Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues for a total ban on chlorpyrifos in Canada, asserting that the PMRA's proposed re-evaluation decision does not go far enough. The authors claim that risks to pollinators, birds, mammals, and aquatic life are unacceptable and that current risk assessments underestimate exposure due to a lack of surface water monitoring data. They specifically challenge the safety of continued use in mosquito control and greenhouses, citing evidence of biodiversity in temporary pools and the inefficiency of label restrictions to prevent runoff.

The document argues that the PMRA's proposed phase-out of imidacloprid is too slow and narrow in scope, failing to account for the risks to wild pollinators beyond honey bees and bumblebees. It criticizes the reliance on label statements for risk mitigation, citing inadequate enforcement capacity in Canada. The authors highlight risks from environmental contamination, such as residues in non-target wildflowers and dust from treated seeds, and argue that the economic value of neonicotinoid seed treatments is overrated. They recommend a full ban on all outdoor uses, aligned with European Union regulations, and a shift toward Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

The report examines the widespread use of glyphosate, noting a nearly 15-fold increase in global use since 1996 due to genetically modified crops. It details the emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds and the contamination of surface and groundwater in Europe and North America. The document highlights scientific disputes over chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity, and criticizes the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for its 2017 re-evaluation decision, which critics argue relied on outdated, non-peer-reviewed industry data.

A coalition of civil society organizations calls on the Canadian government to ban neonicotinoid insecticides, citing evidence of environmental contamination and global biodiversity loss, while noting that these chemicals are not essential for agricultural production.

Earthjustice argues that the U.S. House Farm Bill (H.R. 2) contained 'poison pill' provisions that threatened water quality, old-growth forests, endangered species, and climate adaptation efforts, while restricting public access to justice.

The report details how neonicotinoids contaminate plants, soil, and water, leading to the decline of pollinators and other essential invertebrates. It argues that these chemicals provide marginal economic benefits while posing significant risks to ecosystem services, and criticizes the Canadian regulatory system for its slow re-evaluation process and historical use of conditional registrations.

The report argues that the European Commission and various Member States are undermining the 2013 bans on four bee-harming pesticides, including neonicotinoids and fipronil, by exploiting a legal loophole for 'emergency authorisations'. Analysis of 62 notifications reveals that these authorisations are frequently granted without evidence of a genuine emergency, without considering alternative pest control methods, and are often driven by the pesticide and seed industry. The document highlights Romania as a primary example of this abuse, noting it granted one-third of all EU derogations for neonicotinoids between 2014 and 2016 despite evidence of bee colony losses and a lack of research into sustainable alternatives. The authors call for the Commission to increase transparency, systematically scrutinise notifications, and reject industry-led requests.

The document examines the systemic nature of neonicotinoids and their toxicity to arthropods and vertebrates, linking them to honeybee colony losses in Canada and biodiversity decline in Europe. It highlights the economic importance of pollinators in Ontario and Quebec and argues that the widespread use of these pesticides often provides negligible agricultural benefits while threatening human nutrition and global food security.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) supports the decision to discontinue new conditional registrations for pesticides effective June 1, 2016, but argues that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) must also end existing conditional registrations by a set date. CAPE highlights that 80 pesticide products currently hold conditional registrations, including neonicotinoids linked to pollinator decline and ecosystem damage. Additionally, the document cites a Federal Commissioner's report identifying PMRA failings in assessing cumulative health effects, re-evaluating pre-1995 pesticides, cancelling high-risk products, and maintaining transparency with the public.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) supports Ontario's draft Pollinator Health Action Plan, particularly its focus on protecting pollinators from stressors like pesticide exposure and habitat loss. CAPE emphasizes the link between pollinator health and human food security, citing research that a total loss of animal pollinators could increase annual human deaths from nutrition-related diseases by 1.42 million. While welcoming the plan's strategic outcomes, CAPE recommends adding specific targets, budgets, and timelines, creating an independent scientific advisory body, providing farmer incentives for pollinator-friendly practices, and conducting a cumulative assessment of pesticide exposures in Ontario.

