Category Archives: Environmentalism and Ecomodernism

Why an environmental scientist is so often critical of environmental activists

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Blair

As an environmental scientist, I am regularly asked why I seem so critical of environmental activists and environmental NGOs. My answer is simple: because the people who should be speaking out when environmental activists and environmental NGOs make ridiculous claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Alberta’s Renewable Energy Conundrum in Charts and Numbers – Why Capacity Factors Matter

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Blair

Over the holidays I have read a lot of commentary on Alberta’s energy future. I keep seeing individuals demanding that Alberta concentrate on wind and solar for its energy future. The people making these statements are mostly activists and journalists, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Fossil Fuel Free Future, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized | 22 Comments

An Ecomodernist-based approach to fighting climate change while protecting our shared global ecosystem

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Blair

I am a pragmatic environmentalist and an Ecomodernist and in celebration of the fourth anniversary of An Ecomodernist Manifesto I have prepared this post to present an Ecomodernist-based approach to fighting climate change while simultaneously protecting our shared global ecosystem. … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Debunking some Viral Climate Change Alarmism

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Blair

As my regular readers know, the emphasis of this blog is evidence-based, environmental decision-making. I care that reliable scientific data is being used to make informed policy decisions. As such, I try to push back when science is abused by … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Why sample design matters or Why that “Insects are Vanishing Paper” does not tell us much about world insect populations

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Blair

As followers of this blog know, one of my big interests is evidence-based, environmental decision-making. I care that good scientific data is being used to make informed policy decisions. As such the recent “insects are vanishing” meme that is spreading … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Risk Communication, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Debunking more activist talking points about BC LNG: on “illegal dams”, electrification, and LNG as a bridge fuel

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Blair

The thing I really don’t understand about the activist class in BC is their intellectual incoherence. They argue that climate change is an existential threat to our planet; but that we should only fight climate change using a small suite … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Site C, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Academics getting it wrong about the role of private sector consultants in BC’s Environmental Assessment processes

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Blair

On November 19th a group of “scientists based in British Columbia” produced an open letter to Premier John Horgan, and several of his cabinet colleagues, about improving British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment (EA) process. The letter, was from the Earth to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, General Politics, Risk Communication, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A primer on Professional Governance in the Natural Resources Sector

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Blair

On October 22, 2018, George Heyman tabled Bill 49 – 2018: the Professional Governance Act (the PGA) which will establish the “Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance” as well as change other elements of professional governance affecting how select professionals are … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Understanding environmental complexity: when initial impressions are wrong – wrapped banana edition

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Blair

I have spent my week on twitter in a series of quite interesting discussions about, of all things, bananas. This started thanks to a tweet from a local journalist showing a pile of individually wrapped bananas with the comment: “you … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Debunking another compilation of Trans Mountain pipeline myths

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Blair

I have spent countless hours debunking misinformation about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) project. I have done so as a pragmatic environmentalist who has spent the time necessary to become informed about the relative risks associated with the project. … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 7 Comments