https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-bc-endangered-species-law/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=103007 The province is instead promising an ecosystem-based view of protection — an intriguing idea, but will it keep at-risk species safe? Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. biodiversity Endangered Species environmental law forestry Photo: Carol Linnitt / The Narwhal A spotted owl sitting on a branch in an enclosure with foliage around it https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-bc-winter-drought/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:47:54 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=97835 Arno Kopecky set out to write about B.C.’s winter heat and drought. Then the polar vortex arrived Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. climate change drought Photo: Ethan Cairns / The Canadian Press Vancouver street covered in snow, with a sign that reads 'road closed due to snow' in the foreground. The trees, ground, and sky are white. In the centre, a person rides their bike down the middle of the empty snow-covered road during the January 2024 first snow in Vancouver. https://thenarwhal.ca/haida-nation-teal-jones-court-testimony/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 22:48:25 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=96604 The ongoing Teal-Jones lawsuit puts a price tag on reconciliation, and asks who should foot the bill Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. forestry Indigenous Rights logging Photo: Brodie Guy, Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal Guujaaw, a Haida Hereditary Chief, drums at totem pole raising on Haida Gwaii https://thenarwhal.ca/carbon-tax-inflation-politicians/ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 17:19:07 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=95156 Canada’s price on carbon pollution has been politicized and weaponized, with little regard for fact. But the truth makes for a less flashy tagline Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. carbon pricing climate change Democracy federal politics Photo: Sean Kilpatrick / Canadian Press, Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal A red and blue filter over a photo of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shaking hands https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-bc-nature-protection-agreement/ Sun, 26 Nov 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=93992 A historic turning point in how the province prioritizes conservation over industry profits also shows Indigenous Rights and protecting biodiversity go hand-in-hand Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. Indigenous protected areas old-growth forest Photo: Jesse Winter / The Narwhal, Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal View from the ground looking up to treetops https://thenarwhal.ca/global-climate-strike-vancouver/ Mon, 18 Sep 2023 23:18:52 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=87972 After four quiet years, the first global climate strike since 2019 just happened. From the streets of Vancouver, Arno Kopecky reflects on whether the climate movement can get its mojo back Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. climate change Democracy Photo: Jimmy Jeong / The Narwhal, Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal Youth march holding signs and megaphones at the 2023 Vancouver climate strike https://thenarwhal.ca/haida-court-teal-jones/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:08:54 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=86506 The Haida Gwaii Management Council’s decision to protect ancient trees meant Teal-Jones could no longer log them. Now, the B.C. Supreme Court will decide who pays when conservation cuts into corporate profit Arno Kopecky Analysis News B.C. Democracy Fairy Creek forestry Indigenous Rights logging Photo: Josiah Fennell / The Narwhal, Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal Haida Gwaii Management Council’s current chair, Hereditary Haida Chief Allan Davidson https://thenarwhal.ca/2023-bc-drought-future/ Thu, 10 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=85058 From grasshopper infestations to water restrictions, B.C.’s drought is affecting all corners of the province in ways surprising and predictable. Is the government doing enough to lead? Arno Kopecky Analysis B.C. climate change extreme heat farming water Photo: Jesse Winter. Photo illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal A B.C. wildfire fighter stands on a ridge in a smoky forest that has an orange haze with pixelated illustration overlaid. https://thenarwhal.ca/climate-change-clean-energy-tipping-point/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:05:39 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=82566 Renewable energy has achieved critical mass, but the oil and gas industry has us staying a dangerous course amid climate change Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. climate change oilsands renewable energy Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal, Photo: Louis Bockner / The Narwhal B.C. farmland during 2021 drought https://thenarwhal.ca/fairy-creek-deferrals-2023/ Mon, 29 May 2023 18:37:41 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=79583 The southwest Vancouver Island forests that sparked massive, controversial protests and arrests could lose their protection in a matter of days. The B.C government is mum on its next move, and on the reckoning for old-growth logging that will follow Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. Democracy Fairy Creek forestry Photo: Jesse Winter / The Narwhal Fairy Creek RCMP road blockade https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-roberts-bank-terminal-2-approval/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 23:36:22 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=76581 Conflicting imperatives collide at the mouth of the Fraser as the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 gets federal approval Arno Kopecky Opinion B.C. biodiversity Endangered Species federal politics Photo: Carol Linnitt / The Narwhal A sunset view of the Port of Vancouver's Roberts Bank terminal