Tuesday, December 30, 2025
ADVT 
National

Arctic heavy fuel ban weak: environmentalists

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Nov, 2020 07:52 PM
  • Arctic heavy fuel ban weak: environmentalists

Environmental groups say a new international ban on using a highly polluting fuel in Arctic waters is full of gaps.

They say Canada should refuse to take advantage of loopholes the International Maritime Organization has agreed to make part of the ban on heavy fuel oils.

The loopholes allow countries with Arctic coastlines continue to use the fuel until 2029.

Heavy fuel oil is a major source of so-called black carbon — soot particles that land on and darken sea ice, hastening its melt.

Andrew Dumbrille of the World Wildlife Fund says eliminating heavy fuel oil could cut black carbon almost in half.

Most Arctic countries, Indigenous groups and environmentalists supported a stronger ban.

Dumbrille says the loopholes were granted after heavy pressure from Russia, where most Arctic shipping occurs.

Transport Canada was not immediately available to say how it would implement the new regulations.

MORE National ARTICLES

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study
A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may be motivating more parents to get their children a seasonal flu vaccine.

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.
The BC Conservation Office Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend.

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth
The British Columbia government says it is committing $36 million over nearly three years to fund more addiction treatment space for youth.

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth

University of Victoria hires new president

University of Victoria hires new president
A year-long search for a new president has taken the University of Victoria to Australia to hire a Canadian man.

University of Victoria hires new president

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized
A five-month investigation in B.C. has resulted in charges against a man in what Ridge Meadows RCMP say is the largest seizure of drugs, weapons and cash in the detachment's history.

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized

Food surplus program finally rolls out

Food surplus program finally rolls out
More than 12 million eggs will be redistributed via an emergency federal program designed to help farmers faced with too much food and nowhere to sell it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food surplus program finally rolls out