle decisions — whether to fly, own a car, and eat red meat. It’s a concept made popular by — get this — BP itself. More than 20 years ago, one of the company’s marketing campaigns helped cement the perception that the responsibility for reducing emissions lay with individuals, working the phrase “carbon footprint” onto our tongues. The underlying message: Let’s talk about how to solve your emissions problems.
The “carbon footprint” concept is everywhere these days, as a range of big corporations pledge to slash their carbon emissions to tackle global warming. Amazon plans to get to “net-zero” emissions by 2040, Microsoft vowed to go “carbon negative” by 2030, and Lyft plans to have an entirely electric fleet of vehicles by 2030.
The “carbon footprint” concept is everywhere these days, as a range of big corporations pledge to slash their carbon emissions to tackle global warming. Amazon plans to get to “net-zero” emissions by 2040, Microsoft vowed to go “carbon negative” by 2030, and Lyft plans to have an entirely electric fleet of vehicles by 2030.
One such skeptic is the inventor of the “ecological footprint” idea, William Rees, an emeritus professor of ecology at the University of British Columbia. Rees doubts that companies will do what it takes to avoid disastrous climate change. “It may sound cynical,” he said, “but mainstream governments and the corporate sector really have no interest in making the fundamental structural changes needed for the economy to become ‘sustainable.’” That kind of transformation would mean overhauling businesses for the sake of the planet at the expense of profits.
Funding projects like VYVE in tandem with carbon-cutting promises could be viewed as part of a larger, earnest effort to take on climate change. Of course, a skeptic might see it as another example of “greenwashing,” a type of PR spin that looks good on the surface, but only serves to hide the muck underneath.
The corporate promises are new, but the conversation about our personal carbon emissions has been around for decades. Environmentalists have long obsessed over the emissions associated with their lifestyle decisions — whether to fly, own a car, and eat red meat. It’s a concept made popular by — get this — BP itself. More than 20 years ago, one of the company’s marketing campaigns helped cement the perception that the responsibility for reducing emissions lay with individuals, working the phrase “carbon footprint” onto our tongues. The underlying message: Let’s talk about how to solve your emissions problems.
You might think that a company evangelizing the carbon footprint would have its own house in order. But research shows that since the late 1980s, just 100 big companies — including BP — are responsible for about 70 percent of global emissions. BP is near the top of the list of the highest-emitting companies in the world, responsible for more than 34 billion metric tons of carbon emissions since 1965.
The oil giant is now reckoning with — or at least acknowledging — that legacy. In recent years, the company’s direct greenhouse gas emissions have started to dip, though they rose in 2019 after some major acquisitions. BP’s new CEO, Bernard Looney, admitted in an interview with the Sunday Times earlier this month that his work is “socially challenging,” saying that some BP employees were becoming disillusioned with the company’s role in contributing to pollution. He added that he understands the view that oil “is a bad industry.”
BP has recently made some big promises, announcing this month that it would produce 40 percent less oil and gas within a decade, as part of a shift in strategy to broaden its range of energy sources. And it’s doubled down on the carbon footprint. Last October, BP tweeted a link to a different calculator it had created, saying: “The first step to reducing your emissions is to know where you stand. Find out your #carbonfootprint with our new calculator & share your pledge today!”
Funding projects like VYVE in tandem with carbon-cutting promises could be viewed as part of a larger, earnest effort to take on climate change. Of course, a skeptic might see it as another example of “greenwashing,” a type of PR spin that looks good on the surface, but only serves to hide the muck underneath.
One such skeptic is the inventor of the “ecological footprint” idea, William Rees, an emeritus professor of ecology at the University of British Columbia. Rees doubts that companies will do what it takes to avoid disastrous climate change. “It may sound cynical,” he said, “but mainstream governments and the corporate sector really have no interest in making the fundamental structural changes needed for the economy to become ‘sustainable.’” That kind of transformation would mean overhauling businesses for the sake of the planet at the expense of profits.
Capper, VYVE’s founder, thinks the scale of the problem posed by climate change means governments, businesses, and individuals all need to take action. The capacity of individual action is untapped, he said, since “99 percent” of the population doesn’t know what their footprint is, let alone know how to reduce it. “People haven’t got a clue,” he told Grist.
Social scientists have long argued that ditching plastic straws, bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, and other small steps could be a gateway to getting politically involved. The thinking is that the more people recycle, the more likely they are to identify as environmentalists, the type of folks who would join the Sierra Club or a get-out-the-vote campaign in a community overburdened by pollution. There’s also evidence that green habits are contagious; if you get solar panels and drive an electric car, your neighbors are more likely to do the same, thanks to peer pressure.
The narrative of individual action rose to prominence in 1990, after years of weakened protections for the environment under the Reagan administration. It gave environmentalists a sense of agency when they’d given up on policy.
