Latest news with #DepartmentofEnvironmentandClimateChange
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The Hindu wins environment journalism prize
The Hindu bagged the Paristhithi Mithram Journalism Prize (Print Media Journalist ) instituted by the Department of Environment and Climate Change for outstanding contributions to environmental conservation. A collection of over 30 environmental stories authored by K.S. Sudhi, Chief of Bureau, The Hindu, Kochi, and published in The Hindu in 2024 won the award. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the award, which carries a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and citation, at a function in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday in connection with World Environment Day. I.B. Satheesh, MLA, Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent, Professor, Department of Environment Science, Kerala University, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, and Guruvayur Municipality also won awards in different categories. K.P. Devika, a Class III student of Kozhikode, won a special mention for her conservation efforts. S. Sambasiva Rao, Special Secretary, Environment Department, S. Sreekala, Chairperson, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, N. Anilkumar, Chairperson, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, N. Krishnakumar, Kerala Legislative Secretary, Suneel Pamidi, Director, Department of Environment, and Ananya Ghoshal of UNICEF attended the event. The event was supported by UNICEF. A workshop on ending plastic pollution was also held.
CBC
04-04-2025
- General
- CBC
New solar-powered greenhouse project aims to combat food insecurity in Shelburne County
Work is underway on a volunteer-run project in Shelburne, N.S., that aims to provide thousands of kilograms worth of fresh produce to the community each year. The Community Garden and Foodshare Association of Shelburne County was recently awarded $142,158 from the province to construct a new solar-powered and geothermal greenhouse that will operate year-round. The funding comes from the Department of Environment and Climate Change's sustainable communities challenge fund. Michael Kozak, the association's president, says the project will be instrumental in combating food insecurity, as various forms of fresh produce will be grown and distributed to people in need. The association will also donate to the local food bank, which has been struggling to keep up with high demand in recent years. "Everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food," said Kozak. "And isn't it better to eat something that's from 10 feet away instead of 10,000 miles away?" He said the greenhouse will be entirely heated and cooled by energy from the sun and earth, and has the potential to produce approximately 2,000 kilograms of food per year. It will be built near the local high school on a plot of land donated by the municipality of Shelburne. Volunteers have spent months clearing the grounds and construction could begin as early as next week, according to Kozak. The project is expected to be finished by the summer. With growing efforts to support local producers, Kozak said this is a step in the right direction at a time when people should be thinking about ways to create more sustainable food systems at home. "The only thing I can thank [U.S. President Donald] Trump for — the only thing — is the current political climate has made us more focused on the importance of food security and having access to fresh food should things happen wherein logistically, we're not able to get fresh food brought to us." Henry Penn, who is volunteering as the association's project manager, said this is especially important for rural communities that are more disconnected from major grocery chains and distribution systems. "That's just a part of overall community resilience," he said. He added that when the association shared its bounty from several outdoor garden beds back in the fall, everything was gone within 45 minutes. "That's, I think, a part of demonstrating just what it means to local people in the Shelburne area to have access to fresh produce," said Penn. Stanley Jacklin, mayor of the Town of Shelburne, said he's certain this initiative will have a positive impact on the community and believes Canadians rely too heavily on importing food from elsewhere. "I don't think it's sustainable with what's going on in the current world," said Jacklin. "We have to be a little more self-sufficient." Once the greenhouse is up and running, Kozak said the goal is to build at least three more on the roughly one-hectare piece of land. The non-profit association is currently run by about 30 volunteers, but they hope to create several paid positions and even collaborate with local farmers to make proteins and dairy a part of the food sharing project. Kozak said the greenhouse will be named in honour of John Davis, a local volunteer who founded the group but died suddenly in 2024.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Scientists make stunning discovery while studying the deepest lake in North America — here's what they found
The deepest lake in North America is recovering its water level after it reached a record low in 2024. In February, Great Slave Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories was 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) higher than it was a year prior, as Cabin Radio reported. As of March 7, it had picked up another 5 cm to reach 9.8 inches. The province's Department of Environment and Climate Change said Great Slave Lake's water level has been "slowly rising since mid-December," per the outlet, though the spring melt will determine where it goes from here. The lake is named after a group of the Indigenous Dene people. The Dene also call themselves the Slavey when speaking English, per The Canadian Encyclopedia. It's the second-largest lake in the country, fifth-largest on the continent, and 10th-largest in the world. Humans have lived around the lake, which reaches a maximum depth of 