An oil refinery with a city and sun in the background.

B.C.'s $3.5B climate plan fails to cut emissions

Despite investing billions in its CleanBC program, British Columbia’s carbon emissions remain unchanged from 2007 levels, raising questions about the province’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases.

Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports for The Narwhal.

In short:

B.C. spent $3.5 billion on CleanBC, launched in 2018 to cut emissions by 16% by 2025, but emissions remain at 2007 levels.
Government documents suggest CleanBC's goals are now "no longer workable," and the province has scrapped the consumer carbon tax.
Critics argue B.C.'s push for liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion undermines its climate efforts, despite progress in electric vehicles and methane reduction.

Key quote:

“This is deeply unfair, because we have a lot of people in British Columbia who are concerned about climate change, who are going along with the program, installing the heat pumps, maybe they got an electric car or they got rid of their car, and it’s sad that all these collective efforts are overshadowed by big fossil fuel projects and big oil lobbying throwing us back to square one.”

— Jens Wieting, senior policy and science advisor with Sierra Club BC

Why this matters:

British Columbia positioned itself as a climate leader, yet its emissions stagnation raises concerns about policy effectiveness and political will. The province's expansion of LNG projects — among the most carbon-intensive industries — appears at odds with its climate commitments. Meanwhile, extreme weather events like wildfires and floods continue to intensify, increasing costs for communities.

The failure of CleanBC to meaningfully cut emissions speaks to a broader challenge: how to reconcile economic growth with the urgent need to reduce carbon pollution. While the province has introduced policies such as carbon pricing and emissions caps for certain industries, these measures have not been enough to offset the impact of continued fossil fuel development.

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A delivery bicycle with a white box attached is parked on a sidewalk in front of a restaurant with a sign painted on the window.

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Affordable e-bikes are transforming delivery work for Latin American migrants

For immigrant delivery workers in Colombia, affordable e-bikes — financed by start-ups like Guajira — are proving to be a game-changer, offering a faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective alternative to motorbikes.

Mariel Lozada reports for Reasons To Be Cheerful.

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Britain’s sewage crisis is poisoning its waterways and economy

Widespread sewage spills are contaminating Britain’s waters, threatening businesses, biodiversity, and public health, while weak regulations and corporate profits take priority over investment in critical infrastructure.

Kate Holton and Dylan Martinez report for Reuters.

In short:

Britain’s largest offshore mussel farm, located to avoid sewage pollution, is still plagued by harmful bacteria like E. coli, blocking exports to Europe and damaging the shellfish industry.
Water companies discharged sewage for 3.6 million hours in 2023, contaminating rivers and coastlines, harming tourism, and forcing the government to review the sector. Privatized firms, which have paid billions in dividends, are accused of neglecting infrastructure upgrades.
Activists and clean water advocates are fighting back, linking sewage failures to stalled construction projects, biodiversity collapse, and public health risks, forcing officials to confront decades of underinvestment and weak oversight.

Key quote:

“It’s criminal that they’re allowed to dump what they dump in the seas and get away with it. It's affecting all sorts of businesses, including us.

— Sarah Holmyard, sales manager at Offshore Shellfish

Why this matters:

As climate change intensifies rainfall, Britain’s crumbling infrastructure is reaching a breaking point. Regulators, long accused of looking the other way, are under mounting pressure as activists connect the dots between failing water infrastructure, stalled housing projects, and collapsing ecosystems.

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In short:

Key quote:

Why this matters:

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