Recent research, however, suggests that engaging in environmentally-friendly lifestyle behaviors can sometimes backfire. It might lead you to think you’ve already done enough by taking plastic bottles to the recycling center last week. Looking at your own footprint could also distract you from paying attention to the much bigger polluters out there.
Experts caution that tracking your carbon footprint with an app like VYVE might play into that trap. Julie Doyle, a professor of media and communication at the University of Brighton, said in an email that VYVE appeared to focus on “individual behaviour rather than the systemic and structural changes required for addressing climate change — particularly as it encourages individual financial payment to carbon reduction projects.”
This year, we got a taste of how far individual action might get us. As coronavirus spread across the world, the ensuing lockdowns meant that a lot fewer people were flying around and driving their gas-guzzling cars. The drop in transportation activity led to a dip in carbon emissions, at least for a spell: The Global Carbon Project estimates that the lockdowns will put a 4 to 7 percent dent in global emissions this year. Not bad, right?
Well, one recent analysis called the overall effect “negligible.” In order to keep global warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) above pre-industrial levels, we’d need to see a 7 to 8 percent cut in emissions year after year, Rees said. In other words, eliminating transportation wouldn’t get us very far — 20 percent of the way there, tops. The other 80 percent of emissions come from electricity, heating, agriculture, manufacturing, and other types of industry. Even if we were trapped in permanent lockdown, that still wouldn’t get us close to solving climate change.
On a hot summer day in the early 1950s, Rees, around 10 years old at the time, was eating a feast at his grandparents’ farm. Staring absently at the beef, chicken, potatoes, and baby carrots on his plate, Rees had a realization: He had helped raise all of it. “I knew deep in my bones that farm work and food made me a product of soil and land,” he wrote in a reflection later on.
That moment led him to study, and later teach, ecology. His work at the University of British Columbia has focused on ecological economics and the limits of the land to provide for humanity’s needs. It wasn’t a popular line of research among his academic colleagues, who argued that with people congregated in cities and towns, the Earth was still mostly empty. Rees thought differently. “That’s just where we keep our bodies,” he said. “The land we use in cities is not in the city, it’s everywhere else.”
In the early 1990s, Rees was writing a paper on this subject when his computer crashed. His new one took up less area on his desk, so it had a smaller “footprint” — and that’s when the lightbulb turned on. In a much-cited 1992 paper, Rees coined the term “ecological footprint,” a measure by which people could understand how any population — an individual, a city, a country — was affecting the planet. For climate change specifically, “carbon footprint” was the next logical step.
You could say the rest was history, or you could say it was BP’s turn. In 2000, BP launched an award-winning ad campaign with the assistance of the public relations agency Ogilvy & Mather. The goal was to rebrand BP as an environmentally-friendly company. “British Petroleum” was out, “Beyond Petroleum” was in.
In 2004, BP unveiled a carbon footprint calculator, and the following year, it released a series of advertisements asking questions such as “What on earth is a carbon footprint?” and “What size is your carbon footprint?” Mathis Wackernagel, a colleague of Rees and the president of the Global Footprint Network, later told a reporter that BP’s backing gave the term its “biggest boost.” According to Google Ngram, a tool that tracks the usage of words in books over time, the phrase soared in popularity after BP’s marketing campaign.
The idea of the footprint took off, but not in the way Rees had hoped. By his definition, a footprint is physical; it’s the amount of land area required to support someone’s lifestyle, a measure with finite limits. “When industry talks about carbon footprints, they just talk about the weight of carbon being emitted each year,” Rees said. “If 37 billion tons of CO2 goes up into the atmosphere — well, what does that mean?” Without a point of reference as to what amount of carbon dioxide the world can sequester, “it doesn’t mean anything.”
In a recent article on the news website Mashable, some communication experts denounced the phrase “carbon footprint” as fossil fuel “propaganda.” The emphasis on personal responsibility, they argued, subtly shifts the burden of climate change from governments and corporations to individuals.
BP’s ads in the 2000s echoed the earlier marketing campaigns. Consider the famous “Crying Indian” ad from the 1970s, in which a Native American man sheds a tear after someone passing by in a car throws trash at his moccasins. “People start pollution,” the narrator says. “People can stop it.” Turns out that the group behind the anti-litter PSA, Keep America Beautiful, was funded by Coca-Cola and Dixie, maker of the Dixie Cup, the very same companies making all the trash scattered on the road.
“Corporate America in general has always tried to, with the help of all kinds of other actors, put the onus of environmental protection in general and dealing with climate change on individuals,” said Riley Dunlap, a professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University. In the United States, a country with a strong streak of individualism and belief in the Protestant work ethic, people were more likely to accept this narrative of personal responsibility for a society-wide problem.
The story that individual choices could save us has been repeated so many times that the idea often passes without discussion and plays an outsized role in policy discussions and company decisions. “I’m not trying to impugn the motives of some of the people working for VYVE,” Dunlap said of the personal emissions-tracking app. “But they’ve bought into this thing, too. BP and others have convinced them that individuals are the key thing, or else they wouldn’t be working on this.”