614 meters, for 7,000 years. It has a significant impact on the Mackenzie River and forms the basis of traditional livelihoods and economies, according to the Northwest Territories government. In 2020, the lake reached its highest level since 1930. But it had been "extremely low" the year before, Cabin Radio reported. Since 2022, the area has been in a drought. Both the water level fluctuations and dry conditions are common symptoms of the warming planet. The burning of dirty energy sources emits heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, which envelop Earth like a blanket and contribute to more frequent and severe extreme weather as well as rising global temperatures that disrupt the water cycle. In the Great Slave Lake basin, water levels are bouncing back but still low. That could again disrupt the barge resupply on the Mackenzie like last year, and higher-than-usual temperatures in January were cause for concern. Winter precipitation was average, and that was expected to continue for a few months for most of the NWT, Cabin Radio reported. To help stabilize the lake and other climate conditions, we can turn to clean energy sources that don't pollute the environment or lead to planetary warming. Use or install electric lawn equipment and energy-efficient appliances, which can also save you money. Even small steps such as eating plant-based meals, using less plastic, and taking alternatives to personal vehicles can make a big difference. How much time do you spend taking care of the plants inside or outside your home? Several hours a week One hour a week Less than one hour I don't have any plants Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
N.W.T. government investigating the waste of 48 caribou
Wildlife officers say meat wastage along the ice road to the diamond mines has risen sharply this winter with nine cases affecting 48 caribou compared to last winter, where a total of 15 caribou were found wasted. Shannon Graf, a spokesperson for the territory's Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC), described it as a "significant" increase in wasted meat — and said an investigation is taking place. Community monitors and guardianship programs run by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Tłı̨cho government and the North Slave Métis Alliance support the territory's renewable resource officers along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road to respond to illegal or disrespectful harvesting, said Graf. Ernest Betsina, the chief of Dettah for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, said he was disappointed to hear of the spike in meat wastage, and that the First Nation would be upping its patrols of the area even earlier next winter road season. Guardians are the "eyes and ears out on the land," said Betsina, but they cannot be everywhere. He said guardianship programs and elders teach hunters to leave only the guts behind. "I'm disappointed that there is so much wastage of meat. I don't know what happened out there, but I'm hoping that the [government of the Northwest Territories] will do a good investigation to actually find out exactly who the hunters are that actually wasted the meat," said Betsina. Yellowknives Dene First Nation Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina said the treatment of caribou this winter season shows disrespect for the animals, and he hopes all hunters will harvest responsibly and take only what they need. (Ernest Betsina/Facebook) Betsina said hunters from all around N.W.T. should make a plan for how many caribou each family will take, and to limit the number of caribou taken per household to two or three animals. He said it's a rule most Yellowknives Dene First Nation hunters follow, even if it is not a formally imposed limit. "Caribou is sacred. The caribou numbers are not that great and we need to respect that," he said. He said taking only prime cuts of meat and wasting the rest of the animal is "really disrespectful." "It shows somebody didn't do the planning or somebody who went trigger-happy and shot too much caribou. It's such a shame to see that," said Betsina. Wastage is 'lazy' and 'unethical', says hunter Devon Allooloo, a hunter from the Yellowknife area, posted a photo on the Facebook group, Inuit Hunting Stories of the Day, of caribou he'd seen wasted along the winter road in the N.W.T. recently. In an interview, he said he's seen animals with only the hind quarters or the backstap removed, and even animals that have been shot and wasted in their entirety. "It's a little sickening to see, and it's tiring to see. I grew up on the barrenlands," he said. "I don't want to call other people out ... but I think it's lazy and it's unethical for people to be wasting that amount of meat." Hunter Devon Allooloo posted images of caribou wastage on Facebook, after seeing wastage at Mackay, Munn, and Margaret lakes along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road. (John Last/CBC) Allooloo said people should be taking the hind and front quarters, backstraps, tenderloin and ribs. Even then, people in town would gladly take the head, tongue, heart, liver and kidney meat, he said. "I think a hunter should take everything. I think the only thing that should be left behind is the stomach, the organs." Allooloo said he worries people are shooting more animals than they need in the N.W.T. "Only harvest what you need and what your family needs," he said. Graf said ECC plans to continue aerial and ground patrols along the winter road and to work with guardians until the season ends. She said the N.W.T. government investigates all reported cases of meat wastage and asks the public to report suspected meat wastage. She said the department recorded 10 caribou wasted in the winter of 2021/22, none in 2022/23 and 15 in 2023/24. "While we cannot comment on the details of ongoing investigations, we continue to urge people to take only what you need, don't leave anything behind, share what you have when you get back to your community and listen and learn from elders," she said.
