PLANET IN PERIL

UN News Centre NOAA photo centre. The vital link between oceans and climate change is among the issues at the forefront of discussions at the United Nations Ocean Conference taking place in New York from 5 to 9 June.  Story here.

Canada should keep its 10 per cent marine protection promise Dear Larry,  I’ve loved oceans my whole life. So I’m watching as world leaders gather in New York this week to discuss how to conserve and sustainably use them. Canada’s government is starting to take action on its 10 per cent marine protection commitment. But with less than one per cent protected, there’s still a long way to go. Please encourage the federal government to meet its targets while creating high-quality protection for orcas, belugas, salmon, puffins and more.  Send your letter to government now . Protect oceans now

nature European Commission reveals widespread delays by the country’s authorities to halt spread of deadly plant disease. Story here.

THE NATIONAL OBSERVER Donald Trump tried to pull the rug from under climate action by pulling out of the Paris  accord.  But it looks more and more like Trump’s move may have the opposite effect,  giving the global  climate movement what it most lacked — a clear enemy. Story here.

The Washington Post With coral reefs all over the world suffering ongoing bleaching and death at the hands of warming ocean waters — from remote coral atolls in the Indian Ocean to Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef — the future of these beloved marine ecosystems appears increasingly grim. But while experts almost universally agree that climate change will continue to shape the future of the world’s corals, some scientists insist that there’s still hope for them. Story here.

inside climate news Ticks that flourish as temperatures rise are decimating the once-thriving population. Some experts think reducing moose numbers is the best way to save them. Story here. A moose in Riding Mountain National Park, Canada. PinP photo.

SIERRA CLUB BC The results of the BC election are finally in, and the message is clear: Almost sixty per cent of voters called for a review or cancellation of the Site C dam. Their concerns must be honoured by the incumbent government. Details here.

EcoWatch Green Sea Turtles in Australia's Great Barrier Reef are some of the world's most majestic creatures. They have a lifespan of up to 50 years, but after recent results from blood tests on the marine animals, their health might be in jeopardy. Story here.   Photo by Nize @ English Wikipedi

EcoWatch Nitrous oxide, the main ingredient in laughing gas, is 300 times more potent as a greenhouse gas, than carbon dioxide. And scientists believe it could be leaking from ancient reservoirs beneathArctic permafrost.  Details here. Melting permafrost in Canada's Arctic.  Photo: Charles Tarnocai/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada