Wednesday, December 31, 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

1 life sentence for man who killed Vancouver pair

1 life sentence for man who killed Vancouver pair
A single life sentence of 25 years in prison has been imposed on 27-year-old Rocky Rambo Wei Nam Kam for the murders of a Vancouver couple two years ago.

1 life sentence for man who killed Vancouver pair

HMCS Fredericton returns after six-month mission

HMCS Fredericton returns after six-month mission
Nearly three months after a helicopter crash claimed the lives of six crew members, HMCS Fredericton returned to its home port of Halifax Tuesday.

HMCS Fredericton returns after six-month mission

Probe of student program turns to Kielburgers

Probe of student program turns to Kielburgers
The co-founders of WE Charity argued before a House of Commons committee that the organization wasn't plucked to run a student-volunteer program because of any close ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, laying out details about how much the endeavour would likely cost and why the charity used a seemingly complicated structure to manage it all.

Probe of student program turns to Kielburgers

Quebec police watchdog probes woman's death

Quebec police watchdog probes woman's death
A 57-year-old woman died one day after she unsuccessfully sought police help to force her son to undergo mental health treatment, Quebec's police watchdog said as it launched an investigation into the incident.

Quebec police watchdog probes woman's death

WE board told speakers at WE days not paid

WE board told speakers at WE days not paid
The former chair of WE Charity’s board of directors says the board was explicitly told that speakers at the organization's popular youth events known as "WE Days" were not paid for speaking.

WE board told speakers at WE days not paid

Indigenous arts champion to head Canada Council

Indigenous arts champion to head Canada Council
Jesse Wente, a prominent advocate for an increased presence of Indigenous voices in Canada's cultural landscape, has been appointed chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Indigenous arts champion to head Canada Council