PLANET IN PERIL

ClimateProgress A blistering heat wave in India has killed more than 1,100 people in the country in less than one week. Story here.

Photo Courtesy of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western CA Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship advises that dry, windy conditions in northwest Manitoba have led to the cancellation of all burning permits in the region north of Flin Flon and Sherridon, south to Grand Rapids, west to the Saskatchewan border and east to PTH 6.

The Globe and Mail A quickly expanding wildfire in northeastern Alberta has forced Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. to shut down more oil sands production, pushing total volumes offline owing to the blaze to more than 8 per cent of the province’s oil output. Story here.

the guardian US trade officials pushed EU to shelve action on endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to cancer and male infertility to facilitate TTIP free trade deal Story here. Related: "Free Trade. Pathway to Prosperity or Back Road to Corporatism?"

World Resources Institute Indonesian President Joko Widodo reaffirmed his commitment to climate leadership this week by renewing Indonesia’s national forest moratorium , which prohibits new licenses to clear key forest areas. While the environmental benefits are well-recognized, the move should also be hailed as a win for businesses and local producers. Story here.

by Larry Powell Wintery conditions returned to take another swipe at southern Manitoba on the Victoria Day long weekend. The Colorado low dumped 90 millimetres of precipitation on the Town of Melita in the southwest (more than 3 1/2 inches), mostly in the form of rain. But there was also snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and wind. Lots of wind. The City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Beach and Gimli were all hit with wind gale-force winds of more than 90 kilometres an hour. They brought down trees, tree branches and power lines, knocking out power to thousands in various communities across the south. Manitoba Hydro repair crews were taxed to the limit. The rain left farmland along the Trans Canada Highway, west of Winnipeg, sodden and submerged.  I shot this video from our car as we returned home to Neepawa from Winnipeg on Victoria Day, May 18th, along the north side of the Trans Canada Highway, west of the Portage junction. PinP photos. High winds are believed to have caused th

The Tyee Pump jacks in southeastern SK. PinP photo. In such giveaways we're a world leader, a fact rarely noted when federal budgets are debated. Story here.   Story here. Related: " Governments Giving Fossil Fuel Companies $10 Million a Minute: IMF"

HuffPost Drought isn't just a California problem , folks. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency on Friday, with snowpack and stream flows dramatically below normal. Story here.

Climate Action Network Canada has announced it will cut carbon pollution by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 as part of this year’s international climate negotiations in Paris. While any action is an improvement, the proposed target is…. Story here.

The Pembina Insitute The Koch Brothers fertilizer plant in Brandon, MB:  At one time,  Manitoba's largest single source of greenhouse gas pollution. ( PinP photo.) Given Canada’s history of setting climate targets while failing to implement regulations to meet them, today’s announcement doesn’t mean much without a credible plan of action to back it up. Story here.