Government

Ottawa promises more rules on carbon

Plus, carbon emissions of water, Canada's "blue economy," and buttering up

By Marcie Good /

Credit: Mark Gifford/Flickr

A weekly roundup of news and views on energy, mining, forestry, and more

The federal government will introduce new regulations to cut Canadian carbon emissions later this fall, according to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna. The new measures will include making new and old buildings and houses more energy efficient. The regulations will come on top of a national carbon tax unveiled by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week. “Some people say just have a price on carbon,” said McKenna. “If you were to do that, the price would be so high it wouldn’t make any sense. So that’s why you have to have a variety of different measures.” (The Globe and Mail)

Most approaches to reducing global warming involve limiting activities that involve combusting fossil fuels, like driving automobiles. But we rarely draw the connection between the production of energy and another important resource: water. In California, 20 per cent of the state’s electricity and 30 per cent of the natural gas that isn’t used by power plants goes to the water system–from pumping it for delivery to disposing of wastewater. Could saving water play a significant role in addressing climate change? (The Guardian)

Canada owns the world’s longest coastline, and recent investments in marine innovation have raised global interest. Kate Moran, CEO of Ocean Networks Canada, argues here that Canada can lead the “blue economy.” “Anchored by investment in Maritime and coastal tourism, resource exploration, shipbuilding and port activities, this blue economy will also be built through innovative ocean data analytics, ecosystem-based fisheries management, aquaculture and ocean renewable-energy systems.” (The Globe and Mail)

After skyrocketing in 2016, the price of butter is starting to slip. Why? It’s not demonized any more, as health studies have shifted focus from fat to the toxic effects of sugar, and popular diets such as the Paleo actually embrace butter. As demand rose, producers have ramped up supply, leading to a glut. Analysts expect prices to slide even further. (BNN)