By: Alex Dumais On October 8, 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its report on climate change. Among other things, the report warned the world was approaching a devastating and irreversible environmental “tipping point” in the battle against climate change. But while governments drag their feet, action is coming from an […]
Tag Archives: climate change
COP24: What does the new Paris Agreement rulebook mean for Canada’s climate pledges?
By: Isabel Dávila When the Paris Agreement was adopted during the COP21 in December 2015, news releases were filled with references to the landmark agreement. Statements from ENGOs,[6] celebrated what was seen as the most significant step forward in the international fight against climate change. On December 2018, the 24th Conference of the Parties to […]
How Are Vulnerable Populations Impacted by Carbon Pricing Schemes in Canada?
By: Christie McLeod One of the biggest injustices of climate change is that those least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change are often the most affected by climate change. This is true on both a global scale and within Canada’s borders. For instance, according to Sarah Trainor et al, many Indigenous […]
Cutting through the static: Understanding Ontario’s Electricity Prices
By Jennifer Evola The high cost of electricity has recently re-emerged as a hot-button issue in Ontario, with headlines like “Ontario electricity has never been cheaper, but bills have never been higher” and “Why does Ontario’s electricity cost so much?”. Premier Wynne has been called on to reduce ever-increasing electricity rates, among a slew of […]
Sipping Pumpkin Spice Lattes in Summer Clothes: Disrupting Complacency About Climate Change
By Sarah Jane Attardo It was an early October weekend when I scurried outside with my jacket in hand heading towards the closest Starbucks to acquire my coveted seasonal beverage – a pumpkin spice latte. While in line, a sudden realization dawned upon me: it was a very agreeable 18°C outdoors and yet here we […]
Holes in the Ontario Climate Change Regime
By Timon Sisic Ontario’s greenhouse gas cap and trade regime is not clear enough to be called an aggressive step in the right direction on addressing climate change. As it currently stands, the legislation and regulations are an empty shell that gives the appearance of strong leadership on carbon emission reduction without actually giving guidance to […]
EJS Clinic co-director David Estrin to co-host special climate change litigation events in Oslo
On June 21, 2016, EJS Clinic co-director and CIGI International Law Research Program Senior Research Fellow David Estrin will co-host two special side events on climate change litigation at the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law's annual Colloquium in Oslo, Norway. If you will be in Oslo, check out these important events! Access to Justice in […]
Putting Pipelines to the Test: Incorporating Climate Impacts into the Pipeline Review Process
On January 27 2016, the Liberal Government announced that oil and gas projects under federal jurisdiction will now involve an assessment of upstream greenhouse gas emissions and this information will be made public. “Upstream” effects refer to GHG emissions from oil and gas exploration and production. For projects currently under review, including Trans Mountain Expansion […]
Downstream Emissions in Canada’s New Environmental Assessment “Climate Test”
In late January 2016, Canada’s federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, and Minister of Natural Resources, Jim Carr, announced interim changes to environmental assessment processes as part of “efforts to restore public trust.” One of the changes is to assess “[d]irect and upstream greenhouse gas emissions linked to projects under review.” This is a […]
Climate Change Risk Disclosure: A Disruptive Idea
What can a simple sticker possibly do to counter the systemic and intricate causes of climate change? The answer appears to be “lots!” for the right sticker at the right place. As part of the Osgoode Environmental Justice and Sustainability Clinic, I have had the honour of working with the non-profit organization Our Horizon this year. […]