The Quebec Pesticides Strategy 2015-2018 proposes expanding the list of banned pesticides to 60 active ingredients, including neonicotinoids, atrazine, and chlorpyrifos. These substances are linked to bee colony deaths, endocrine disruption, and developmental neurotoxicity. CAPE intends to partner with Équiterre to advocate for these bans to protect public health and the environment.

The document describes neonicotinoids as systemic insecticides that spread through plant tissues and are linked to large-scale honey bee colony losses. It cites a Worldwide Integrated Assessment finding these pesticides toxic to most insects and capable of impairing bee learning and fertility. In Canada, specifically Ontario, significant winter colony losses were reported in 2013 and 2014, leading to provincial legislation to reduce neonic-treated seed planting by 80% by 2017. The European Union also implemented a two-year ban on agricultural neonic use starting in January 2013.

The document outlines a four-step process for incorporating biodiversity into urban planning: identifying potential species, assessing data sufficiency, conducting inventories, and designing diverse habitats. It introduces the 'Green Space Factor' (PRF) and 'Green Points' (PRP) as tools to quantify and improve the ecological value of development sites. The guide provides detailed mitigation and enrichment strategies for specific animal groups—pollinators, amphibians, reptiles, bats, and birds—and describes sustainable urban infrastructure such as Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), green roofs, vertical greenery, and flower meadows.

The document outlines strategies for urban biodiversity, focusing on nature-friendly gardening, landscaping, and construction. It provides detailed guidance on creating habitats for insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals, while addressing conflicts with 'problem' species and the impact of urban infrastructure on wildlife.

The document argues that neonicotinoids, systemic insecticides widely used in corn and soy production, are causing widespread declines in insect and bird populations, particularly honey bees in Canada. It highlights that these chemicals are water-soluble, persistent, and toxic to arthropods, potentially threatening global food security by reducing fruit, vegetable, and nut supplies. While some government reports suggest economic losses from a ban, other studies indicate that neonic seed treatments provide negligible benefits to crop yields. The briefing notes regulatory responses in Ontario, Québec, and the European Union to mitigate these risks.

The report outlines a stepwise process for EU Member States to develop National Restoration Plans (NRPs) to meet the legally binding targets of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), which aims to restore 20% of land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. It details legal requirements for monitoring, quantification, and stakeholder engagement, while emphasizing the need for policy coherence with the Renewable Energy Directive, Common Agricultural Policy, and Common Fisheries Policy. The document provides 14 specific recommendations to ensure NRPs are ambitious, evidence-based, and well-funded through a mix of public and private sources.

The Great Plains, a temperate grassland system spanning from Canada to Mexico, supports thousands of plant and animal species but faces threats from agriculture, resource extraction, and invasive species. WWF is implementing conservation strategies for keystone and endangered species, including bison, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs, while working with Native Nations and ranchers to restore native grasslands and improve migration corridors for animals like the pronghorn.

The guide outlines three primary actions to support bee populations: planting native wildflowers to provide a balanced diet, maintaining 'messy' areas of land to provide nesting habitats for solitary bees, and eliminating the use of systemic pesticides like neonicotinoids. It highlights that while honey bees are well-known, there are over 20,000 bee species globally, many of which are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and agricultural chemicals.

Bumble bees survive winter through physical adaptations like thicker hair and the ability to shiver, as well as chemical protections such as glycol, which prevents their tissues from freezing. Queens overwinter in underground burrows, though climate warming can threaten their survival by causing them to wake too frequently and starve.

The document highlights five animal species—the monarch butterfly, emperor penguin, tiger, puffin, and clown fish—detailing their physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. It specifically notes that climate change reduces food availability for monarch butterflies and, along with habitat loss, poses risks to emperor penguins.