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Reposted by Kathryn Harrison

Tim Renneberg @timrenneberg.bsky.social · 4d

A group of Yankees hasn’t been beaten in Canada that bad since 1812.

Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 4d

We have a dozen tiny garden gnomes in a garden along the sidewalk. Toddlers often squeal and sometimes play with them. Today a cool-looking ~30yr-old dude stopped, knelt down, and carefully rearranged them into a little party on a stump, then continued on his way smoking a cigar. Happy Saturday all!

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 5d

Yet another great primer on industrial carbon pricing from @climateinstitute.bsky.social.

It's Canada's potentially most impactful climate policy, but it's hanging by a thread as provinces have gamed and, increasingly, flaunted the federal carbon pricing benchmark.

Ball's in the feds' court.

Canadian Climate Institute @climateinstitute.bsky.social · 5d

Canada’s industrial carbon pricing systems are meant to slash emissions and reward low-carbon innovation. But right now, they’re falling short due to poor design.
We took a closer look at what’s holding these systems back. ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/five-choices...

Five choices that are breaking industrial carbon pricing

In some provinces, industrial carbon pricing systems are increasingly dysfunctional. Governments must fix them.

climateinstitute.ca

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 5d

This aligns completely with my experience installing a heat pump. Annual savings on energy bills, greater comfort and better indoor air quality in the summer from bonus aircon + social benefit of lower GHGs. But fed, prov, and local incentives were critical for the decision to make financial sense.

Canadian Climate Institute @climateinstitute.bsky.social · 9d

Heat pumps are a cost-effective technology that can save people money on energy bills and reduce emissions from buildings. But the end of government incentives makes the transition to heat pumps harder for households. ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/cutting-ince...

Cutting incentives for heat pumps makes it harder for more families to switch

Reducing emissions from this sector is paramount to achieve Canada’s climate goals. But it won’t come without new policies and rebates to...

climateinstitute.ca

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 15d

Commuting by campus by e-bike I get exercise, save money on gas and parking, and arrive happier -- yes, even when it rains. And that's not counting the social benefit of reducing my carbon emissions (since I would drive otherwise). E-bikes ftw!
news.ubc.ca/2025/09/bc-e...

B.C.’s e-bike rebates boost affordability, health and sustainable mobility - UBC News

New UBC study finds B.C.’s income-based e-bike rebate program improved access, encouraged active travel and reduced car use.

news.ubc.ca

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 16d

Canada exemplifies all this. We're approving new LNG exports and entertaining new oil pipelines. Politicians argue that we'll win by selling the cleanest barrel, but our oil is among the dirtiest. We're especially vulnerable, oil and LNG, due to high production costs, so govts subsidize producers.//

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 16d

They all tell their citizens that their country will be the one to sell the last barrel, though that's not possible. Many talk about gas as a transition fuel but have no plans to transition away from production. In the meantime, oversupply reduces prices, undermining global climate efforts. /4

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 16d

What's going on? Fossil fuel companies continues to undermine global efforts. But it's not just them. Under the UNFCC, exporting countries are only responsible for their territorial emissions, not not those release downstream by their exports. Govts approve, subsidize, often own these projects. /3

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 16d

Producer countries are not only planning for way more production than needed to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, they're even planning to produce more than would be needed under current policies. They are banking on failure, in doing so increasing chances of that. /2

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 16d

The 2025 UN Production Gap Report is out. Though most fossil fuel producers profess commitment to reduce their emissions, ultimately to net zero, exporters are undermining that effort with production plans that oversupply expected global demand. And it's gotten worse. 🧵
productiongap.org/2025report/

2025 Report - Production Gap

productiongap.org

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

For the record, we need to make sure all those NEW homes we're committed to building are fossil-free, but that won't be enough since most current building stock will still be standing in 2050. We also have to get existing homes (and other buildings) off fossil gas (and oil and diesel).

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

Home decarbonization is a no-brainer to meet Canada's GHG targets. That's being undermined by each and the combination of: repeal of the consumer carbon tax, restricting eligibility for heat pump rebates, and termination of Greener Homes loans. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/09/18/n...

Sudden closure of Greener Homes Loan concerns energy advisers

A group representing the energy adviser profession says it's deeply concerned about the sudden closure of applications for the federal Canada Greener Homes Loan program.

www.nationalobserver.com

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

- Since the Minister weakened a mandate that new LNG approvals must have net zero emissions >2030, we seek clarification of when those terminals will be req'd to achieve net zero -- and how BC will address very large increases in the meantime.
Many of these recommendations were in prev reports too.

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

- End out-of-country credits for renewable natural gas unless Paris Agreement compliant (currently not.)
- Ensure residential ratepayers are not subsidizing electricity for large industrial consumers (e.g., LNG).
- Complete Clean Transportation Action Plan (promised in 2021 Roadmap.) /3

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

- Incentive programs make sense. Cancellation (ZEVs) or narrowing eligibility (heat pumps) undermines progress when we're already off track.
- Buildings: finalize equipment standards, legislate the top step of the Zero Carbon Step Code, cap gas utility GHGs with electrification compliance pathway /2

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

The BC Climate Solution's annual report is now posted on the govt website. 🧵
- BC has huge economic advantages in a decarbonizing world, but investors require consistency and predictability of climate policies.
- Kudos to BC for expanding renewable electricity. /1
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...

Climate Solutions Council

Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council

www2.gov.bc.ca

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 19d

The BC Climate Solutions Council's advice to the BC government as it reviews the ZEV Act is (finally!) posted on government website. We do not recommend relaxing the 2035 goal of 100% ZEV sales, but do support credits for increasingly long range plug-in hybrids.#bcpoli
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...

Climate Solutions Council

Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council

www2.gov.bc.ca

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 20d

Pravda anyone?
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Says Broadcasters Risk Losing Licenses When Hosts Criticize Him www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Says Broadcasters Risk Losing Licenses When Hosts Criticize Him

www.nytimes.com

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 20d

I think this kind of research, that carefully assesses the degree to which weather events, heat deaths, smoke deaths, economic losses are attributable to climate change, rather than "natural" are important to dispel the bad arguments. And good for newspapers to report them. But, yeah, it's uphill.

Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 20d

Can you share the source, Anton?

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Reposted by Kathryn Harrison

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 20d

www.livescience.com/health/canad...

Canada's 2023 wildfires contributed to 87,000 early deaths worldwide, study estimates

The health impacts from Canada's worst wildfire stretched into Europe, Asia and Africa, a new study reveals.

www.livescience.com

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 20d

The authors conclude that wildfires are already causing 41,000 premature deaths per year in the US and it's getting worse. Obvious implications for Canada too.
Link to peer-reviewed article in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

wapo.st/41ZNjv7

See where wildfire smoke is getting worse in the U.S.

The past six summers have been the smokiest on record. New research shows that smoke could become the costliest consequence of climate change for Americans.

wapo.st

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 20d

@climateinstitute.bsky.social reports Canada won't meet its 2030 GHG target. Rather than shrug cynically, consider why we're failing. Fed and prov govts haven't adopted promised policies (oil/gas cap, methane) and weakened others (EV subsidies, C pricing). OUR governments. Tell them what you think.

Canadian Climate Institute @climateinstitute.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: Our early estimate of Canada’s national emissions is out and shows progress stalled in 2024.

The country’s 2030 targets are now out of reach, emphasizing the need for a coordinated policy reset with the federal and provincial governments. ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/2024-em...

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 22d

Thanks for sharing this. I didn’t know about this UK decision!

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Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 23d

Where is quote from? Though in any case I would say pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5c means 1.5c is a goal.

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