CBC
18-03-2025
- General
- CBC
N.W.T. government investigating the waste of 48 caribou
Wildlife officers say meat wastage along the ice road to the diamond mines has risen sharply this winter with nine cases affecting 48 caribou compared to last winter, where a total of 15 caribou were found wasted. Shannon Graf, a spokesperson for the territory's Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC), described it as a "significant" increase in wasted meat — and said an investigation is taking place. Community monitors and guardianship programs run by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Tłı̨cho government and the North Slave Métis Alliance support the territory's renewable resource officers along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road to respond to illegal or disrespectful harvesting, said Graf. Ernest Betsina, the chief of Dettah for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, said he was disappointed to hear of the spike in meat wastage, and that the First Nation would be upping its patrols of the area even earlier next winter road season. Guardians are the "eyes and ears out on the land," said Betsina, but they cannot be everywhere. He said guardianship programs and elders teach hunters to leave only the guts behind. "I'm disappointed that there is so much wastage of meat. I don't know what happened out there, but I'm hoping that the [government of the Northwest Territories] will do a good investigation to actually find out exactly who the hunters are that actually wasted the meat," said Betsina. Betsina said hunters from all around N.W.T. should make a plan for how many caribou each family will take, and to limit the number of caribou taken per household to two or three animals. He said it's a rule most Yellowknives Dene First Nation hunters follow, even if it is not a formally imposed limit. "Caribou is sacred. The caribou numbers are not that great and we need to respect that," he said. He said taking only prime cuts of meat and wasting the rest of the animal is "really disrespectful." "It shows somebody didn't do the planning or somebody who went trigger-happy and shot too much caribou. It's such a shame to see that," said Betsina. Wastage is 'lazy' and 'unethical', says hunter Devon Allooloo, a hunter from the Yellowknife area, posted a photo on the Facebook group, Inuit Hunting Stories of the Day, of caribou he'd seen wasted along the winter road in the N.W.T. recently. In an interview, he said he's seen animals with only the hind quarters or the backstap removed, and even animals that have been shot and wasted in their entirety. "It's a little sickening to see, and it's tiring to see. I grew up on the barrenlands," he said. "I don't want to call other people out ... but I think it's lazy and it's unethical for people to be wasting that amount of meat." Allooloo said people should be taking the hind and front quarters, backstraps, tenderloin and ribs. Even then, people in town would gladly take the head, tongue, heart, liver and kidney meat, he said. "I think a hunter should take everything. I think the only thing that should be left behind is the stomach, the organs." Allooloo said he worries people are shooting more animals than they need in the N.W.T. "Only harvest what you need and what your family needs," he said. Graf said ECC plans to continue aerial and ground patrols along the winter road and to work with guardians until the season ends. She said the N.W.T. government investigates all reported cases of meat wastage and asks the public to report suspected meat wastage. She said the department recorded 10 caribou wasted in the winter of 2021/22, none in 2022/23 and 15 in 2023/24.
