Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 2h

Worth sharing as MLI targets enviro orgs:

"The Atlas Network partnered with an Ottawa-based thinktank – the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) – which enlisted pro-industry Indigenous representatives ... to provide 'a shield against opponents'."

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

How a conservative US network undermined Indigenous energy rights in Canada

Internal documents explain why oil and gas interests would benefit from a key Indigenous declaration being ‘defeated’

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Robb Barnes 🇨🇦

Catherine McKenna @cathmckenna.bsky.social · 10h

“Imagine there was a truck heading directly for your children. What would you do? Surely everything in your power to save them, including jumping in its way?” That truck is climate change.

Great to speak with @theguardian.com’s Maya Goodfellow about my new book, #RunLikeAGirl.

Canada’s former climate minister on making a change, ‘aloof’ Trudeau and sexism

Catherine McKenna’s memoir delves into thorny parts of being in office including death threats and being referred to as ‘climate Barbie’

www.theguardian.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 9h

It's not clear whether politicians understand how much has changed since Harper's big pipeline push.

Canada has an opportunity to build nation-building, not nation-burning projects - like a connected grid, EV supply chains and renewables.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Carney raised Keystone XL pipeline revival in meeting with Trump | CBC News

Relief for Canada from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum may come thanks to renewed interest in a pipeline project first proposed more than 15 years ago.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Robb Barnes 🇨🇦

Catherine McKenna @cathmckenna.bsky.social · 1d

Kudos to NCC and CEO Tobi Nussbaum for truly reimagining Ottawa around its beautiful waterfront. The River House restoration, Dow’s Lake swimming dock, and new café pop-ups are proof that small changes can have a big impact— Can’t wait to see what’s next.

ottawacitizen.com/news/ncc-rep...

The NCC wants a new reputation, and a different Ottawa

Long seen as secretive and sluggish, the National Capital Commission is trying to change the narrative one swimming dock at a time

ottawacitizen.com

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Reposted by Robb Barnes 🇨🇦

AQME / Association québécoise des médecins pour l'environnement @aqme.bsky.social · 4d

Tout à fait d'accord avec le Directeur Climat de @cape-acme.bsky.social - on a besoin de tout le monde pour avancer dans la vraie bonne direction, celle de la santé de planète, qui conditionne la nôtre!

Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 5d

Je suis d'accord avec @patbonin.bsky.social ici : être sur place, « ça change tout. »

C'est décourageant de voir que le gouvernement Carney coupe les vivres aux partis de l’opposition en prévision de la COP30.

@cape-acme.bsky.social @aqme.bsky.social

www.lapresse.ca/actualites/p...

COP30 au Brésil | Ottawa supprime le financement de l’opposition

Le gouvernement Carney coupe les vivres aux partis de l’opposition en prévision de la COP30 sur le climat prévue en novembre à Belém, au Brésil. Il rompt avec la tradition et refuse de payer le coût d...

www.lapresse.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 5d

Je suis d'accord avec @patbonin.bsky.social ici : être sur place, « ça change tout. »

C'est décourageant de voir que le gouvernement Carney coupe les vivres aux partis de l’opposition en prévision de la COP30.

@cape-acme.bsky.social @aqme.bsky.social

www.lapresse.ca/actualites/p...

COP30 au Brésil | Ottawa supprime le financement de l’opposition

Le gouvernement Carney coupe les vivres aux partis de l’opposition en prévision de la COP30 sur le climat prévue en novembre à Belém, au Brésil. Il rompt avec la tradition et refuse de payer le coût d...

www.lapresse.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

Fascinating read about conservatives + climate.

A recent survey finds more conservatives support climate action than oppose it.

Also: "The most influential factor shaping how conservatives feel about climate policy is how they feel about liberals."

reclimate.ca/conservative...

Conservative Leaders are Failing to Respond to the Climate Concerns of their Base - Re.Climate

More conservatives support climate action than are opposed to it. So why isn’t anyone talking to them about it?

reclimate.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

Climate change can make extreme heat worse - even during summers which are not the hottest on record.

This is why ON cities and the province must move quickly on maximum temperature rules.

