Category: Blog

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One of the reasons for the decline in biodiversity in Canada? It’s the law.

Two papers published in May consider the biodiversity crisis in Canada and reveal a contrast in legal and strategic perspectives. I am highlighting a few nuggets from each that demonstrate a gap between biodiversity protection and conservation laws. Laws Matter: A foundational approach to biodiversity conservation in Canada Authors: Trevor Swerdfager and Andrea Olive,  Publication: FACETS, 18 May 2023, Link …

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Nature/Culture/Law Connection March 2023

This is a brief round-up of articles and news surrounding the intersection of nature, culture and law. Biodiversity and Business: The most recent blog posts from the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law highlighted two issues intersecting biodiversity and business. First, the Imperial Oil Kearl Site tailing ponds are leaking, with the potential for adverse …

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Natural Jurisdiction: Shifting Boundaries from Exploitation to Connection

Essay for International Public Law Course, 2021. Published on SSRN. Abstract The biodiversity crisis has been compared to a war that we are losing. International environmental laws are meant to protect but the combative language and actions around our relationship with nature remains. The Eurocentric legal grounding of nature as property is problematic as ecological …

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Coal mining conflicts cross borders

Issues with Canadian environmental law and regulations can often stem from conflicts between federal and provincial jurisdictions, especially around the need for impact assessments. But another border is often overlooked and that is with our neighbours to the South. This transboundary conflict regarding pollution runoff between Canada and the United States is still ongoing. The …

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A Duty to Care: The Missing Connection between Indigenous Rights and the Rights of Nature in Canada

It is hard to imagine ‘Mother Earth’ being discussed in the board rooms in the heart of oil and gas country in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. But times may be changing.  In 2019 an article discussing rights of nature and the duty to consult was published in the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law. Laura …

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Our relationship with bees – it’s complicated

News of decling numbers of bees has filled the news over the last several years. Researchers quickly starting looking into why but finding the answers hasn't been easy. Speculation includes pesticides, parasites, climate change, poor husbandry, habitat loss  and monoculture farming. Or all of the above. The honey bee population decline was deemed Colony Collapse …

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Lessons from EcoGather16 – Truth Hurts

Alberta Ecotrust Foundation has wrapped up a successful first annual Environmental Gathering. It was an amazing opportunity to hear from range of speakers and dive into discussions. Some of the insights are just too good not to share. Stephen Carter, political mastermind and our keynote on Friday,  let's start with you. You were an enigma. No one around …

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Changing minds about climate change

The American presidential race, as entertaining as it to watch here in the relative safety of the North, reveals a distinct difference in ideals. The democrats believe climate change is a thing. The Republicans not so much. Both parties' candidates are privy to the journal articles and scientists or have advisors who can distill it down for them. …

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