Addressing the Human Rights Impacts of Environmental Degradation and Climate Change on Women and Girls: An Intergenerational and Indigenous Approach to Environmental Justice

This project examines human rights impacts of natural resource development in Western Canada from the perspective of women and girls, especially Indigenous women and girls. The research will identify gaps between Canada's relevant international human rights and environmental agreements, domestic law, policies and practises, and the lived realities of women and girls.

Municipal Energy Futures Project: A Case Study of Regina, Saskatchewan

Meeting Canada’s commitment to the Paris Agreement will require a fundamental shift in the energy systems of
Canadian cities. Regina, Saskatchewan is located in the sun-belt of Canada and also lies within the Great Plains wind corridor. Recognizing this potential for renewable energy, the City of Regina has committed to a target of meeting 100% of its energy needs using renewable energy by 2050.

The impacts of agricultural insecticides and new regulatory schemes on the health of wild and managed bees

Agricultural pesticides are one of several stressors contributing to the global decline of insect pollinators. More specifically, there is strong evidence of harm from neonicotinoid insecticides. Many jurisdictions are implementing new rules to restrict use of these common pesticides. While regulators have largely focused on reducing pollinator exposure to neonicotinoids, other insecticides also have the potential to harm pollinators.

Cumulative Environmental Effects from Unconventional Oil and Gas Activity in the Liard River Watershed: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Freshwater Extraction, and Risk of Cross-Contamination

The Liard River Watershed covers 275 000 square kilometres in Northeastern British Columbia. This vast area is increasingly being developed for its underlying shale gas resources using hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). However, there are few studies investigating the environmental impacts of such activity in this vast area. Fossil fuels and freshwater are two of Canada’s most important natural resources, and therefore an understanding of the water-energy nexus is paramount.

Investigation of possible surface contamination from a deep waste disposal injection well in Northeastern, British Columbia, Canada

In British Columbia, highly saline waste water produced as a by-product of oil and gas operations are injected into deep geological formations via injection wells. The purpose of this research project is to investigate whether or not these injected fluids remain at depth as intended or rather, can return to the surface and contaminate water resources. In particular this project aims to evaluate the role that surrounding active and abandoned wellbores play in acting as vertical conduits for subsurface fluids to leak to the surface.

Mathematical and statistical synthesis of sea lice and salmon population dynamics in the Broughton Archipelago

The David Suzuki Foundation, a science-based Canadian environmental organization, and an intern from the University of Alberta will analyze data on sea lice and Pacific salmon population dynamics using mathematical and statistical techniques.