@cape-acme.bsky.social @catmckenney.bsky.social @martycarr1.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/news/gta/her...

Here’s how unusual Toronto’s summer heat was this year

Pearson Airport registered more than an extra week’s worth of very hot days above 30 C compared to historical norms.

www.thestar.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

This is a great analysis on pollution pricing in Canada. Action here is absolutely key to climate progress.

My takeaway: You can't have a "grand bargain" when one side (namely AB/SK) isn't negotiating in good faith.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

Canada’s industrial carbon pricing system is a mess. Here’s how Carney can fix it

It was barely a system at all when he took office, but since then, the nationwide patchwork has only gotten patchier

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

At @cape-acme.bsky.social we're sometimes asked, Why don't doctors stay in their lane?

The answer: health is about more than health care.

Planetary health is public health, which is why the first National Day of Action on Planetary Health is happening Oct. 6.

healthydebate.ca/2025/10/topi...

Planetary health is public health - Healthy Debate

Ignoring planetary health would be a gross dereliction of duty by the public health profession.

healthydebate.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

Canada rightly got a lot of heat for its recent mediocre emissions report.

But behind that number are many provincial governments choosing to ignore climate action altogether.

Case in point: the Government of Ontario.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/ontario-to-m...

Ontario to Miss Emissions Reduction Goal By Even Wider Gap Than It Admits: Auditor

"We are continuing to meet our commitment to at least try to meet our commitment for the 2030 target," Environment Minister Todd McCarthy told media.

www.theenergymix.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

New pipelines are a climate and health disaster with no business case.

"For us to make 30- or 40-year bets on an industry that by all predictions is going to decline just doesn’t make any economic sense."

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/any-new-oil-...

Any New Oil Pipeline Will Need Massive Taxpayer Subsidies, Analyst Warns

With a “flashing red warning light” heralding years of low oil prices, and a major Canadian fossil company joining its international peers in laying off hundreds of workers, a Simon Fraser University ...

www.theenergymix.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 6d

We live in an age of magical thinking - where oil + gas expansion is spun as compatible with climate change, and where new pipelines are pushed despite gaping holes in the business case.

Or is this just a dogwhistle to AB separatists?

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/albertas-new...

Alberta’s New Pipeline Pitch: Bad for Business, Disastrous for Climate, Analysts Say

Climate advocates and at least one policy analyst are taking Alberta Premier Danielle Smith back to business school after she promised to pitch a new westbound oil pipeline to the federal Major Projec...

www.theenergymix.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 7d

92.5% of new power capacity added worldwide in 2024 was from renewables.

So why is Ontario doubling down on gas and nuclear?

@cape-acme.bsky.social

cleantechnica.com/2025/03/26/9...

92.5% of New Power Capacity Added Worldwide in 2024 Was from Renewables - CleanTechnica

Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. How much is renewable energy dominating new power capacity worldwide? That’s how much! 92.5% of new power capacity added to t...

cleantechnica.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 8d

Some of the most prescient words on climate change - and the role of a well-regulated financial sector in solving it - have come from our very own PM.

We need Carney to lead on climate finance reform now.

@cape-acme.bsky.social @investors4paris.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/a-decade-aft...

A Decade After Carney’s Warning, Finance Still Chooses Short-Term Profit Over Long-Term Survival

It was ten years ago that Mark Carney warned in his landmark 'Tragedy of the Horizon' speech that the global financial system faced an existential climate threat, but deal-making hasn’t changed, write...

www.theenergymix.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 9d

Since cities are on the front lines of climate change, it's great to see local leaders urging Canada to act.

The feds' nation-building agenda is a mixed bag so far.

Carney should back nation-building, not nation-burning projects.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/back-nation-...

Back ‘Nation-Building, Not Nation-Burning’ Projects, 250 City Leaders Urge Carney

A coalition of more than 250 mayors and city councillors from across Canada is calling on the federal government to keep #ElbowsUp with nation-building projects that respond to the climate emergency, ...

www.theenergymix.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 9d

Here's the thing with the microplastics issue: it gets worse the harder you look.