Once you’ve logged your first trip with VYVE, a message comes up on the bottom of your screen. “CONGRATULATIONS,” it says. “You just took another step to understanding yor impact.”
Capper, the founder of VYVE, said he was unaware of BP’s history of promoting the carbon footprint. “I absolutely believe BP’s on the right path with the commitments it’s made and the actions the organization is taking,” he said. “I have a lot of pride in that, actually.”
In response to questions about whether VYVE’s focus on individuals could let companies off the hook, David Nicholas, a spokesperson for BP, pointed to the company’s new carbon-cutting goals as an example of its sincerity. Within a decade, he said, it’s likely that BP’s investment in low-carbon energy will increase 10-fold, with “oil and gas production falling by a million barrels a day, or 40 percent.” Carbon offsets will play a role in helping both businesses and VYVE users reach net-zero emissions, he added, and the app would help people do that through “gold-standard offsetting projects,” as measured by United Nations guidelines.
Although the website of Launchpad, BP’s “unicorn factory” that’s backing VYVE, says it aims to “accelerate the energy transition,” some of the companies it supports appear to be tied to fossil fuel production. Take Stryde, a company that maps rock formations below Earth’s surface to help explore for more oil. Stryde’s website says that its heritage “is firmly in oil and gas” and that unlocking oil and gas fields “lies at the core of our offer.” The company is investigating how its technology could be used for carbon sequestration, mining, and renewables.
Tom Burke, the chair of environmental think tank E3G and a former adviser to BP, doesn’t think there’s any hidden political strategy behind VYVE. Rather, he suspects that the app might have simply been borne out of a desire to do some good, perhaps driven by younger BP staff.
Given the lack of public trust in the oil industry, Burke suggested that VYVE be more transparent by, for example, posting on its website a list of who on its board of directors works for BP. “If they don’t make it absolutely clear that they are the major player in this, then it undermines confidence in it,” Burke said of BP. That wouldn’t change the fact that “offsetting is really problematic,” he said. Carbon offset projects have earned a shaky reputation for not always working out as planned.
Despite decades of talking about carbon footprints and “feel-good carbon offsetting,” the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps rising, Rees said.
“Individuals are really almost powerless to do anything,” Rees said. “You can change your purchasing habits a little, but on the whole what we do as individuals is relatively trivial, because the heavy lifting — the kinds of things that would make a real difference — are actions taken for the common good.”
So is it time to forget about your carbon footprint? Rees thinks the idea can still be useful, though it would help if the climate movement reclaimed the concept and took it out of the hands of oil companies.
“Look, what’s the alternative here?” Rees asked. “Stop talking about the carbon emissions altogether?”


nationalobserver--2020-09-05--How birding helped a northern journalist cope with isolation

This summer Brandon White picked up his camera , trekked into the bush and connected with the bird population , which is famously good at social distancing .
White is a northern Saskatchewan photographer and video journalist who was looking for ways to cope with northern living during the pandemic .
He dealt with the isolation by getting even more of it .
He learned to listen and realized that he wasn ’ t alone .
“ All humans are filters and sometimes we do n't hear the signals or the sounds around us unless we 're looking for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Observer .
Back from Saskatoon where he studied biology , White describes himself as a recent birding enthusiast .
Although he has worked on projects that study birds , it ’ s his first time doing it as a hobby .
• B.C .
is updating its abattoir rules .
Advocates say it ’ s not enough – for opposite reasons • How a B.C .
snow plow dispute made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada “ The challenge is to pay attention because chances are that , like me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of beauty and diversity that was around you until you learned to to listen .
But if you open your ears , they are everywhere , ” White said .
“ The combination just this year of coming back to the boreal from the Prairies and then having a lot more time on my own , I really fell in love with bird watching .
Bird watching is an amazing thing to do in those circumstances.
” An Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) takes flight near Lac La Ronge provincial park .
Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biology , I love studying birds .
So I 've got my National Geographic field guide that I read every day because there are just so many amazing bird species in the boreal to learn about and they 're changing so much , ” White said .
“ Once you start looking for the sounds of different birds and the sights of different birds , you will start seeing them all over the boreal and you will start seeing the diversity , hearing the diversity.
” “ The challenge is to pay attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you did n't notice the amount of beauty and diversity that was around you until you learned to to listen .
But if you open your ears , they are everywhere , ” Brandon White .
Brandon while at the University of Saskatchewan , Biology 's Morrissey lab holds a fledging baby tree swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor ) .
Bob Clark and Christy Morrissey continue their research near St. Denis , in southern Saskatchewan .
Photo by Kasia Majewski .
White worked under University of Saskatchewan biology professor Christy Morrissey , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as pesticides and industrial pollutants , on bird migration .
