The Alberta Environmental Network (AEN) is a non-profit, non-partisan umbrella organization comprised of groups throughout the province dedicated to helping preserve and protect Alberta's environment. Field Notes is your source for the latest news & updates from the AEN & our member groups.
The Environmental Law Centre's Laura Bowman writes that the Climate Change Accountability Act suffers from some of the same "problematic legal issues" that led to the failure of the earlier Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act. In the case of Friends of the Earth v. Canada, (2008 FC 1183, (T.D.) appeal dismissed 2009 FCA 297) a Federal Court found that the earlier act, unenforceable and, in Bowman's words, "too general in nature to have the true force of law". Bowman argues that:
Parliamentarians and activists need to be bolder in addressing climate change, by putting forward specific measures instead of emission targets without any means of achieving them.
And that:
Bill C-311, riding on a wave of political apathy, represents a failure to take risks on real measures. Targets are the ends, but legislators need to be prepared to provide the means, and soon.
The Alberta Environment Network consists of a wide variety of environmental non-governmental organizations — from large national organizations to small grassroots groups. AEN members employ a variety of tactics to achieve their environmental goals. Amongst the most controversial, are the direct action and civil disobedience tactics employed by Greenpeace in their oil sands campaign.
The Lower Athabasca Region contains some of Alberta's most pristine wilderness. By contrast, it is also home to Alberta's oil sands — making it the most immediately threatened landscape in the province.
CPAWS is appealing to the government to protect at least 50% of the Region from industry and for wildlife and traditional public uses.
Summer has officially begun at BikeWorks! We are now open 6 days a week and eager to help you get your bike in good shape and rolling smoothly over the summer. Read more »
The Pembina Institute's Clare Demerse writes about the Harper government's goal to "harmonize" our climate policy with that of the United States; and compares Canada's climate policy to a character from a romantic comedy — "the girl so afraid of being alone that she'll settle for anyone." Read more »
University of Calgary Faculties of Social Work & Environmental Design
Jun 4 2010 - 7:45am - Jun 5 2010 - 4:30pm
Registration deadline extended to June 1
This conference is first of its kind in Calgary on sustainability, bringing progressive thought and practical sessions together in an exciting two days. The event combines dialogue, skill building, and path-finding to move us toward sustainable and resilient post-carbon communities. Read more »
The Alberta government is not following its own recovery plan to protect the province’s grizzly bear population, which will likely lead to population decline
A new report analyzing current recovery efforts in Alberta indicates that the provincial government is not doing enough to protect one of the most threatened grizzly bear populations in North America. Recent research indicates that the grizzly bear population in Alberta is small and may be declining due to expanding networks of industrial access roads and the high levels of human-caused mortality that accompany them.
Environment ministers from around the world have acknowledged that the status quo in international environmental governance, characterized by overlap, fragmentation, and resource deficiencies, is no longer an option and reform is imperative. In February 2009, at the 25th session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, ministers launched a formal political process (the so-called Belgrade process) to consider all possible options for reforming the international environmental architecture. Ministers and high-level representatives have begun outlining reform alternatives for the environmental architecture of the UN system. After two additional consultations (in Bogota in July and Helsinki in November 2010), the consultative group of ministers will present its recommendations at the 26th session of the UNEP Governing Council in February 2011. Read more »
