Too many people are consuming more than Earth’s systems can replenish. But while population growth is an important issue, overconsumption of energy and products is the more immediate and easily resolvable problem. The wealthy, including middle-class people in rich countries, are responsible for many times the climate-altering...

On July 6, the world’s average temperature was the hottest ever recorded, at 17.23 C. That beat the previous highs on… July 3 and 4! June was the hottest month ever, but July is shaping up to be even hotter. Experts expect more records to break over the next while, as an El Niño weather pattern combines with record emissions...

The Fear A. I. is off the leash. Accept this as a given. The A.I. that has an off-switch, is not cause for alarm. But there are forms of A.I. which cannot be turned off now. Humans have set it at liberty, to roam the cybersphere, the electronic oceans saturating our global civilization. The 1 and the O, the One and the Void,...

Be prepared for extreme heat and drought  As we kick off the summer months, now is the time to ensure people in your community are prepared for extreme heat. Making a plan is the first step you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during extreme heat. Staying hydrated, finding ways to keep your home cool, and ...

With all the problems in the world, from massive inequality to the climate crisis, you’d think voluntary guidelines to improve corporate environmental and social practices would be a no-brainer. After all, addressing those critical issues can also boost a company’s bottom line. But for companies with business models based on...

In communities across B.C., farmers’ markets offer an opportunity for people to get locally grown, healthy, fresh food from the farmers in their neighbourhood. Farmers’ markets also are a place for social connection, as well as a support for food security across B.C. But, we know that this food isn’t always accessible to...

In 1989, I did a radio series for CBC called It’s a Matter of Survival. It examined how humans were altering the environment in detrimental ways, including heating the planet by burning massive amounts of coal, oil and gas for power and transportation. Listeners were so concerned that 17,000 sent in letters (this was pre-email...

By Alex Hemingway As the housing crisis continues apace, the BC government is moving ahead with implementation of the Housing Supply Act, passed in November. This is good news because the housing shortage in this province is as severe as ever. Ultra-low vacancy rates have taken hold in the province’s most expensive regions ...

Building a stronger healthcare system for people is one of our top priorities as a government. Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced a number of important new initiatives to make healthcare more efficient and effective. Your local pharmacist can now assess and prescribe medication for 21 common ailments, like pink eye,...

A long, destructive summer is coming to B.C. forests  British Columbia is poised to suffer a historically ruinous fire season and we have only ourselves to blame.  Warm, dry weather early in the season is part of the problem, to be sure. Climate change is likely making things worse. But B.C.’s history of fire suppression and...