Weekly roundup of climate change news to July 21, 2024

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Here’s all the latest news concerning the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and the steps leaders are taking to address these issues.

In climate news this week:

• Wildfire near Spences Bridge explodes in size
• ’Like lava’: Evacuee tells of frightening fire escape, as blazes spike across B.C.
• Vancouver not on track to meet carbon reduction target of 50 per cent by 2030
• Federal government announces $50 million for conservation projects in B.C.

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Human activities like burning fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This causes heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, increasing the planet’s surface temperature.

The panel, which is made up of scientists from around the world, has warned for decades that wildfires and severe weather, such as B.C.’s deadly heat dome and catastrophic flooding in 2021, would become more frequent and more intense because of the climate emergency. It has issued a “code red” for humanity and warns the window to limit warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial times is closing.

But it’s not too late to avoid the worst-case scenarios. According to NASA climate scientists, if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the rise in global temperatures would begin to flatten within a few years. Temperatures would then plateau but remain well-elevated for many centuries.

Check back every Saturday for more climate and environmental news or sign up for our Climate Connected newsletter HERE.

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Climate change quick facts:

• The Earth is now about 1.2 C warmer than it was in the 1800s.
• 2023 was hottest on record globally, beating the last record in 2016.
• Human activities have raised atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by nearly 49 per cent above pre-industrial levels starting in 1850.
• The world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement target to keep global temperature from exceeding 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, the upper limit to avoid the worst fallout from climate change including sea level rise, and more intense drought, heat waves and wildfires.
• On the current path of carbon dioxide emissions, the temperature could increase by as much as 4.4 C by the end of the century.
• In April, 2022 greenhouse gas concentrations reached record new highs and show no sign of slowing.
• Emissions must drop 7.6 per cent per year from 2020 to 2030 to keep temperatures from exceeding 1.5 C and 2.7 per cent per year to stay below 2 C.
• 97 per cent of climate scientists agree that the climate is warming and that human beings are the cause.

(Source: United Nations IPCC, World Meteorological Organization, UNEP, NASA, climatedata.ca)

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Latest News

Wildfires erupt in B.C. with more heat and thunderstorms on the way

The number of wildfires in British Columbia has flared as more lightning storms bring the potential for further fire starts.

More than 300 wildfires are burning in the province, and more than half of those are classified as out of control.

The fast-moving Shetland Creek fire burning near Spences Bridge is of the most concern, with evacuation orders and alerts popping up in Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Spences Bridge, the Ashcroft First Nation and several Cook’s Ferry Indian Band reserves.

Heat warnings and thunderstorm watches cover a large section of south and eastern B.C., bringing strong winds, heavy rain, hail and also the lightning that has set off so many of the current fires burning.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says smoke conditions are also expected to increase, while fires from Alberta are expected to bring smoke into the northeastern corner of B.C.

The service says weeks of hot, record-breaking temperatures and dry conditions continue to contribute to an increase in fire behaviour and growth.

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Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

Wildfire near Spences Bridge explodes in size overnight as heat wave continues

The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia’s southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as “significant overnight growth” and more accurate mapping.

The fast-growing fire, now listed at 124 square kilometres in size, up from 57 square kilometres, has prompted evacuation orders and alerts between the communities of Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, east of Kamloops.

An update posted to the B.C. Wildfire Service website says conditions are hot, dry, and windy, and there’s potential for continued substantial growth of the fire today.

It says the blaze advanced about six kilometres in the northwest direction parallel to Highway 1 Thursday night.

The service says 71 firefighters and six helicopters are currently battling the blaze in addition to structure protection personnel, heavy equipment operators, and an incident management team.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded an evacuation order Thursday evening to cover about 85 properties in the Venables Valley area, while the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has issued orders for several reserves along the Thompson River.

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Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

’Like lava’: Evacuee tells of frightening fire escape, as blazes spike across B.C.

Nandini Villeneuve and other residents of the Saranagati Hare Krishna village were in a meeting with emergency staff from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District late Wednesday when it was announced that a wildfire bearing down on the religious community had worsened.

“It kind of just took off and then we were told that the meeting is done, and you guys are getting out of here,” said Villeneuve.

She said that when she and the 25 families living in Saranagati left for nearby Cache Creek around 7 p.m., the Shetland Creek wildfire was descending the mountain “like lava coming down,” shocking evacuees with its speed.

The rapid growth of the out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in the B.C. Interior came ahead of a major spike in the number of fires across the province, while the BC Wildfire Service braced for what was expected to be a “very challenging” 72 hours.

By 6 p.m. Thursday, there were about 247 active fires across B.C., according to the B.C. Wildfire Service online dashboard, including about 100 that started in the previous 24 hours. Just over half the fires were burning out of control.

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Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

Vancouver not on track to meet carbon reduction target of 50 per cent by 2030

While Vancouver has made inroads in reducing carbon pollution, the city is still not on track to meet its target of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent within six years.

The shortfall is detailed in a staff report that will go before city council Tuesday.

Vancouver’s five-year climate plan began in 2020. With that timeline coming to an end next year, the report recommends the city refresh a plan to 2030, one that includes stepping up efforts to meet the emissions targets.

The city’s overall climate plan is broken into two parts: the climate emergency action plan and the climate change adaptation strategy. The first will work to reduce pollution from the two largest sources of carbon emissions in Vancouver, which are buildings and transportation.

The climate adaptation plan will focus on the five main climate change-related hazards facing Vancouver. These include extreme heat, air quality mainly from wildfire smoke, drought, extreme rainfall, and sea level rise.