Morrissey pointed to research showing that 500 million boreal forest birds have been lost since 1970 , a 33 per cent decline in populations .
Approximately 30 per cent of all shorebirds ( seven million ) and 30 per cent of all land birds ( one billion to three billion ) that breed in the United States and Canada do so within North America ’ s boreal .
In 2015 the boreal songbird initiative put out a report concluding that boreal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their habitat intact to ensure their continued survival .
At the time the boreal was estimated to be 80 per cent intact .
A pair of Double-crested Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax auritus ) in flight near Lac La Ronge provincial park .
Photo by Brandon White .
Morrissey said despite those numbers , there ’ s a lack of research in Saskatchewan ’ s boreal .
“ We have n't done a lot of work in the boreal regions … there 's just a lot that 's not known , Morrissey said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ things are pristine in the north , but there are some good examples of things like mercury , a global pollutant that moves long distances and falls into these northern lakes.
” She said it 's “ not improbable ” that other contaminants are getting into northern areas and polluting bird habitats .
And the same goes for the effects of climate change .
“ Just because you ca n't see it , does n't mean it does n't exist .
You ca n't see climate change happening easily .
And that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
But it 's still happening , and it 's changing the way these ecosystems function .
And until they collapse , well , then that 's when people really notice it , ” Morrissey said .
White said now is a critical time for folks to start paying attention to bird populations in the north and that northerners can make a valuable contribution to understanding what ’ s going on by monitoring bird species and raising awareness about species decline .
He said that declines in bird populations are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our environment .
Great Blue Heron ( Ardea herodias ) in its habitat on the Montreal River near Lac La Ronge provincial park .
Photo by Brandon White .
Since birds are more sensitive , they ’ re among the first to react to these changes , he said .
And these changes will impact both food security and the economy .
“ Everything is linked , and birds are a kind of canary in the coal mine for the larger vertebrates .
So , if we see them drop off , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering and that could lead to losses in other species like fish , caribou , and deer , ” White said .
“ Bird watching is kind of a niche hobby , but a lot of people care about hunting and fishing .
Well , something is wrong and this will start to affect our species of interest from an economic standpoint.
” Bonaparte 's Gull ( Chroicocephalus philadelphia ) catches a fish fry on Lac La Ronge in northern Saskatchewan .
Photo by Brandon White .
Morrissey said there are ways folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by making small changes to the way we live .
“ I think that many people in Saskatchewan are highly appreciative of nature .
People enjoy being in nature and being outdoors .
We value the ability to go camping or to go fishing , to hunt deer and see birds , ” Morrissey said .
“ But people need to be aware that despite our low population size in Saskatchewan , those things are changing and disappearing .
If we value them , we have to actively protect them .
Those things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they are around Canada and around the world.
” She recommends following the “ 7 simple actions , ” which include treating glass ( like windows ) with coverings that prevent bird strikes , keeping cats indoors , and planting more native species in our lawns .
“ I think bird watching comes from a love of the environment and being outdoors .
The one thing I will say about bird watching is that it changes the way that you experience the forest .
It opens your ears , ” White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in its breeding range looking for worms .
Photo by Brandon White .
He said although bird watching can seem daunting at first because of the sheer amount of information available on bird species , technology is making that easier .
Now it ’ s as simple as downloading an app .
White recommends the Merlin Bird ID application from Cornell Lab of Ornithology to get started on identifying species in the wild .
Brandon White is a video journalist and photographer for MBC Radio in La Ronge through a grant from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photography to Canada ’ s National Observer for our Saskatchewan coverage .

This summer Brandon White picked up his camera, trekked into the bush and connected with the bird population, which is famously good at social distancing. White is a northern Saskatchewan photographer and video journalist who was looking for ways to cope with northern living during the pandemic. He dealt with the isolation by getting even more of it. He learned to listen and realized that he wasn’t alone. “All humans are filters and sometimes we don't hear the signals or the sounds around us unless we're looking for them,” White told Canada’s National Observer. A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) swallows a fish. Pictured near Lac La Ronge provincial park. Photo by Brandon White.
Back from Saskatoon where he studied biology, White describes himself as a recent birding enthusiast. Although he has worked on projects that study birds, it’s his first time doing it as a hobby. “The challenge is to pay attention because chances are that, like me, you didn't notice the amount of beauty and diversity that was around you until you learned to to listen. But if you open your ears, they are everywhere,” White said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “The combination just this year of coming back to the boreal from the Prairies and then having a lot more time on my own, I really fell in love with bird watching. Bird watching is an amazing thing to do in those circumstances.”
