News archive - December 2021

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Canada’s flood-risk management needs stronger leadership

Originally published on Policy Options by by Jason Thistlethwaite, Associate Professor, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, and Daniel Henstra, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science.
December 22, 2021

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

The hidden cost of road salt

Caroline Hill Smith, a graduate student currently enrolled in the Water Institute’s Collaborative Water Program (CWP) and supervised by Water Institute member Christopher Fletcher, professor from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, contributed an op-ed to the Hamilton Spectator recently entitled “The hidden cost of road salt.” The article brings awareness to the issue of the excessive use of road salt contaminating groundwater that is our drinking water supply. Caroline also spoke about the pervasive and growing problem with CityNews Kitchener on the Mike Farwell Show available here at 1:24:30.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Elizabeth English featured in CBC’s What on Earth newsletter

Water Institute member Elizabeth English, a professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Architecture, was featured in the December 16^th issue of CBC's What on Earth newsletter, which highlights trends and solutions that are moving us to a more sustainable world.

Monday, December 13, 2021

In the media: Ski resorts are worried about the climate crisis, but experts say pledges to reduce carbon emissions don't factor in tourists' flights

Skiers and snowboarders spend a lot of time and money travelling to resorts. Experts say their flights are contributing to global warming and the reduction of snow seasons in many parts of North America.

Water Institute member Daniel Scott, professor, University Research Chair and Director of the Master of Climate Change Program, has been publishing research on the impact of the climate crisis on tourism and the ski industry since 2003. Scott's research has shown the risks to the ski industry include less and more inconsistent natural snow, more snowmaking requirements, and costs as well as shorter seasons.

Friday, December 10, 2021

Northern peatlands sensitivity threatening current trajectory for carbon pool stability

A new paper, co-authored by Water Institute members Fereidoun Rezanezhad, Philippe Van Cappellen and Jonathan Price, along with Ecohydrology Research Group researchers Eunji Byun, Linden Fairbairn and Steph Slowinski, has been published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. The paper is entitled “Temperature, moisture and freeze-thaw controls on CO₂ production in soil incubations from northern peatlands” and assesses the impact of climate warming on carbon emissions from Canada’s peatland ecosystems, particularly in the non-growing season.