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This will all be a major undertaking to meet targets given that the city has only cut community-wide carbon pollution by 17 per cent since 2007, according to the report. Given a 15-per-cent spike in population during this time though, staff tout this as a success, citing improvements in energy efficiency and fuel switching in buildings, increased walking, cycling and transit usage, and a growing shift to electric vehicles.

Despite that progress, the report says the city is not on track to meet the target established by council to reduce carbon pollution by 50 per cent by 2030, which is based on the recommendations of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to limit the severity of climate change.

One of the bigger challenges will be to upgrade older buildings to reduce emissions.

Read the full story here.

—Tiffany Crawford

Federal government announces $50 million for conservation projects in B.C.

The federal government is spending $89 million to fund 10 greenhouse gas emission reduction projects as the government works toward the goal of conserving 30 per cent of the country’s land and water by 2030.

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Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made the announcement in B.C. on Thursday, where he said the “evidence of climate change is striking,” referencing extreme weather events including flooding, drought and “devastating” wildfire seasons.

“With the goal of reversing biodiversity loss across the country, bit by bit, we’re getting there, protecting prime lands and waters that serve up some of the most important habitats for imperilled species.”

He added that the projects are also aiding in the fight against climate change.

Guilbeault told the conference in West Vancouver that about $50 million of the funding is slated for major projects in the province. He later noted that some projects have been in the works for some time and have already put that money to use.

“Often we will quietly work with organizations and Indigenous nations behind the scenes and then once the project are almost completed, we can make we can make the announcement like we’re doing this morning,” he said Thursday.

Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July

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More than two dozen daily heat records were broken or tied in British Columbia on Wednesday as sweltering temperatures swept across the province.

At least 27 communities set daily temperature records across B.C., and Lytton was the province’s hot spot at 42 C, shattering the 2009 record of 35.3 C.

The heat wave also hit Lillooet and Ashcroft with temperatures over 40 C.

Temperatures in the high 30s were seen in numerous communities, including Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops.

Environment Canada says the second heat wave for July is set to continue into next week in the Interior before gradually easing, while coastal areas could see conditions moderate after the weekend.

Environment Canada is warning people to look for early signs of heat illness since these symptoms can develop into life-threatening emergencies.

Read the full story here.

—The Canadian Press

Toronto flooding: Videos show heavy rain, flooding as rainfall warning issued

Residents have taken to social media to capture the intense stormy weather as Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for the City of Toronto on Tuesday morning.

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Although heavy rains are expected across southern Ontario, Toronto seemed particularly hard hit, with power outages even being reported in some areas. The ground, which is already near saturation, isn’t able to absorb any more rainfall, according to a statement by Environment Canada.

“Total rainfall amounts of up to 125 mm are possible with rainfall rates of 40 mm within an hour. This extremely heavy (rainfall) will gradually taper over the next few hours. Rapidly rising rivers and creeks can sweep away bridges, culverts, buildings, and people,” the statement continued.

“Abandon stalled cars if water is rising rapidly. Keep children and pets away from creeks and river banks. Consider moving valuable items to higher levels.”

In one video posted on X, cars can be seen in downtown Toronto, at York and Harbour streets. They appear to float as they cross the intersection and the water gets deeper.

Read the full story here.

—Courtney Greenberg

9,000 evacuated in northeast Canada due to wildfires

Around 9,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern Canada because of raging wildfires, officials said Saturday.

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Residents of the towns of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador province were ordered to leave their homes, said provincial fire duty officer Jeff Motty.

“We are seeing extreme fire behaviour out there. The fire is moving about 50 meters per minute,” Motty said.

Images shared on social media showed lines of cars waiting to fill up at gas stations as the sky was obscured by enormous clouds of smoke.

Read the full story here.

—AFP

World’s first hydrogen-powered commercial ferry set to operate on San Francisco Bay, officials say

The world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial passenger ferry will start operating on San Francisco Bay as part of plans to phase out diesel-powered vessels and reduce planet-warming carbon emissions, California officials said Friday, demonstrating the ship.

The 721-metre catamaran called the MV Sea Change will transport up to 75 passengers along the waterfront between Pier 41 and the downtown San Francisco ferry terminal starting July 19, officials said. The service will be free for six months while it’s being run as part of a pilot program.

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“The implications for this are huge because this isn’t its last stop,” said Jim Wunderman, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which runs commuter ferries across the bay. “If we can operate this successfully, there are going to be more of these vessels in our fleet and in other folks’ fleets in the United States and we think in the world.”

Sea Change can travel about 300 nautical miles and operate for 16 hours before it needs to refuel. The fuel cells produce electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen in an electrochemical reaction that emits water as a byproduct.

The technology could help clean up the shipping industry, which produces nearly three per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, officials said. That’s less than from cars, trucks, rail or aviation but still a lot — and it’s rising.

Read the full story here.

—The Associated Press

Single-use plastic bags banned in B.C. as next round of regulations kicks in

Plastic shopping bags and other single-use products are no longer available at B.C. stores as the government implements the latest step in its plan to phaseout certain plastic items and keep harmful chemicals out of landfills.

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As of July 15, businesses may no longer provide single-use plastic shopping bags, and they must charge a minimum of $2 for new reusable bags or 25 cents for new paper bags.

A statement from the province says food-service businesses are restricted from distributing single-use containers with certain plastics that are hard to recycle, including “biodegradable” and “compostable” plastics as well as polystyrene foam.

Food-service businesses have been barred from offering disposable plastic utensils since December 2023, with some exceptions, such as plastic lids for drinks.

Oxo-degradable plastic packaging has been banned.

—The Canadian Press

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