An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) takes flight near Lac La Ronge provincial park. Photo by Brandon While. “Coming from biology, I love studying birds. So I've got my National Geographic field guide that I read every day because there are just so many amazing bird species in the boreal to learn about and they're changing so much,” White said. "The one thing I will say about bird watching is that it changes the way that you experience the forest. It opens your ears,” Brandon White. “Once you start looking for the sounds of different birds and the sights of different birds, you will start seeing them all over the boreal and you will start seeing the diversity, hearing the diversity.” Brandon while at the University of Saskatchewan, Biology's Morrissey lab holds a fledging baby tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). Bob Clark and Christy Morrissey continue their research near St. Denis, in southern Saskatchewan. Photo by Kasia Majewski. White worked under University of Saskatchewan biology professor Christy Morrissey, an expert on the impact of environmental contaminants, such as pesticides and industrial pollutants, on bird migration.
Morrissey pointed to research showing that 500 million boreal forest birds have been lost since 1970, a 33 per cent decline in populations. Approximately 30 per cent of all shorebirds (seven million) and 30 per cent of all land birds (one billion to three billion) that breed in the United States and Canada do so within North America’s boreal. In 2015 the boreal songbird initiative put out a report concluding that boreal songbirds need at least 50 per cent of their habitat intact to ensure their continued survival. At the time the boreal was estimated to be 80 per cent intact.


nationalobserver--2020-09-06--Is Vancouver’s Broadway subway project worth it’s $2.8 billion price tag?

B.C .
Premier John Horgan announced on Sept. 3 that Acciona-Ghella was awarded a $ 1.7 billion contract to begin construction on the Broadway subway line , an extension that will enable SkyTrain service from VCC-Clark Station to Broadway and Arbutus .
With a hefty price tag and 5-year timeline before the line is complete , B.C .
officials have insisted that the extensions will help with Vancouver ’ s economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic losses , while also ensuring a more sustainable future .
The train is set to increase transit capacity by three-and-half times along Broadway , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Public transit actually has very good job creation per dollar invested if you compare it to other kinds of infrastructure spending , ” said Eric Doherty , a registered city planner at Ecopath Planning and environmental consultant .
“ That being said , subways are kind of at the bottom end of that , they 're very capital intensive.
” While overall the extension is a “ very , very ” good investment in improving traffic flow , Doherty said considering that Canada is in the midst of a climate emergency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough in terms of quickly cutting down the province ’ s greenhouse gas emissions .
On the same day that the construction contract was announced , an independent analysis from five groups found that based on the federal government ’ s own numbers on methane emissions , Canada is far behind its goal to cut down the greenhouse gas by 40 to 45 per cent below it ’ s 2012 levels by its set deadline of 2025 .
• Canary in the coal mine : Birds predict change in Sask .
boreal • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at risk of being wiped out This discussion about greenhouse gases has persisted for many years .
A 2017 study from the University of Toronto found the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the construction process of subway lines can take up to 11 years to offset , in optimistic cases .
That timeline can lengthen to 35 years in worst case scenarios .
“ Rapid Transit on the surface , electric bus rapid transit lines , bus lanes , bike lanes , pedestrian streams —- all of those things have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Doherty .
Subway constructions are difficult and costly projects because of the labour and material needed to dig underground and lay tracks .
On top of that , stations need to be built and additional cost for access to the lines , things like escalators and elevators , also come into effect .
Given the time and billions of dollars that need to be spent — why do many governments steer towards subway lines ?
Vancouver is expected to welcome one million more residents over the next 30 years .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transit on the surface comes at the cost of getting cars off the street , especially in dense cities like Vancouver .
While Vancouver has dedicated some money to expanding and increasing the efficiency of bus routes , Doherty said they ’ re not a “ leading city ” when it comes to sustainability — that is , focusing on getting more cars off the road and reallocating that space to public transit , bikes and pedestrians .
Vancouver 's Broadway subway project comes with a hefty price tag of $ 2.8 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you shrink the amount of road space , people change how they get around and the number of cars and the greenhouse gas pollution shrinks , ” said Doherty .
Vancouver ’ s Broadway corridor is the busiest bus route in North America recording more than 100,00 0 trips each day , according to TransLink , the organization that runs the city ’ s public transit .
On Thursday , Michele Ladrak , president of B.C.
’ s Rapid Transit Company said that Vancouver expects to see one million new residents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an urban planning expert and professor at the University of British Columbia , said while sustainability is a goal to keep in mind , Vancouver has to deal with the more important , pressing issue of increasing its transit capacity , especially as people return to work and the city ’ s population is expected to grow .
While above-ground transit routes such as streetcars and buses may be quicker to build and marked as more sustainable , Frank said they wouldn ’ t do much in terms of increasing capacity to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we ’ re going to spend this much money , we should solve the transportation problem that we have , ” said Frank .
“ Spending this much money and not increasing the level of service on Broadway would be very poorly received by the public.
” And in terms of sustainability , while Frank agrees that subway projects produce more greenhouse gases in their construction phase , he said in the long term it ’ s not that big a deal .
