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"The Union of BC Indian Chiefs fully supports the efforts of Chief Wilson and Chief Leon to ensure the rights of their respective communities are recognized, respected and protected," stated Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. "What started as a recreational tenure for a local ski hill, has turned into a massive four-season high-density resort which now desires to incorporate as a municipality."

In 2007, the UBCIC Chiefs Council passed Resolution 2007-21 which noted efforts in Chief Wilson and Chief Leon to respond to the Sun Peaks Incorporation Study Committee. Specifically, they stated their communities' opposition to the municipal incorporation and to the proposed Ministry of Forests' road construction to Sun Peaks Resort until their Aboriginal Title and Rights were addressed and their interests fully reconciled.

Grand Chief Phillip added, "The Union of BC Indian Chiefs fully supports meaningful consultation that respects Aboriginal Title and Rights and not a process where the economic or commercial interests of the privileged few trump ecological values and constitutionally protected Indigenous Title and Rights."

The water slated to be transferred, 13.3 million tonnes a year through a 72 kilometre-long pipeline, would be used around Minot, N.D. and would drain into the Souris River, flowing into Manitoba. Manitoba has been fighting the transfer, known as the Northwest Area Water Supply project, in the U.S. court system since 2002, claiming the venture violated U.S. law and risked causing irreparable harm through the potential spread of species not naturally found in Canada.

Manitoba welcomed the decision. "While the future of the project is still uncertain, today's ruling will assist in achieving adequate measures to protect Manitoba's valuable water, including Lake Winnipeg ... from the threat of harm posed by invasive species," said Christine Melnick, Manitoba's Minister of Water Stewardship.

This year Earth Day is a call to action for a global referendum on climate change. Other core issues supported are advocacy, conservation and biodiversity, education, energy, food and agriculture, green economy, recycling and waste reduction, sustainable development and water.

This year Earth Day is running 47 campaigns, 19 petitions, 99 scheduled events with 10, 000,094 pledges of support.

As a nation, Scotland is attempting to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020 while still contributing to other initiatives such as food security. Planting this number of trees is equivalent to planting 10, 000 hectares a year and will increase CO2 absorption, provide sustainable building sources and a source of renewable energy.

The decision to plant the trees is part of a movement to encourage government, business and communities around the world to plant a tree for every person to help counter climate change. As a leader in international action against climate change, Scotland is encouraging the rest of the world to follow its lead and is advocating for an increase in European Union emission reduction targets for 2020.

The Climate Group was formed in 2005 and includes Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia in Canada, and various governments, states and businesses from around the world, including Scotland.

The 2009 grade, a C, reflects steps taken late in 2009 to establish 6 new protected areas, two of which are of moderate size.

"The annual protected areas report card is a really helpful tool. It gives Manitobans an easy to understand snap shot of how our public natural areas are being managed. The Wilderness Committee agrees [with the findings] that our boreal regions are largely unprotected still, and action is needed before more development is authorized," said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

"We have frozen the third criteria (natural regions represented) until the Selinger government confirms its technical, ecological and consultation standards, and puts a Protected Areas Strategy for Manitoba in place. The technical assessment for this year, which includes bonus and penalty actions, shows improvement, but there is a lot of catching up to do," commented Gaile Whelan Enns, director of Manitoba Wildlands.

As finance minister, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger made significant protected areas commitments.

The 2010 World Water Day, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme, slogan is "Clean Water for a Healthy World." UN-Water dedicates this day to the theme of water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management. World Water Day 2010 activities will communicate messages on water quality, ecosystems and human well-being.

Primates in Peril, was compiled by conservation and primate experts from around the world with first hand knowledge of primate population numbers and habitat conditions. Experts agree that 5 primate species from Madagascar, 6 species from Africa, 11 species from Asia and 3 species from Central and South America are all severely endangered. In worst case scenarios, only a few dozen animals are left in the wild. The 25 species listed in the report represent a wide range of primates from lemurs to gorillas.

According to experts, if conservation efforts by government and local communities are not initiated soon, many of these species will become extinct.

The wolverine is the largest member of the weasel family and specially adapted for life on the snow. It feeds off carrion, hares, marmots and small rodents. Dr Brodie found that where winter snowpack levels are declining most quickly wolverine populations are also declining most quickly. Dr. Brodie attributes the decline to a number of factors including less food availability from ungulates being killed in deep snow, and less insulation from the snow for small rodent populations.

Canada's eastern wolverines are already endangered species and western populations are rated as being of special concern. Dr. Brodie recommends that wolverines be closely monitored and as climate change worsens, trapping and disturbance of wolverine habitat should be reduced.

Plan Nord planning applies to all areas north of the 49th parallel, an area spanning over one million square kilometers and 72% of all of Quebec. The area is inhabited by 121,000 people, 33,000 of those are Cree, Inuit, Naskapi or Innu, representing four different nations.

Despite Quebec and Labrador government promises to work with communities affected and to be socially responsible in the planning process, First Nations are raising concerns against Plan Nord. Communities are concerned large scale developments will disrupt traditional lifestyles, impact territories, cause pollution and not be based on meaningful consultation and accommodation of concerns. Development intentions in Plan Nord, has caused the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador to ask Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene.

By reporting on these indicators, government can assist Manitobans in being informed and encourage them to participate in the long-term strategies for sustainability in Manitoba.

The Act requires a report every five years, the last one was released in the first half of 2005. The 2010 report will potentially indicate where data sources have improved, and allow comparison to report contents five years before.

"Manitoba's sustainable development principles and guidelines are frequently being ignored in planning and licensing. Also data sources need to be strengthened in order to provide clear ongoing status reports for Manitoban about our environment, and our communities. We hope the 2010 report is already moving through peer review, and will be released soon," Gaile Whelan Enns, director of Manitoba Wildlands.

Less than half of the 156 cottages in Long Lake and Beresford Lake will be hooked up to electricity service. Alternatives to the project, such as solar power, were not investigated. Only 72 cottagers have paid the $10,000 fee. Cottage owner Brian Gudmundson states Manitoba Hydro is trying to put in the power line without proper consultation or majority support.

"A complete pause [of the project] is what is required and anything less than that would be to put a rubber stamp on this flawed process – and that is wrong for all Manitobans," states Gudmundson.

The Sagkeeng First Nation also opposes the project and has criticized the province for failure to appropriately notify and accommodate Sagkeeng concerns. These include being blocked from any economic benefit from a project in their traditional territory.

A common theme among concerns is that the project will lead to further development in the park.

The program is divided into two streams - FIT and microFIT. The FIT Program is for renewable energy projects that can generate more than 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. Very small projects, at a home or small business which generate 10 kW or less work under the microFIT Program.

The overall benefits of feed in tarriffs are: participates are paid for the power they produce and deliver to the province’s power grid, while contributing to a healthier environment and creating new local businesses and green jobs.