Climate and Energy

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The economic case for suing Big Oil

What is a local government to do when it has a “funding gap” that will expose its residents to climate impacts and prevent it from meeting its climate goals? That’s the question that staff at the District of Saanich dealt with as they wrote up their fifth Annual Climate Plan Report Card.

The answer? They proposed that Saanich look into the option of collaborating with other local governments to sue global fossil fuel companies. And on Monday, February 12th, Saanich Council unanimously adopted their recommendation – instructing staff to explore that legal option further.

Slocan Council votes unanimously to join Sue Big Oil

Slocan, BC – On Monday evening, Slocan Council voted 5-0 to work with other local governments towards a class action lawsuit against global fossil fuel companies for a share of the costs of climate change, and to pledge $1 per resident for that purpose once other local governments come on board.

The Village of Slocan is the first municipality in the BC interior to make such a pledge, and the fifth municipality in BC. West Coast Environmental Law, the West Kootenay Climate Hub and the West Kootenay Sue Big Oil Action Team applauded the decision.

WCEL Submission to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources Regarding Bill C-49

This submission contains West Coast Environmental Law's joint submission (under SeaBlue Canada) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources Regarding Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada—Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

We're in court to defend Ontario youth's right to a stable climate

This week, we were at the Court of Appeal for Ontario in support of seven youth who are suing the Ontario government over its weak climate target and plan. The youth are being represented by lawyers from Ecojustice and Stockwoods. Environmental Defence and West Coast Environmental Law, represented by West Coast lawyers Anna Johnson and Andrew Gage, are one of 11 groups of intervenors.

Three types of climate cases to watch out for in Canada in 2024

I’ve always been a sucker for lists of three (not sure why), so a recent American article on three climate cases to watch in the coming year got me thinking: what climate litigation can we expect in Canada in 2024, and what might they mean? 

I’ve cheated a bit: this post includes more than three cases, and some of them haven’t been filed yet. However, here are three types of cases which we should look for in the year ahead (i.e., before December 31, 2024):