SHAK HAQ: A recent study at the University of Guelph has found organic pesticides are not necessarily the most sustainable. Researchers found that to be effective, organic pesticides require larger doses than synthetic pesticides, thus increasing their environmental impact. The recently published two-year study examined the performance of two natural pesticides against four synthetic pesticides on soybean aphids. They found organic pesticides killed both the aphids and their natural predators whereas three of the four synthetic pesticides were more selective. In response, organic farmers, retailers and regulators have argued that the goal of organic farming is to eliminate pesticides entirely, and that organic pesticides are only used as a last resort. Other methods of pest control include crop rotation, planting in habitats that cater to natural predators, and good soil. Researchers hope that the study will create a dialogue between organic and conventional farmers to reach the most sustainable approach. [ index ]

DARYN CAISTER: After more than two years, Syncrude has been found guilty in the case where more than 1,600 ducks died in one of their tailings ponds. Judge Ken Tjosvold ruled that Syncrude did not exercise due diligence in preventing the ducks from landing in the bitumen covered tailings lakes. This was due in part to evidence that they had reduced its staff and equipment for its bird deterrent systems previous to the incident, as well as ruling that they had not deploy the deterrents they were using early or fast enough. The particular ruling the judge handed down was important as well as it specifically reinforced the precedent that companies should not be held accountable for future accidents as long as they are found to have tried their best within reasonable limits to avoid the accident before it occurred. This is important because one of Syncrude’s defence strategies involved the claim that a guilty ruling against then would mean that all tailings ponds industry wide would have to be shut down due to the uncertainty of these risks. While the ruling has pleased environmental groups, Syncrude has said that it is plans to appeal the ruling. [ index ]

SHAK HAQ: Dutch elm disease has been a recurring problem in elm populations in Fredericton for many years, however a University of Guelph researcher is working to clone a disease-resistant version of the species. This capital city of New Brunswick, also known as the City of Stately Elms, has been attacked by the fungus annually for almost 60 years. Despite a Dutch elm disease management program started in 1952, thousands of elm trees have been lost to the disease in Fredericton alone. The city has since opted to plant white elm trees, which are thought to be more tolerable to the fungus. Praveen Saxena is heading up the research at the University of Guelph and hopes to find an existing tree that is highly tolerant or highly resistant, clone it rapidly and then plant the cloned version throughout the city. Saxena predicts that cloning an existing tree that naturally has a high resistance to the disease would take at least three years to produce, but modifying a tree’s genes to have complete resistance may take up to 10 years. [ index ]

DARYN CAISTER: Enbridge, the Calgary based Oil company has announced that it will be spending $400 million to expand its Waupisoo pipeline. The announcement comes as the company has said that it has received confirmation from other oil companies and shippers to agree to ship 229,000 more barrels a day along the pipeline. The pipeline is already 380 kilometres long and carries crude from northern Alberta to transfer stations near Edmonton. Enbridge has said that the expansion will add about 65,000 barrels per day capacity by the end of 2012, and 190,000 barrels per day by mid 2013 before its completion. The expansion is not expected to be profitable for Enbridge until its completion near the end of 2013. [ index ]

SHAK HAQ: Anyone looking for a career in the green sector may have found it challenging to get in touch with the right people, but Toronto Greenhouse, a green industry networking event, is hoping to change all that. The event was founded in March 2009 by Randy Tyrrell in order to create a regular place where green minds could converge. Toronto Greenhouse provides monthly networking forums where CEOs, politicians, consultants, investors, and entrepreneurs of different ages and points in their career can meet and discuss ideas. The evening also hosts a panel discussion on a specific topic with reputable experts. Entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to meet investors and pitch their ideas. The most recent such event, called the Green Dragons happened June 29. Their monthly events are held on the last Tuesday of each month, except for December. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: Oil cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico have stalled due to high seas churned up by Hurricane Alex. The Hurricane landed in Northern Mexico late Wednesday night with winds near its center at up to 150km/h. Though the center of the hurricane was about 960km south of the leaking oil well, the edges of the hurricane generated strong winds and rough seas off the coast of Louisiana, where the cleanup is ongoing. The storm forced oil skimmers back to port, and generated waves large enough to push oil past floating booms deployed to protect the coastline. Luckily, conditions were not bad enough to halt the drilling of relief wells that are hoped will be able to seal the well by August.

Though hurricane Alex missed the disaster area, it has served as a worrisome reminder that a closer storm would force the complete shutdown of drilling and cleanup operations.

All of this comes as current estimates of the magnitude of the spill now place it as the largest oil spill ever in the Gulf. The current number of 141million gallons is larger than the Ixtoc spill, which released 140 million gallons over nine months from 1979 to 1980. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: The International Whaling Commission has failed to produce a new agreement at its 2010 conference in Morocco. Politicians and conservationists had hoped for the creation of a new agreement to address flaws in the 1986 global whaling moratorium. While the 1986 moratorium was observed by most nations and has been credited with preventing the extinction of endangered whales, it allowed for whaling for ‘scientific’ purposes. It is under this clause that Japan has been catching whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, much to the opposition of conservationists. Delegates had been working to create a new agreement whereby Japan would be legally allowed to catch whales in the sanctuary for commercial purposes, but in smaller numbers than its current self-imposed quota. The collapse of the talks has resulted in finger pointing between anti-whaling and pro-whaling nations, and has led to a crisis of confidence in the ability of the Whaling Commission to protect whale populations. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: Fulfilling a campaign promise, Britain’s new coalition government has formally announced a halt to a number of airport expansions. The decision has put a close to a proposed third runway at London’s Heathrow airport, as well as possible new runways at Gatwick and Stansted airports. Part of the motivation for the decision was the increased carbon emissions that would result from the increased air traffic. Under Britain’s 2008 Climate Change Act, the country must reduce carbon emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by the year 2020.

Business and industry observers have criticised the decision, pointing out that Heathrow Airport already suffers from long lines and delays, and that it is the only major airport of its size with only two runways. The government believes the expansion would only fuel an increase of “binge flying”, and have significant environmental costs. [ index ]