Tackling industry pollution – at sea

r1 Here's how you can take action for stronger laws ... r19 May 2023 | Legal e-Brief FacebookTwitter LinkedIn InstagramYouTube WCEL logo Donate today!

Dear Paov,

This is a make-or-break moment for environmental and climate action in BC and Canada. The impact of environmental decisions made today will be felt for years to come, which is why it’s so important to speak up about the issues we care about.

From stopping toxic waves of cruise ship pollution from harming the BC coast, to tackling the oil and gas industry’s runaway greenhouse gas emissions, to standing with Gitxaała Nation in their fight for mining justice – here are a few ways you can take action this month for the environment and Indigenous rights.

Canada’s promised cruise ship pollution order is missing in action Cruise ship season is in full swing, but where are the mandatory measures promised by Transport Canada to reduce pollution? We do not need to sacrifice the health of the coast, and the marine ecosystems that our communities depend on, to benefit economically from this industry.

Take action with us. Call on your MP and Canada’s Minister of Transport to follow through on their promise, to ensure that the BC coast is no longer treated like a “toilet bowl” for the cruise industry. A make-or-break moment for climate action in Canada The oil and gas industry is Canada’s largest, fastest-growing source of emissions – and it’s undermining the hard-won progress of our climate policies. Reducing the industry’s emissions is not only good for the planet; it will also help drive progress in Canada’s transition to a clean energy economy.

The federal government is expected to release regulations to cap these emissions next month. Let’s speak up for strong rules to ensure the oil and gas industry does its part in fighting climate change. Send a postcard to your MP to cap climate pollution.
Show Gitxaała leaders your gratitude this Friday In a hearing that began six weeks ago, Gitxaała Nation is delivering closing arguments this Friday, May 19th in their landmark mineral tenure case. In their untiring efforts to uphold Gitxaała law, they are setting the stage for a much needed overhaul of BC’s unjust and unsustainable mineral claim-staking regime.

If you’re in Vancouver, join us for a gathering outside the BC Supreme Court (corner of Nelson and Hornby Streets) this Friday at 9am PT – details here. Note that space in the courtroom may be limited; priority will be for Gitxaała members and intervenors.
Sign up for the Law Aquatic – enter to win! A new version of our Guide to Marine Conservation Law in British Columbia will be released by UBC Press this June. We're celebrating with a special giveaway: enter to win a free copy by signing up for our quarterly ocean newsletter!

If you care about healthy oceans and thriving marine species, the Law Aquatic delivers quick, quarterly updates on what’s happening on the coast. Subscribe by June 1st to enter.
Are you or your community facing a threat to land, air, or water? Our Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) connects BC residents – and particularly those who are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues – with funding to help them retain a lawyer and harness the power of the law to protect the environment and communities.

Our next application deadline is on June 7th. We encourage folks to reach out before filling out an application. As part of our commitment to environmental justice, decolonization, and equity, we’re also available to support you through the application process.
Welcome, Summer 2023 Law Students! It’s that time of the year. Say hello to Sophia Sidarous, Jessica Frappier and Karla Froese – our new cohort of Summer 2023 law students. Over the next three months, they will be working closely with our team to advance legal solutions to some of the most pressing environmental and climate issues in BC and Canada.

We’re excited to be part of the learning journey for these up-and-coming environmental lawyers. Check out their full bios.

West Coast is building the collective power to achieve a more just and sustainable future for generations to come. Will you support our work to transform the legal landscape, by making a donation today?

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