Articles

When people talk about climate change, the focus is usually on what we can see. Wildfires. Flooding. Heat waves. But there’s another layer that’s harder to spot, and it’s affecting more people than we might think.

Canada often gets credit for ambitious climate targets and major investments in renewable energy. Billions flow into wind, solar, and other clean technologies. Despite these investments, Canada hasn’t reduced fossil fuel consumption in absolute terms. Between 2010 and 2023, fossil fuel use rose by roughly the equivalent of adding the yearly energy demand of a large city.

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, wrapped up in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. Many hoped for a firm commitment to phase out fossil fuels. But that didn’t happen.

If 2023 felt extreme, the data suggests it was just a preview. Climate models indicate that Canada’s recent wildfire seasons are not outliers. They are early signals of a new normal.

For years, Canada was considered a clean air success story. From the early 1990s to 2023, the country made steady, measurable gains in cutting pollution from vehicles, factories, and power plants. Air quality improved. Health outcomes improved. Policies worked. Then came the wildfire seasons in 2023 and 2025.

When you buy something new, a phone, sneakers, or even a simple coffee cup, there’s more to it than just the price tag. Behind the scenes sits a rarely recognized number, carbon intensity. Seldom on labels, but it reveals production efficiency and the climate impact of each unit.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Canada is not a climate change silver bullet, but it is a growing part of how we are dealing with hard-to-eliminate carbon emissions.

The global energy transition is unfolding at a critical moment. Nations are under mounting pressure to meet rising electricity demand while cutting emissions and keeping costs manageable. The debate often centers on two very different approaches: renewables, like solar and wind, versus nuclear’s new frontier – Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Each has unique strengths, risks, and cost profiles, making the choice a pivotal one.

It’s getting hotter in Canadian cities. With increasingly dangerous heat, the next frontier in urban cooling must move beyond trees and parks. Innovative technologies and design strategies are merging with natural systems to create holistic solutions for the urban heat island effect.

Canadian cities face rising temperatures as climate change intensifies the urban heat island effect. Built-up areas, full of concrete, asphalt, and steel, heat up far more than surrounding rural landscapes.

Lark Scientific Researcher Summer Rylander explores the latest scientific findings on the health of our planet and the sobering truth that we may be running out of time.

For composting to meet Canada’s climate goals, we must tackle the real-world barriers that limit its reach. Across the country, innovative local programs have demonstrated that organics diversion can significantly reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change in Canada is reshaping the patterns of wildfires. From longer fire seasons to more lightning-caused ignitions, the science is clear. Canada must evolve wildfire management strategies to address a hotter, drier future.

Canada’s cities, towns, and Indigenous communities are developing inspiring, scalable composting programs. Indigenous communities are pioneering innovative waste solutions. These projects blend climate action with cultural values, advancing food sovereignty and environmental stewardship.

Canada’s 2025 wildfire season has already been catastrophic. The nearly 9.6 million acres already burned this year raise urgent questions. Why are wildfires increasing in Canada? And how do they impact our ecosystems?

Canada’s landfills are leaking methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere every day. But part of the solution is already in our kitchens, gardens, and communities.

Canada is building more than just mines. We’re developing a full-scale critical minerals processing industry to supply the clean energy revolution. From cutting-edge lithium recycling to ultra-low-emission nickel production, we’re leaning into innovation to become a global leader.

Canada is moving to secure our place in the global clean energy transition. But electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines technologies all depend on one thing: critical minerals. Canada is building a secure and responsible supply chain, from mining to processing, to meet that demand.

Canada is surrounded by energy. Literally. With over 243,000 kilometres of coastline and some of the world’s strongest offshore wind resources, we have enormous potential to lead in floating offshore wind energy. Yet, surprisingly, not a single floating offshore wind farm (FOWF) is operational here.

Many Canadians consume single-use plastic products every day. A coffee on the go, a soda from a drive-thru, or a drink at a social gathering often comes in a single-use plastic cup.