A new study is examining the health impacts of microplastics detected deep inside human bones.

@cape-acme.bsky.social @janeemcarthur.bsky.social

www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...

Microplastics detected in human bone marrow; study examines health impacts

Microplastics have been detected deep inside human bones and could be harming our health, according to a new study.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 9d

It's heartbreaking to hear about Canadian children with cancer losing access to clinical trials.

This is one more reason for Canada to disentangle itself from the US - now and into the future.

www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

U.S. policy changes mean Canadian children with cancer are losing access to clinical trials | CBC News

Canadian researchers say they've had to stop offering kids with cancer places in some clinical trials because of funding and policy changes in the United States.

www.cbc.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 15d

With Canada's climate emissions headed the wrong way, we need an adult conversation about the future of oil and gas in our country.

Carbon capture projects won't cut it. We need stronger pollution pricing and an emissions cap.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theenergymix.com/canadas-emis...

Canada’s Emission Reductions ‘Flatlined’ in 2024, Climate Institute’s Early Estimate Shows

As progress stalls, emissions trends put Canada’s 2030 climate target out of reach, the Canadian Climate Institute warned Thursday, emphasizing the need for a coordinated policy reset.

www.theenergymix.com

Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 22d

As the US charts a dark path into darkness and autocracy, it's good to see Canada going its own way on med school standards.

Hoping more US medical professionals opt to make their permanent home in the Great White North.

canadahealthwatch.ca/newsletter/2...

Canada breaks with U.S. on med-school standards

With America veering into new territory, Canadian schools are going their own way.

canadahealthwatch.ca

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 22d

One of the most damaging pieces of Trudeau's climate legacy was his Trans Mountain bailout.

Many opposed this for climate reasons, but the fiscal logic was also incoherent.

As Canada looks at new projects, we must stop bailing out oil + gas.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

ieefa.org/articles/fis...

As fiscal concerns mount for Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline, Canada should take note

Today, as some private interests and public officials call for government funding to construct more pipelines across Canada to enhance oil exports, it is worth taking a closer look at the financial qu...

ieefa.org

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 23d

Nice work Edmonton!

New townhouses generate solar power and help form a virtual power plant network that can feed power back to the grid.

This delivers benefits for resilience, climate and health.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/science...

These homes generate power for the grid — and residents don't worry about blackouts | CBC News

When there's a blackout, the power stays on at Rebecca Calder's house. That's because her home is equipped with a battery for backup power. But that battery can do a lot more — not just for Calder's h...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Robb Barnes 🇨🇦

Ecology Ottawa @ecologyottawa.bsky.social · 27d

#OttCity’s Official Plan calls for 15-min neighbourhoods and a shift to sustainable transportation.

A ring road is not that. Council has rightly rejected this idea every time it surfaces.

We should instead invest in transit, which is in danger of death spiral.

ottawacitizen.com/opinion/no-n...

Adam: Put the brakes on these calls for a new Ottawa ring road

The city rejects it, but two local politicians have issued fresh calls for Premier Ford to OK a major bypass, says Mohammed Adam.

ottawacitizen.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 27d

As a father of a kid around Carter's age, this story is devastating.

A new analysis shows that 82,000 others were also killed by smoke from Canadian wildfires in 2023.

We cannot tackle wildfires without addressing the climate crisis.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Smoke from Canada’s wildfires killed nine-year-old Carter Vigh – and 82,000 others around the world

Toxic particles spewed by 2023’s wildfires were even responsible for 22,000 early deaths in Europe, researchers say

www.theguardian.com

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Robb Barnes 🇨🇦 @robb-barnes.bsky.social · 27d

Ideology is a powerful thing.

How else to explain Alberta's costly, wasteful and ultimately self-harming war against wind and solar energy?

Now it appears Trump is following the Alberta playbook.

@cape-acme.bsky.social

www.desmog.com/2025/09/04/u...

Understanding Alberta’s Expensive, Ideological War on Renewable Energy

Premier Danielle Smith and U.S. President Donald Trump are weaponizing the powers of the state against wind and solar energy generation.

www.desmog.com

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