The Environment

Though worries about the pandemic remained top of mind for many Canadians this year, it’s hard to ignore concerns related to the planet’s well-being. In 2021, our contributors chronicled challenges faced by flora and fauna in the deserts of Mexico, the forests of Nova Scotia, and tributaries of the Fraser River.

The Walrus featured environmental reporting on questions both large and small: What will the climate crisis’s tipping point be? Where does the cactus sitting on your windowsill come from?

These are the conversations we were having this year about the natural world and our impact on it.

How Do You Kill an Invasive Species? Bring In a Bigger, Meaner Species to Eat It

BY MOIRA DONOVAN

@MoiraDonovan on Twitter

“Hemlocks are one of eastern Canada’s iconic tree species. But they’re under threat from a nearly invisible invader. For @thewalrus, I explored why this has scientists turning back to biocontrol, a practice with a long (and sometimes fraught) history.” – @moiradonovan
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

For the Love of Peat: Our Best Defence against a Changing Climate

BY EDWARD STRUZIK

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“Peatlands—from bogs to marshes—have long been maligned. Doctors once attributed malaria, cholera, and various chills and fevers to the miasma that emanates from these soggy lands, writes Edward Struzik (@Kujjua). ” – @thewalrus
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

The Cactus That Came Back from the Dead

BY AMIR AZIZ

@AmirsHandle on Twitter

“When is a species considered extinct: when it no longer exists in the wild, or no longer exists anywhere?” – @AmirsHandle
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

The Ecosystems in our Cities

FEATURING CARLY ZITER

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“This week on The Conversation Piece: @carlyziter, an assistant professor in biology from @Concordia, explains how to live better in a city, it’s fundamental to take urban nature into account. ” – @thewalrus
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

The Hidden Cost of Rechargeable Batteries

BY CAITLIN STALL-PAQUET

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“In the early 1990s, commercial lithium-ion batteries hit the market. Rechargeable batteries paved the way for devices like laptops and phones that can be recharged by plugging into a wall. These batteries are more green, but they still come at a cost.” – @thewalrus READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

The Other Epidemic: What’s Killing the Wild Salmon?

BY MAX BINKS-COLLIER

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“British Columbia’s wild salmon are facing an existential threat—one estimate says some populations have plummeted by as much as 93 percent since the early 1990s. @maxbinkscollier investigates what’s killing Canada’s wild salmon. ” – @thewalrus
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

Replenishing a Broken Water Cycle

  PAID POST  

FEATURING SANDRA POSTEL

@WhatAboutWater_ on Twitter

“Did you know there are 60,000 large dams around the world blocking rivers from naturally flowing? @AmericanRivers is working to change that. Our guest on this week’s episode has removed over 100 obsolete dams in her time with the nonprofit. ” – @WhatAboutWater_
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

If a Tree Talks in the Forest, Does It Make a Sound?

BY SUZANNE SIMARD

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“Ecologist @DrSuzanneSimard uncovers the hidden connections beneath the forest floor. #Environment #Ecology” – @thewalrus
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

What Will Be the Tipping Point of the Climate Crisis?

BY ANDRI SNÆR MAGNASON

@TheWalrus on Twitter

“How many glaciers need to melt and corals reefs need to die before climate change is taken seriously? @AndriMagnason explains what the tipping point of the climate crisis will be. #ClimateChange #Environment” – @thewalrus
READ THE FULL THREAD HERE

What do you think of the state of the environment?

It's fine

We're in trouble

Douglas Coupland thinks we can fix it

ResultsVote

Is a Circular Economy Liveable for Everyone?

FEATURING Anna-Kay Russell

@TheWalrus on Instagram

LOOK THROUGH THE FULL POST HERE

Fashion’s Colonial Roots Impact its Sustainable Future

FEATURING SOPHIA YANG

@sophiaayangg on Twitter

“Catch me representing @ThreadingChange at 4 panels this September. Very thankful for opportunities with @UNFCCC, @WCEF2021, and @thewalrus to represent youth around the world on #sustainablefashion and the #circulareconomy!” – @sophiaayangg

READ THE ORIGINAL POST HERE

The Walrus Staff

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