Ammonia (NH₃) is an essential component of agricultural fertilizers, but can become an environmental pollutant. Roughly half of all nitrogen used in the agricultural industry escapes into the environment; 56 per cent ends up in water bodies and 44 per cent is released into the air, mostly as NH₃. The[Read More…]
Tag: environment
Bill 97 bulldozes Indigenous livelihoods
Quebec’s government is moving toward securing unbarred executive control over 8 million hectares of the province’s forests for the forestry industry’s industrial logging agenda. This legislation—Bill 97—pads the pockets of industrial logging companies, while bulldozing constitutional and humanitarian obligations to the Indigenous communities who steward much of the targeted land. [Read More…]
Four eco-friendly practices for Montreal apartment living
As summer winds down and a new academic year approaches, many students are moving into—or back into—their Montreal apartments for the fall semester. Whether you’re settling into your first off-campus space or returning to a familiar rental, it’s the perfect time to establish habits that are good for the planet[Read More…]
Which way does the wind blow? What wind can tell us about city wildfire pollution
In late June 2023, the Montreal sky turned orange-grey, the skyline overtaken by a thick haze. The city’s annual air quality report for that year showed that pollution reached its highest point in eight years and on June 25 and 26 of 2023, Montreal had the worst air quality in[Read More…]
Eating sustainably, one DISH at a time
Given that around 26 per cent of mortality cases in Canada are attributable to dietary choices, and that the global food system is responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, researchers are exploring ways to balance nutritional value with sustainability. McGill scientists have recently developed a consumer-focused approach[Read More…]
Breaking down silos: SUSAN’s global initiative to advance sustainability
From governance and policy to social sustainability and economics, solving global environmental issues demands collaboration across all fields. Juan C. Serpa, Associate Professor of Operations Management at McGill, has constructed a groundbreaking initiative designed to bridge the gap between different academic disciplines, fostering collaboration in the fight for sustainability. His[Read More…]
Frozen zero-cement backfill may cement a carbon-free future
In 2022, cement production accounted for eight per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions, releasing 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As climate change worsens, reducing carbon emissions becomes more necessary than ever. As such, many researchers are seeking alternative methods to produce cement-like materials without[Read More…]
Nurturing action through collective care
Five days a week for the past four years, my classmates and I have sat in lecture halls and listened to how humans are destroying the Earth. We’ve learned about global leaders who keep failing to meet their stated climate commitments or how others choose to deny climate change entirely,[Read More…]
AM Kanngieser’s ‘Listening as Coming To’ transports you through time
This fall, the PHI Centre is hosting Habitat Sonore: A Kind of Harmony, a series of six sound exhibitions created by different artists. Each event comprises an in-depth interview with the artist, followed by a collective listening experience for the sound piece. Most recently, the centre welcomed audiences on Oct.[Read More…]
Hundreds call for greater action on climate change in Montreal-wide march
Over 400 people gathered at Monument à sir George-Étienne Cartier for Montreal’s annual climate march at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 27. Ensemble pour la suite du monde—a collective of unions, activist organizations, and other groups—organized the march as part of a series of demonstrations happening across Quebec that day. As[Read More…]