News

The video and the commitments Barack Obama makes creates a new energy and provides hope the world can make progress on meeting challenges of climate change during the upcoming global negotiations next month.

World leaders will gather in Poznan, Poland December 1st-12th, 2008 for annual UN meetings under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes and the Kyoto Protocol.

President-Elect Obama repeated his previous promises to place a hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions and to establish emissions reductions targets, stating unequivocally the US will reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

He spoke directly to delegates who will be gathering in Poland, "Let me also say a special word to delegates from around the world who will gather in Poland next month: your work is vital to the planet," he said. "While I won't be President at the time of your meeting and while the United States has only one President at a time, I've asked members of Congress who are attending the conference as observers to report back to me on what they learn there."

TransCanada Pipelines received approval October 10, 2008 from Alberta Utilities Commission to build a pipeline through Lubicon territory without consent. The Alberta government has also approved over 2000 oil and gas wells within their ancestral lands without their consent or any benefit.

The Lubicon Cree of northern Alberta never surrendered rights to their lands, as they were overlooked during treaty negotiations in the 1880's. Amnesty International has now joined Lubicon to demand consultation and recognition of their land rights.

The United Nations has urged Canada to reach a settlement with the Lubicon and ensure they are consulted "before granting licences for economic exploration of the disputed land." The UN Human Rights Committed (UNHRC) concluded that development in their traditional territory is a violation to their fundamental human rights.

The Report Card on Canada: How Canada Performs: Environment-Details and Analysis gave Canada a "D" grade on six indicators including waste generation, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Canada received its only "A" grade for use of forest resources.

"Without serious attention to environmental sustainability, Canada puts its society and its quality of life at risk," the independent research organization said in the report.

Canada stands at the bottom of the pack, only ahead of Australia and the United States in the ranking with an overall C grade, reflecting a poor performance. Canada's GHG emissions per capita increased by almost one third between 1990 and 2006 and per capita water usage is second highest of all ranked.

The Green Registry is a website that provides organizations, companies, families and individuals with information, guidance, and tools to help Manitobans "understand the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how to measure and reduce these emissions".

There are four main sections to the Green Registry:
The Basics (about climate change and Manitoba's carbon footprint)
Residents (about GHG footprint and reducing emissions - includes government incentive and rebate programs)
Groups and Businesses (resources for measuring GHG and creating an inventory)
Project Toolbox (GHG measurement standards and emissions validation, project registries)

The Green Registry does not provide new or detailed information about Manitoba's GHG on a sectoral basis and the website does not include a carbon or GHG inventory for the province. At this time no baseline data is provided.

"Manitoba is to be commended for taking this step. We are sure Manitobans will respond! We also urge Manitoba to move to carbon and emissions threshold inventories, baseline data, transparency, and strong incentives for meeting and exceeding Kyoto targets. Our government has signed onto tough reductions targets. It is time to get ready for reporting on much lower thresholds than Canada's GHG Inventory," said Gaile Whelan Enns.

Article 1 of the new "Rights for Nature" chapter of the Ecuador constitution gives nature the right to "exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution".

The adoption of the constitution means Ecuador's new system of environmental protection is based on rights and communities, so elected officials and even individuals have legal standing to defend the rights of nature.

Over the past year, US-based Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund assisted the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly developing and drafting provisions that put ecosystem rights directly into the Ecuadorian constitution.

Ecuador's constitutional referendum followed a July 7th vote by the 130-member Ecuador Constitutional Assembly that approved articles that recognize rights for nature and ecosystems. Nearly 70 percent of Ecuadorians voted in favour of the new charter. The new constitution also grants all citizens the right to water and universal healthcare, pensions, and free state-run education through the university level.

The Lake of the Prairies Conservation District (LPCD), a community based organization released the Shell River Watershed: State of the Watershed Report. The report provides resource management concerns and recommended actions for the watershed.

