Keep your toboggans close and your winter boots closer, Toronto. A blanket of snow is falling over Toronto and the GTA with the city expecting up to 10 cm. The snowglobe-like conditions made for a messy commute Wednesday morning, with Environment Canada warning drivers to slow down and take extra care in the “hazardous conditions.” Though the snowfall is expected to taper off in the early afternoon — in time for the evening rush hour — roads may still be slippery. “Motorists should exercise caution and allow extra time to reach their destination due to accumulating snow and lower visibilities in falling snow,” Environment Canada said in a special weather statement. Halton, Peel, Durham, and York regions are also covered by the advisory. Environment Canada said some areas close to the Lake Ontario shoreline could see between 10 to 12 cm of snow. … [Read more...] about Environment Canada, City of Toronto issue advisories as snowfall continues
Environment
Trump admin. to withdraw nomination of climate change skeptic as top environment adviser
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration plans to withdraw its nomination of Kathleen Hartnett White, a climate change skeptic, to lead the Council on Environmental Quality, a White House official said.U.S. President Donald Trump in October appointed White, a former Texas environmental regulator who has said that carbon dioxide should be considered the “gas of life” rather than a pollutant, to be the White House senior environmental adviser. Carbon dioxide emissions contribute to global warming.The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved White on a party-line vote, but her nomination languished at the end of 2017. That was in part, lawmakers acknowledged, because of White’s performance at her hearing in which she not only espoused controversial views on climate change but also stumbled over science questions. Read more: Trump admin. releases report saying climate change is driven almost entirely by humans … [Read more...] about Trump admin. to withdraw nomination of climate change skeptic as top environment adviser
5-10 cm of snow heading for Toronto, Environment Canada warns
Snowfall is on the way for Toronto and the surrounding area, bringing a special weather statement from Environment Canada with it.A cold front moving across Southern Ontario is expected to bring 5 to 10 cm of snow with it starting Monday afternoon and continuing into the evening, according to the weather agency. Environment Canada is warning drivers to watch out for poor driving conditions during the Monday evening commute. With the expected conditions, the City of Toronto followed suit and issued an extreme cold weather alert just after 7:30 a.m. Monday morning. The alert will remain in effect until further notice, a statement read on the City of Toronto website. Temperatures are set to hover closer to zero during the day, with a high of -2 C. That is predicted to drop down to an overnight low of -11 C, which could feel as cold as -17 C with the windchill. Cloudy skies are projected to prevail throughout the day, with sun not making an appearance until Tuesday morning. … [Read more...] about 5-10 cm of snow heading for Toronto, Environment Canada warns
Look at fees or bans to curb plastics use, says Toronto parks and environment chair
Toronto needs a fresh look at fees or bans to reduce Torontonians’ use of plastic bags, disposable cups and coffee pods, says the parks and environment chair.“Plastics in general are a real problem in our oceans and in lakes,” Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon said in an interview Friday. “We have waste diversion targets we have yet to reach, this is the way of the future, and there is no time like the present.”McMahon and Councillor Mike Layton are hoping to get city staff to report on options “including, but not limited to, municipal fees and prohibitions” to reduce usage, or increase recycling, of single-use: plastic bags, hot beverage cups and lids, coffee pods, black plastics often used for takeout foods, plastic straws and cutlery, and takeout food containers — especially plastic or Styrofoam ones that can’t be recycled.McMahon won’t prejudge any staff advice but she personally prefers a focus on reducing waste — … [Read more...] about Look at fees or bans to curb plastics use, says Toronto parks and environment chair
Ontario’s environment ministry investigating Sarnia-area plant after possible leak
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment is investigating after a Sarnia-area plant failed to report a possible chemical leak as legally required, a spokesperson said Thursday. Nova Chemicals in Corunna, south of Sarnia, evacuated staff to a “safe location” Wednesday after an internal alarm went off for hydrogen sulphide, the company said. Hydrogen sulphide, which has a rotten egg odour, can paralyze the human sense of smell and cause death at high enough concentrations. The ministry spokesperson said staff are investigating why Nova didn’t immediately report the incident, as required by law. “We are communicating to Nova that it is our expectation that in incidents like this they do notify us,” said the spokesperson. Read more: … [Read more...] about Ontario’s environment ministry investigating Sarnia-area plant after possible leak