“ Over 30 years , once those two systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions would become irrelevant , kind of a rounding error.
” The focus , in Frank ’ s opinion , should be on the greenhouse gas emissions created by ridership .
And in high density areas like Broadway , increasing capacity will create efficiencies in getting more people across in less rides , offsetting its initial emissions issue .
When it comes to balancing the issue of sustainability against addressing the immediate need for increased transit , Frank said the best option is a little bit of both systems , dividing the costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increasing capacity through subway lines where needed .
But both Doherty and Frank can agree on one thing — infrastructure spending will always help in an economic downturn .
“ The actual construction of the line is a job-creation activity , ” said Frank , adding that the funding put into the project from the federal and provincial governments will create a “ multiplier effect ” -- with increased mobility giving people opportunities to make and put more money back into the economy , the province has a better chance of reversing @ @ @ @

B.C. Premier John Horgan announced on Sept. 3 that Acciona-Ghella was awarded a $1.7 billion contract to begin construction on the Broadway subway line, an extension that will enable SkyTrain service from VCC-Clark Station to Broadway and Arbutus. With a hefty price tag and 5-year timeline before the line is complete, B.C. officials have insisted that the extensions will help with Vancouver’s economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic losses, while also ensuring a more sustainable future. The train is set to increase transit capacity by three-and-half times along Broadway, one of the city's busiest routes. “Public transit actually has very good job creation per dollar invested if you compare it to other kinds of infrastructure spending,” said Eric Doherty, a registered city planner at Ecopath Planning and environmental consultant. “That being said, subways are kind of at the bottom end of that, they're very capital intensive.” While overall the extension is a “very, very” good investment in improving traffic flow, Doherty said considering that Canada is in the midst of a climate emergency, the subway line won’t do enough in terms of quickly cutting down the province’s greenhouse gas emissions. On the same day that the construction contract was announced, an independent analysis from five groups found that based on the federal government’s own numbers on methane emissions, Canada is far behind its goal to cut down the greenhouse gas by 40 to 45 per cent below it’s 2012 levels by its set deadline of 2025.
This discussion about greenhouse gases has persisted for many years. A 2017 study from the University of Toronto found the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the construction process of subway lines can take up to 11 years to offset, in optimistic cases. That timeline can lengthen to 35 years in worst case scenarios. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “Rapid Transit on the surface, electric bus rapid transit lines, bus lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian streams —- all of those things have a much bigger impact per billion investment,” says Doherty.
Subway constructions are difficult and costly projects because of the labour and material needed to dig underground and lay tracks. On top of that, stations need to be built and additional cost for access to the lines, things like escalators and elevators, also come into effect. Vancouver's Broadway subway project comes with a hefty price tag of $2.8 billion. Is it worth it? Given the time and billions of dollars that need to be spent — why do many governments steer towards subway lines? Vancouver is expected to welcome one million more residents over the next 30 years. (Randy Laybourne/Unsplash) Doherty said expanding public transit on the surface comes at the cost of getting cars off the street, especially in dense cities like Vancouver. While Vancouver has dedicated some money to expanding and increasing the efficiency of bus routes, Doherty said they’re not a “leading city” when it comes to sustainability — that is, focusing on getting more cars off the road and reallocating that space to public transit, bikes and pedestrians. “If you shrink the amount of road space, people change how they get around and the number of cars and the greenhouse gas pollution shrinks,” said Doherty.
Vancouver’s Broadway corridor is the busiest bus route in North America recording more than 100,00 0 trips each day, according to TransLink, the organization that runs the city’s public transit. On Thursday, Michele Ladrak, president of B.C.’s Rapid Transit Company said that Vancouver expects to see one million new residents and 600,000 news jobs. Lawrence Frank, an urban planning expert and professor at the University of British Columbia, said while sustainability is a goal to keep in mind, Vancouver has to deal with the more important, pressing issue of increasing its transit capacity, especially as people return to work and the city’s population is expected to grow.


nationalobserver--2020-09-07--B.C. only gets 0.5 per cent of federal funding for housing, MP finds

British Columbia has only received 0.5 per cent of funding from the federal government ’ s National Housing Strategy program , according to an analysis NDP MP Jenny Kwan has received .
The analysis is based on housing strategy numbers Kwan obtained from the federal government on April 11 .
The Liberal government has pledged more than $ 55 billion dollars in its National Housing Strategy to cut the homelessness rate by 50 per cent by building new units and conducting repairs .
At $ 16.6 billion , the co-investment fund is the largest portion of money under the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kwan received , which she shared with the National Observer , shows that only 23 of 432 applications have been finalized .
British Columbia had two agreements , while Ontario had 12 .
Quebec and Alberta haven ’ t received any funding so far .
The agreements will fund construction for 344 units in Ontario and 66 units in B.C .
B.C .
