Tuesday, 17 August 2021

EcoSask News, August 17, 2021

Great Blue Heron

Upcoming Events 
Help Meewasin protect wildlife in Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale by fence tabbing from 6-9 pm, Aug. 18. You can also protect birds during fall migration by applying stickers to the rink in downtown Saskatoon from 9-11 am, Aug. 21. 

Library of Things, Saskatoon, will be open for pick-ups by reservation from the back door in the alley from 1-4 pm, Aug. 21. 

Stan Shadick is offering 3 online workshops to assist with identifying warblers during fall migration from 7-8:30 pm, Aug. 22 & 29, and Sept. 6. There will be an optional field trip from 9-10:30 am, Aug. 29, in Saskatoon. Registration fees will support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation. 

West Coast Environmental Law is offering a webinar on environmental justice in action at 1 pm, Aug. 26. 

Full event details are listed on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

Local News 
The Citizens Environmental Alliance says the proposed Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project comes at colossal expense and high environmental consequences. [Citizens Environmental Alliance]

Indigenous land users, scientists, and youth are rallying to protect northern Saskatchewan’s peatlands from harvest. [CBC News]

City of Regina will be scanning blue carts to check for items that can’t be recycled. Their goal is to reduce the number of wrong items placed in the carts, which can lower the value of recyclable goods, harm recycling facility workers, and damage equipment. [CJME]
 
crow eating small fish

Energy Options 
Carbon capture and storage technology “has been under discussion and development for decades and governments are increasingly relying on it to meet their climate goals. But . . . by early 2021 there were only 26 CCS plants operating around the world, capturing 0.1 percent of global yearly CO2 emissions at most. And most of the CO2 captured to date has been used to dig up more oil through Enhanced Oil Recovery.”  [Desmog]

A new report from the Pembina Institute “shows that the climate benefits of blue hydrogen vary depending on the technology used to create it.” [Pembina Institute]

What Can We Do? 
“The key to fighting [climate] despair is to think beyond the individual and seek community support and solutions — especially those that put pressure on governments and companies to make the large-scale changes that are necessary to truly curtail emissions.” [Vox]

Fall bird migration is just around the corner and with it an increased risk of birds fatally colliding with buildings. Here are 5 tips for educating building tenants about bird-safe best practices. [FLAP Canada]

The Cheakamus community forest near Whistler, BC, “is charting new territory when it comes to sustainable timber harvest that outlaws clearcuts, respects Indigenous governance and combats the climate emergency.” [The Narwhal]

The Comox Valley Regional District in British Columbia is considering phasing out gas stations. “Existing gas stations wouldn't be forced to close, but would be considered ‘legally non-compliant’ — and wouldn't be able to add new pumps. New service stations would be allowed to open, but not to provide petroleum-based fuels.” [CBC News]

New Approaches 
“If we want robust and meaningful science to reach the courts, we need to start thinking about how science and the law operate together.” [Union of Concerned Scientists]

Presenting 4 novels that explore climate change and the Anthropocene. [Cool Green Science]

EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribing by email (top right corner).