Trees near farmland pay environmental dividends

Shelterbelts and hedgerows reduce emissions of greenhouse gas by an average of 89 per cent

Trees near farmland pay environmental dividendsBoth dead and alive, trees are an essential ally for farmers in helping the environment, a new University of Alberta study shows. Preserving and planting shelterbelts and hedgerows – and keeping the deadwood they contain – next to cropland helps store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Retaining those live and dead trees, and planting…

Proteins politicized in the fight to “save the planet”

There is no place for the state in the kitchens of the nation

Proteins politicized in the fight to “save the planet”During the current campaign in Quebec, one political party recently proposed a protein shift in the public cafeterias and institutions by offering a menu made up of 50 per cent plant-based protein meals. In the same vein, the party also suggested that 70 per cent of food products served in public institutions be local. Local…

Islands in the heat: research reveals urban hotspots

Surface temperatures in Edmonton have increased by as much as 12C compared with surrounding rural areas over the last two decades

Islands in the heat: research reveals urban hotspotsLast summer, Nilusha Welegedara and her family sweltered in their rented Edmonton townhouse, relying on air conditioning and fans to help make life bearable. With no trees for shade and living next door to a sun-baked parking lot, even going outside offered little relief, the University of Alberta researcher recalls. But then they moved to…

B.C.’s taxpayer-funded climate virtue-signalling continues

Sue Big Oil project illustrates how disconnected Canada’s West Coast climate industry is from the real world

B.C.’s taxpayer-funded climate virtue-signalling continuesDue to a series of unfortunate events, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, there is a world shortage of affordable food and energy. How and when this will end is unknown. Everyone is affected. Those who suffer the most historically live in developing countries. But today, it is affecting nations previously thought to be…

The emergence of fusion energy

The emergence of fusion energyEpisode 22 in our DECARBONIZATION series discusses the emergence of fusion for energy, its implications for decarbonization of energy, and the ramifications for transforming the world's ever-growing appetite for energy. The series was produced by KEI Network in partnership with Troy Media. We welcome your comments below.  Panel Rob Norris serves as a special…

Our agri-food world is about to get a whole lot smaller

Exporting actual food products may no longer be the best option moving forward

Our agri-food world is about to get a whole lot smallerIt’s tomato season, and Canadians love their tomatoes. It is by far the most popular vegetable at the grocery store. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the average Canadian consumes at least six to seven kilos of tomatoes per year. More than 12 kilos per capita of fresh and processed tomatoes are made available to…

Revitalization of nuclear energy – Part 2

Revitalization of nuclear energy – Part 2Episode 21 in our DECARBONIZATION series is the second of three episodes revealing Canada's involvement in nuclear energy and the global forces and sources of change that are contributing to its revitalization. The series was produced by KEI Network in partnership with Troy Media. We welcome your comments below.  Panel Dr. Robert Walker is…

How to tackle climate change and boost our agri-food sector

There’s a way to reduce fertilizer use and make all agricultural production much more environmentally friendly: controlled environment agriculture

How to tackle climate change and boost our agri-food sectorWhen we look at climate change, the future for many seems to hold only short-term despair and long-term disaster. Will humans be able to survive, let alone prosper? Before we let today’s doomsters depress us, let’s look at an earlier apocalyptic forecast. Around the turn of the 19th century, Thomas Malthus predicted the end of…