Connecting the Drops leader Don Van Hout and team began the Pembina Institute's Athabasca River Expedition in June at the source, the Athabasca's headwaters. The expedition first climbed Mount Snow Dome, the hydrological apex of North America, then hiked the Columbia Icefields to the Columbia Glacier. Snowmelt and glacial water from the Columbia and Athabasca Glaciers form the headwaters of the Athabasca River. The expedition descended from the icefields to just below Athabasca Falls near Old Fort Point to begin the two-month canoeing segment of the trip. The expedition will travel the entire 1,538 km length of the river to examine and spark interest in issues surrounding the watershed.

Join Our Flotilla on August 3rd. You can join the expedition along with First Nations groups, local residents and other environmental groups in Fort McMurray August 3 to celebrate the ecological and historical significance of the river and to highlight its biggest threat — massive and rapid expansion of the oil sands with no plan for the future.

Fort Chipewyan Community Members Raise Health Concerns on August 14. Members of the Mikisew Cree are working with the Pembina Institute to coordinate a rally featuring a variety of speakers including doctors, scientists, environmental groups, First Nations leaders and Elders to highlight the health concerns of members of the Fort Chipewyan community.
Photo: The Pembina Institute

To find out more and to get involved visit connectingthedrops.ca

This spring the Federal government announced its plans to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution from heavy industry as well as targets for Canada's total GHG emissions. Unfortunately the targets come up short of climate science, leading countries' commitments, and Canada's legal obligations under Kyoto.

In preparation for the recent G8 Summit, the Pembina Institute, other environmental organizations and representatives from the energy efficiency sector urged Prime Minister Harper to support a 20 per cent energy efficiency improvement target for Canada. In addition, the groups asked that the government reconfirm its support and financial contributions to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).

The energy efficiency targets urged in the letter will be an important part of the portfolio of solutions to solving the climate crisis.
Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

The Government of Ontario announced its long-awaited targets for reducing the province's GHG emissions on Monday, June 18. The Ontario targets, although falling short of the Kyoto target of a six per cent reduction in GHG emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2012, are reasonably ambitious and certainly better than the targets set by the federal govenment, which has not made any commitment beyond 2012. Ontario proposes a 15 per cent reduction by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.

At the Alberta Emerald Foundation's 16th annual Emerald Awards in June, the Pembina Institute's GreenLearning program team was the proud recipient of this prestigious award in the education category. The awards are given for outstanding commitment and dedication to environmental excellence in Alberta. Other finalists in the Education category included Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Environmental Law Centre.
Photo: Kathy Worobec, The Pembina Institute

Bullfrog Power, a leading Canadian provider of 100 per cent green electricity, and the Pembina Institute have formed a partnership to promote the benefits of renewable power to Canadians. As part of the partnership, the Pembina Institute will align its Wind Power by Pembina program with Bullfrog Power.

The Pembina Institute is working with the Marie Lake Air and Watershed Society (MLAWS) in an effort to prevent the oil sands rush from destroying part of Alberta's natural heritage. The Government of Alberta has leased the oil sands reserves below Marie Lake, touted as one of the few lakes of exceptional water quality left in Alberta. The Oil Sands Underground Mining Corporation (OSUM Corp.) has applied to conduct an extensive 3D seismic program on and around the lake as the first step in a project that could result in 100 horizontal oil drainage wells under the lake. MLAWS, a local group of 120 private landowners and recreationists, is concerned that the government has given the green light to development without adequate consideration of cumulative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem.
Photo: David Savard, MLAWS Chair

The legendary Art Garfunkel will take the stage this fall in support of the Pembina Institute. He will perform in Edmonton September 16, in Calgary September 18 and in Vancouver September 20.

In support of the institute and the concert series, Andrew Kiss, one of Canada's best-recognized nature artists, is joining the Pembina Institute as our official artist. He will donate a portion of the proceeds from his works to support the efforts of the Pembina Institute, and a special selection of his paintings will be available through a silent auction and art sale at our 2007 Green Planet Concert Series.

Ecotrust Canada, the Pembina Institute, David Suzuki Foundation and several corporate sponsors launched a pilot program that will help 13 small and medium-sized B.C. companies reduce their carbon footprint.

Download the report

This report looks at how much residential and farm-based energy, solar water heating, ground source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic power systems and small wind turbines could provide to Canada's energy networks from region to region across Canada. The report also reviews current and future costs of these technologies, and the types of economic policies that could be used by federal and provincial governments to establish markets for these technologies and exploit their full potential.

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Read the Op-Ed.