Science Matters archives
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Saving the berries for pickers and bears
August 14, 2009One of my favourite summer activities is picking wild blueberries with my family at our cabin in northern B.C. The waning weeks of summer are the best time to be... More »
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Carbon offsets: a tool in the fight against global warming
August 7, 2009The science is clear: human-caused global warming is a reality. Now it's time to focus on solutions. We need strong leadership from our governments in setting firm greenhouse gas reduction... More »
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G8 moves forward on climate change — but is it enough?
July 31, 2009The world's richest countries appear to be taking climate change seriously. At their recent meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, G8 countries agreed that global warming should not exceed two degrees Celsius,... More »
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Doing the right thing for whales
July 24, 2009The few North Atlantic right whales left in the world visit the waters off Canada's East Coast every summer and fall. They're big animals, weighing up to 80 tonnes and... More »
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Harming the environment is bad for the economy
July 17, 2009We often point out that ecology and economy have the same root, from the Greek oikos, meaning "home". Ecology is the study of home and economics is its management. But... More »
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Are your vegetables green enough?
July 10, 2009Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please! ~ Joni Mitchell Any parent knows that it can be a challenge to get kids... More »
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Celebrating our natural wealth on Canada Day
July 3, 2009The environmental challenges facing Canada are daunting — the lack of a credible plan to address climate change, the overreliance on tar sands to fuel our energy needs and economy,... More »
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Consumer demand spurs a corporate sea change
June 26, 2009Protecting our planet is no longer seen as a fringe activity. Most people now consider themselves to be environmentally aware and are taking steps to help. Caring for the environment... More »
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Canada's urban mega-regions: landscapes of opportunity or regret?
June 19, 2009According to author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, the world is flat. By this, he means the planet has effectively become seamless as a result of globalization and... More »
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What should we do with our car company?
June 12, 2009If you're a Canadian taxpayer, you're now the proud part owner of a failing automobile company, thanks to the federal and Ontario governments. They're generously giving General Motors $10.5 billion... More »
