Biodiversity and Wildlife
Issue Brief: Woodland caribou conservation and recovery in Alberta
Updated: April 22, 2022
On April 8, 2022, the Government of Alberta released sub-regional caribou recovery plans for the Bitscho Lake and Cold Lake sub-regions. Environmental groups are concerned that the plans lack a commitment to aggressive short-term actions that are necessary due to decades of inaction. There has also been criticism of the government's commitment to collaboration with Indigenous communities on Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
- Media Release Alberta’s new caribou range plans miss the mark on Indigenous-led conservation and fail to effectively protect habitat (CPAWS Northern Alberta)
- Media Release Alberta’s First Caribou Range Plans: A Promising Land-Use System That Needs Stronger ‘Decade 1’ Indigenous Rights and Habitat Actions (Alberta Wilderness Association)
- News Alberta's 1st caribou recovery plans not enough to protect species habitat, conservationists say (CBC News)
- News Alberta releases recovery plans for 2 threatened caribou herds (Global News/Canadian Press)
ENGO responses to the federal Budget 2022
On April 7, 2022, the federal government released Budget 2022. The budget comes in the wake of the government’s recently released 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, and the latest alarming IPCC report reaffirming the increasingly urgent need for climate action. Read More
Coal Mining in Alberta's Eastern Slopes and Beyond
Take Action on Coal | Information & Resources | Updates & News
Updated March 15, 2022
Latest Update: Government announces expanded coal restrictions, releases Coal Policy Committee reports
On March 4, 2022, the Government of Alberta announced restrictions on coal development in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. The restrictions on new development will be in place until directions on coal activities are incorporated into updated regional land-use plans.
The Goverment also released the final reports of the Coal Policy Committee. Concerns with the environmental impacts of coal mining ranked among the most important issues to Albertans.
- News Release Getting it right on coal in Alberta (Government of Alberta)
- Reports Final report : recommendations for the management of coal resources in Alberta (Coal Policy Committee)
- Reports Engaging Albertans about coal (Coal Policy Committee)
Environmental groups welcomed the restrictions on new development, but concerns remained over the impacts of existing coal mining activities and the 4 advanced projects that were allowed to continue the regulatory process.
- Coal Exploration and Mining on the Eastern Slopes – Is there an end in sight? (Alberta Wilderness Association)
- Government of Alberta’s new plan provides temporary relief from the risk of coal (CPAWS Northern & Southern Alberta)
- What has (and hasn’t) changed for coal mining in Alberta (The Narwhal)
- Alberta keeps decades-old coal policy in place, 4 advanced projects to continue regulatory process (CBC News)
- Alberta to extend pause on Rocky Mountain coal mines (Global News/The Canadian Press)