Electric Cars, Changing Winters and Urban Forests
After COP27 and COP15, and a peaking coverage, we're back to baseline attention for the climate in January, but Canadian reporters published some awesome stories you should read.
February 15, 2023
đ This newsletter is 616 words long, a 4.7-minute read.
Weâre back with the best Canadian climate news since mid-December! It was a busy period, with the COP15 leading to a landmark agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Iâm sorry for being a little late to send you the newsletter : Iâve been stressed out by Twitterâs multiple announcements, and delays, that they will be putting a major tool weâre using under a paywall. After LOTS data scrapping, I am relieved by a new delay, but I really worry, like hundreds of researchers, about the impact of that upcoming decision on academic research.
I had a few short nights, but the positive side is our methodology was refined. We now scrape the data from 116 accounts from Canadian media, which revealed a clear gap between how much francophone and anglophone media tweet about the climate. I will investigate, I promise!
See you soon!
Amélie
News
Electric cars
The Canadian government recently released a new mandate for electric vehicles. The announcement outlines the sale progression of electric cars, up until the end goal of all cars being bought are electric 2030. To get a better understanding for the timeline for the sales of electric vehicles in the country and what the implications of this mandate are, check out these articles by Global News story and The Globe and Mail. Also, if you thought itâs difficult to buy an electric, check out this Toronto Star article, which explains this shouldnât be the case for much longer.
Ski and Snowstorms
What is more fitting for winter than snow, snow, and more snow? With maybe a storm and some winter sports thrown in. Even though the planet is getting hotter, climate change results in extreme weather events like blizzards and deep freezes, which may seem counterintuitive. CTV News demonstrates the relationship between climate change and severe cold weather events. Ski hills are reliant on snow and cold temperatures and this CBC article explains how the industry is being impacted by climate change. How can doing research on ski mountains in Alberta impact our understanding of the changing climate? Helen Pike explains.Â
Solutions
Urban tree planting
This monthâs solution journalism story is this piece by The Globe and Mail, which explores the creation of urban forests. As we know, trees are extremely important in absorbing greenhouse gases and helping limit the impact of high heat, especially in cities. The challenge, however getting seedlings grow into tall, strong trees, so scientists have teamed up nurseries and cities to find the best practices to ensure they thrive in urban environments.
Social Media
Misinformation
A concerning wave of disinformation around climate change has been taking place on social media. Some of the videos which attack the validity of various well-known natural disasters and phenomena are accumulating millions of views. In this excellent article by the CBC, journalist Jaela Bernstien addresses the dangers of circulating conspiracy theories and how researchers are re-establishing the truth behind acid rain and holes in the ozone. Â
Miscellaneous
Here are other stories we believe are worth a few minutes of your time :
Quoi surveiller en environnement en 2023 â Le Devoir
The promise of COP15 - Canadian Geographic
What should Canada be doing about climate change? 25 recommendations â CTV News
ConfrontĂ© Ă un.e climatosceptique? 12 affirmations Ă nuancer â Journal Metro MontrĂ©al
La pandémie, responsable de la diminution des émissions de GES au Québec - Radio-Canada
Balado | Des jeunes en quĂȘte dâune meilleure Ă©ducation climatique - Le Devoir
'Glaciers can't get a break': How climate change is affecting Canada's icy landscape - Vancouver Sun
The Climate and the Media in Canada newsletter is a monthly publication brought to you by Concordia Journalism assistant professor AmĂ©lie Daoust-Boisvert and her team. Itâs made possible because of support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Questions, feedback? Reach out at cmrconcordia@gmail.com Â
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This month, the newsletter is signed by Amélie Daoust-Boisvert, Brianna Losinger-Ross and Mélanie Lussier. Editor-in-chief and editor Amélie Daoust-Boisvert