The study is an important first step to an integrated watershed management plan to deliver land and water conservation programming. The LPCD works to preserve natural resources within the Shell River watershed, which straddles the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border in western Manitoba.

Wind and solar power are growing fast in Colorado. Wind capacity has quadrupled in the past 18 month and Xcel has become the largest provider of wind power in the US. Federal investment tax credits have helped to grow renewable energies.

In 2004, Colorado passed state law mandating 10% of electricity sales come from renewable sources by 2015. Xcel Energy met the requirement eight years ahead of schedule so government doubled the target, to 20 percent by 2020.

Colorado's aims to become a leader in clean, modern energy technology. Xcel Energy is a partner in the proposed Solar Technology Acceleration Centre, in Aurora, Colorado. It will be one of the world's largest solar test and evaluation facilities.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) along with nearly 180 businesses, education and scientific organizations sent letters to both presidential candidates outlining the urgent need for a scientific and technical advisor. The groups argue scientific innovation and ingenuity are required to address energy security, climate change, health care, and U.S. economic competitiveness.

In a separate initiative, experts were asked, "what should the next president do in his first 100 days to address the planet's most pressing problems". Visit the World Changing website, an online magazine for their advice on the environment, economy, and restoring America's role as a global leader.

The Living Planet Report 2008 is a bi-annual study that measures the ecological footprint of human demand on natural resources and assesses the Earth's ability to remain a "living planet". The report is a joint effort by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Zoological Society, and the Global Footprint Network.

"If our demands on the planet continue to increase at the same rate, by the mid-2030s we would need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles," said WWF International Director-General James Leape.

USA and China have the largest national footprints, together accounting for about 40 percent of the global footprint. The water footprint is a new addition to the report, which examines the hidden economic cost of water consumption. Canada has the 12th largest water footprint with the average Canadian consuming more than two million liters of water annually.

From humble beginnings working trap lines near The Pas, Lathlin was first elected as MLA for the Pas in 1990. He served in Cabinet from 1999 to his death.

"Oscar was a champion of anything that had to do with First Nation education or northern education," said Attorney General Dave Chomiak. "It was his belief that education and economic development were absolutely pivotal to the north, and that's something he never gave up on."

"I knew Oscar Lathlin from the time he first ran for election. An advocate for northern communities, he carried the double load of being a First Nation MLA. He will be missed," said Gaile Whelan Enns.

Lathlin had a long history of asthma and respiratory trouble. He was born and raised on Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas and served as Chief of Opaskwayak in the 1980's.

CanWEA's Wind Power Survey, undertaken by The Strategic Council, asked Canadians their opinion on energy sources and action needed by industry and government.

A sizeable 67 percent of Canadians felt that all new demand for energy should be met with renewable energy sources. Wind energy was the first choice by 29 percent of Canadians and 32 percent felt it would be their second choice.

CanWEA's has released its strategic plan - Wind Vision 2025: Powering Canada's Future. It outlines how wind energy can satisfy growing energy demands and reduce Canada's annual greenhouse gas emissions by 17 Megatonnes.

"Here in Manitoba we have a confusing situation. Several environmental licenses have been issued to wind projects that are not going forward. First Nation communities interested in wind projects lack support, and Manitoba Hydro appears to be limiting the potential for wind energy in Manitoba," said Gaile Whelan Enns of Manitoba Wildlands.

On September 10, 2008, DFO declined to issue an Order under Species at Risk Act (SARA) to protect their critical habitat from destruction. DFO contended that other laws and regulations already protect killer whales.

"DFO's decision not to protect critical habitat of Resident Killer Whale is symptomatic of the federal government's widespread failure to implement the Species at Risk Act," said Gwen Barlee, policy director of The Wilderness Committee.

The endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale has suffered a 20 percent decline between 1993 and 2003, with only about 80 whales remaining. The threatened Northern Resident Whales have dropped 7 percent in recent years with only 205 remaining.