MP @ JennyKwanBC was n't seeing the housing crisis in Vancouver improve since the federal government announced over $ 40 billion in funds for it in 2017 .
So she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When we received the data , it really took my breath away , ” said Kwan .
“ I was so shocked .
I knew things were bad , but I did n't realize it was going to be this bad.
” Kwan said B.C .
's need for housing is urgent , as the province deals with a pandemic and opioid crisis , which Canada ’ s chief medical officer Theresa Tam said has been exacerbated by COVID-19 measures .
“ It seemed to me that the government is only paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other pieces are kind of falling to the wayside.
” Kwan had also asked for the average time it took for applications to be finalized after they had been submitted .
She says non-profits complain the process is tedious , long and expensive , requiring answers to about 200 questions .
Groups even need the help of a consultant to complete their applications .
The average number of days for B.C .
agreements to be finalized was 440 days , according to data Kwan received from the government .
When Kwan made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also claimed the Liberal government has been “ doing their best to hide these numbers ” because “ they do n't look good at all.
” She tagged MP Adam Vaughan , the federal government ’ s parliamentary secretary for housing development , who had previously admitted in an interview with the Toronto Star , that Trudeau had inflated housing numbers , claiming his government had helped one million Canadians find housing , for “ rhetorical advantage.
” Vaughan responded on Twitter , saying that while he had used the “ worst phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was simply trying to explain the amount of funding promised in investment to new units at the time .
Worst phrase ever ...
I was trying explain and explanation .
We broke down the numbers to reflect exactly how many new investments we ’ d made at that time .
Obviously some tenants got both rent support and repair dollars .
Just the same as some Households have 5 member others /1 — Adam Vaughan MP ( @ TOAdamVaughan ) September 4 , 2020 “ MP Vaughn is , I suppose , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kwan , adding that the numbers prove that few applications have been finalized for tangible construction to begin .
Vaughan did not reply to the National Observers 's request for a comment .
Kwan said she has often found that western provinces are treated as an “ afterthought , ” given their distance from Ontario , were many members of Parliament are based .
When Kwan received the initial the co-investment fund numbers , she followed up with a July 29 letter to federal Minister of Families , Children and Social Development Ahmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the federal government goes in 50-50 along with B.C.
’ s provincial and municipal governments for housing development projects .
Kwan had also previously criticized the government ’ s Reaching Home program , a strategy that offers federal funding to shelters during COVID-19 , so that they can operate under pandemic restrictions .
She called for funds to be sent directly to the provinces , which Vaughan claimed would “ effectively cancel ” the program .
We weren ’ t hiding numbers we were trying to explain them ... and my phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve enjoyed the ribbing ever since !
The language was bad but the numbers were ( are ) good ... here is the chart to show how the NHS improved outcomes ... more work to do./2 pic.twitter.com/Pnd5SIne5F — Adam Vaughan MP ( @ TOAdamVaughan ) September 4 , 2020 Vaughan did not respond to the National Observer ’ s request to clarify this comment .
Kwan has later clarified on Twitter that she wasn ’ t calling for cancellation of the program , but arguing that it wasn ’ t enough .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically for federal housing programs targeted towards Indigenous communities .
She said she ’ ll continue to put pressure on the federal government to “ come to the table ” and consult with non-profit groups and Indigenous representatives .
One of the first priorities , she said , was making the application process less onerous and more accessible .
“ This ca n't be just a movie for them to watch from afar , ” said Kwan .
“ They need to be a real participant and a real player at the table @ @

British Columbia has only received 0.5 per cent of funding from the federal government’s National Housing Strategy program, according to an analysis NDP MP Jenny Kwan has received. The analysis is based on housing strategy numbers Kwan obtained from the federal government on April 11. The Liberal government has pledged more than $55 billion dollars in its National Housing Strategy to cut the homelessness rate by 50 per cent by building new units and conducting repairs. Kwan, who represents the riding of Vancouver East, said she noticed that the city's housing situation was not improving despite her Liberal counterparts saying the program was proceeding well. “I looked at what was happening on the ground,” said Kwan. “There’s a complete disconnect with reality.”
At $16.6 billion, the co-investment fund is the largest portion of money under the National Housing Strategy program. B.C. MP @JennyKwanBC wasn't seeing the housing crisis in Vancouver improve since the federal government announced over $40 billion in funds for it in 2017. So she got a hold of the numbers. The data that Kwan received, which she shared with the National Observer, shows that only 23 of 432 applications have been finalized. British Columbia had two agreements, while Ontario had 12. Quebec and Alberta haven’t received any funding so far. The agreements will fund construction for 344 units in Ontario and 66 units in B.C. “When we received the data, it really took my breath away,” said Kwan. “I was so shocked. I knew things were bad, but I didn't realize it was going to be this bad.” Kwan said B.C.'s need for housing is urgent, as the province deals with a pandemic and opioid crisis, which Canada’s chief medical officer Theresa Tam said has been exacerbated by COVID-19 measures.
