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Harris-Decima vice president Jeff Walker said the results are surprising considering more than 400,000 jobs have been lost since October of 2008. Despite real concerns about the economy, 73 percent of respondents said they were personally making an effort to be more environmentally conscious. The new poll also reveals 67 percent of Canadians think the environment should not be put on the backburner while governments tackle current economic problems

"In contrast to prevailing views that environmental efforts recede in a recession, Canadians continue to integrate environmentally sustainable behaviours into their lives, and overwhelmingly believe much more can and should be done," said Walker.

Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental groups, coordinated the 2009 Climate Change Proxy Season of shareholder filings along with the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility.

The groups found that of the 68 resolutions, 31 were withdrawn after companies agreed to positive climate-related commitments. The more a company is doing to combat climate change the less risk for investors.

"Investor pressure is prompting more companies to see the value of making their businesses climate-friendly," said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres. "By measuring and lowering the carbon footprint of their operations and products, these companies will have a distinct advantage as the global economy shifts to cleaner energy sources."

In March 2009, the Minister of Conservation directed the CEC to conduct an investigation and hold public meetings to consider LP's request to permanently shut down oxidizers (RTOs), which reduce air emissions from the plant.

• narrowness of scope for CEC's investigation
• credibility of information provided by LP – in particular its study related to human health impacts, implementation of monitoring, and questionable handling of technical information
• LP's claims regarding reduced GHG emissions resulting from decommissioning of RTOs.

The CEC will produce a report on its investigation with recommendations for the Minister of Conservation as to permanently decommissioning the RTOs should be granted.

In his speech to the August 2009 national NDP convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia Mr. Doer (who was the first Canadian government leader to endorse the Kyoto Protocol), outlined his new position for the Copenhagen global climate change agreement.

While talking about reducing greenhouse gas emissions being "a good thing" Mr. Doer went on to say, "And whether it is the World Trade Organization, the Canada-US trading relationship or the issues of trade in Copenhagen, it will be very important that we do not have a 'Trojan Horse' that eliminates jobs in North America and jobs in Canada in the guise of Climate Change because India and China are not scoped in on an equal basis."

This argument was traditionally used by the Bush administration – and continues to be supported by Canada's current government. Canada and the US continue to advocate that China and India take on binding emission cuts despite no binding emission reductions in North American climate policy.

The $3.3 billion pipeline will stretch 1,600 kilometers and carry about 450,000 barrels of oil a day. Environmental organizations are launching a lawsuit claiming the permit does not take into account indirect and cumulative impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and refining impacts.

Leech Lake Band in Minnesota stands to be the most affected by the pipeline. A group of Leech Lake tribal members have collected nearly 700 signatures on a petition to hold a referendum on the agreement to allow the line through 64 kilometers of tribal land.

"If they vote against the agreement, the pipeline route would have to go around the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which would require a new Environmental Impact Study, plus other permits including a new Presidential Permit," said Marty Cobenais of the nonprofit Indigenous Environmental Network.

Simcoe County Council voted 22-10 in favor of imposing a one-year moratorium on the 20-hectare dump. Known as Site 41, it is located in Tiny Township northwest of Barrie, Ontario. The site was originally selected in the 1980s, and approved in 2007.

Local residents, politicians, and First Nations were victorious after setting up camp at Site 41 and barricading the entrance gates to workers. Activists attracted support from Ralph Nader, Maude Barlow and David Suzuki.

Ontario Environment Commissioner Gordon Miller has stated that if the decision taken today, the Alliston aquifer would never have been chosen as a dumpsite. The moratorium will allow for public hearings and an independent scientific assessment of the model used to grant the landfill permit.

The goal is to create a tool to assist researchers and policymakers to better understand biodiversity, patterns of plants and animal behavior. Close to 2 million people from more than 200 countries have contributed to the website. The project is likely to cost $100 million and has recently received $12.5 million from private foundations.

Users can contribute a photograph or observation and experts will verify all submissions. The encyclopedia will help scientists understand the impacts of global warming on biodiversity and the movement of species to cooler climates.

The program is intended to stabilize the Canadian renewable fuel industry and stimulate the local economy. Canada will invest up to $1.5 billion over nine years in biofuel production and has already signed contribution agreements with 23 companies.

While debate continues about ethanol produced from grain generating less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline on a life-cycle basis, Husky shifted to mostly imported corn for the Minnedosa plant. Canada will require 5 percent renewable fuel content in gasoline by 2010 and 2 percent in diesel by 2011.

Husky's Minnedosa fuels facility has been operating since 1980 and in 2007 expanded production capacity from 10 million to 130 million liters of ethanol per year. Hog producers in Canada and the US fear ethanol development will force farmers to import grain, and corn, raising feed prices. Grain and corn prices worldwide have increased due to ethanol production.

Farmers and golf courses have used atrazine for decades. In Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kansas yearly average levels of atrazine were at least ten times the federal standard yet the US Environmental Protection Agency failed to inform residents.

EPA officials said atrazine is not a health hazard but a new report by Natural Resources Defense Council says adverse reproductive effects of atrazine have been seen in amphibians, mammals and humans, even at low levels of exposure.

The report states 75 percent of stream water and 40 percent of all groundwater samples from agricultural areas contained atrazine. NRDC recommends phasing out atrazine and implementing more effective monitoring.

A formal whistleblower complaint made months ago under the new Public Interest Disclosure Act prompted the audit. Auditor General Carol Bellringer will examine management practices that identify, measure and monitor risk at Manitoba Hydro.

The Manitoba Public Utilities Board has raised serious concerns over the company's ambitious $18 billion construction plans to build Conawapa and Keeyask dams, plus a high voltage transmission power line along the west side of Lake Manitoba.

Hydro President Bob Brennan says he is not worried by the audits. He says the public utility is managing risks well while keeping rates among the lowest in North America. The Hydro audits will probably not be competed until next year.

Recent actions by the Manitoba government contradict this decision. In June 2009 the government proclaimed the ' No Logging in Parks ' Bill, as a set of Amendments to the Forest Act. And the Manitoba government has declared woodland caribou an endangered species under Manitoba's Endangered Species Act (MESA). The MESA includes ability to protect habitat for listed species.The Grass River Park contains government documented woodland caribou migration routes, wintering and calving areas. The logging road bisects these caribou areas.

The logging road is to transport fibre to Tolko's Kraft mill in the Pas. Company sources indicate the road will save time, and money compared to existing routes via the park to the mill. Tolko supported the Amendments Act to ban logging in Manitoba parks during legislative hearings.

Manitoba Wilderness Committee, Manitoba Wildlands, the leader of The Manitoba Liberal Party, and the leader of The Manitoba Greens presented together at a press conference in downtown Winnipeg Wednesday, August 19, 2009. Speakers indicated this decision adds risk to the boreal forest environment, woodland caribou, the integrity of the park and the credibility of Manitoba Conservation.

Media reports, and maps are linked below.

Kimberly-Clark pledged to get its wood fiber for brands including Kleenex, Scott and Cottenelle from environmentally responsible forests. The products will feature the FSC label on their packaging starting September 2009. FSC standards are globally recognized as the highest in forestry.

Greenpeace helped design the company's new sourcing rules and said it would end its nearly five-year campaign against the company clear cutting in Canada's boreal forest.

"Canada's boreal forest is the largest ancient forest left in North America," said Richard Brooks of Greenpeace Canada. "Though vast, already 60 percent is allocated to logging companies. Less than 10 percent of Canada's boreal forest is permanently protected."