“It seemed to me that the government is only paying attention to the pandemic, and all the other pieces are kind of falling to the wayside.” Kwan had also asked for the average time it took for applications to be finalized after they had been submitted. She says non-profits complain the process is tedious, long and expensive, requiring answers to about 200 questions. Groups even need the help of a consultant to complete their applications. The average number of days for B.C. agreements to be finalized was 440 days, according to data Kwan received from the government.


nationalobserver--2020-09-08--Greta Thunberg: don't dump climate crisis on children to fix

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has called for more action to be taken to address the climate crisis , which she says has slipped dangerously off the political agenda .
Thunberg appeared by video link at the Venice film festival where the film , I Am Greta , has been screened .
It documents her life as one of the most famous teenagers in the world after she became the figurehead for a global climate crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we need more science .
We need to do more research , definitely .
But what we need above all is to take take action to change the social landscape , political action , so maybe that ’ s where I can be most useful.
” • B.C .
only gets 0.5 per cent of federal funding for housing , MP finds Thunberg said that the Covid-19 crisis had shown that world leaders were incapable of dealing with two emergencies at once , and said that climate change should be treated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to be put on hold .
We definitely need to realise the urgency of the climate crisis , and treat it as a crisis , because otherwise we will not be able to achieve real change , ” she said .
She went on to criticise world leaders , saying too much responsibility was being placed on children to raise awareness of the climate crisis .
“ We should not be the ones having to do this .
It should be up to adults and people in power in those who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Video of I Am Greta ( Official ) Clip • A Hulu Original Documentary During the making of the film , Thunberg was followed by documentary film-maker Nathan Grossman , who recorded her everyday life after she rose to fame for her climate activism .
She said at times during the year-long process she thought Grossman ’ s one-man setup was “ unprofessional ” but , ultimately , she was pleased with the way he had portrayed her as a “ shy nerd ” .
Thunberg added : “ I think [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself and not the angry , naive child who sits in the United Nations General Assembly screaming at world leaders .
Because that ’ s not the person I am.
” “ All other things have had to be put on hold .
We definitely need to realize the urgency of the climate crisis , and treat it as a crisis , because otherwise we will not be able to achieve real change , ” she said .
The activist said there had been too much focus on her as an individual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ bridge ” for people who wanted to know more about the climate emergency .
She hoped the film would help to “ increase momentum ” and spread awareness at a time when protesting and activism have been reduced because of Covid-19 restrictions around the world .
Thunberg added that it was symbolic to have the film screened in Venice , a city that suffered severe flooding in 2019 that its mayor blamed on climate change .
The activist signed off from the press conference to go to school in Sweden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning to the classroom after taking a year off to protest .

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has called for more action to be taken to address the climate crisis, which she says has slipped dangerously off the political agenda. Thunberg appeared by video link at the Venice film festival where the film, I Am Greta, has been screened. It documents her life as one of the most famous teenagers in the world after she became the figurehead for a global climate crisis campaign. She said: “Yes, we need more science. We need to do more research, definitely. But what we need above all is to take take action to change the social landscape, political action, so maybe that’s where I can be most useful.”
Thunberg said that the Covid-19 crisis had shown that world leaders were incapable of dealing with two emergencies at once, and said that climate change should be treated with urgency. “All other things have had to be put on hold. We definitely need to realise the urgency of the climate crisis, and treat it as a crisis, because otherwise we will not be able to achieve real change,” she said. She went on to criticise world leaders, saying too much responsibility was being placed on children to raise awareness of the climate crisis. “We should not be the ones having to do this. It should be up to adults and people in power in those who have caused this problem in the first place.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Video of I Am Greta (Official) Clip • A Hulu Original Documentary
A clip from I am Greta “All other things have had to be put on hold. We definitely need to realize the urgency of the climate crisis, and treat it as a crisis, because otherwise we will not be able to achieve real change,” she said. During the making of the film, Thunberg was followed by documentary film-maker Nathan Grossman, who recorded her everyday life after she rose to fame for her climate activism. She said at times during the year-long process she thought Grossman’s one-man setup was “unprofessional” but, ultimately, she was pleased with the way he had portrayed her as a “shy nerd”. Thunberg added: “I think [Grossman] succeeded in framing me as myself and not the angry, naive child who sits in the United Nations General Assembly screaming at world leaders. Because that’s not the person I am.” The activist said there had been too much focus on her as an individual, and she hoped the film could be a “bridge” for people who wanted to know more about the climate emergency. She hoped the film would help to “increase momentum” and spread awareness at a time when protesting and activism have been reduced because of Covid-19 restrictions around the world. Thunberg added that it was symbolic to have the film screened in Venice, a city that suffered severe flooding in 2019 that its mayor blamed on climate change.