Commentary

Commentary | Apr 30, 2019

What is carbon? What is its role in freshwater systems? And how is climate change having an impact? Cyndy Desjardins helpfully breaks it all down for you…

Commentary | Apr 11, 2019

President Trump is trying to change the US EPA’s rules on mercury emissions. We explain what he is trying to do, why it matters, and what it could mean for Americans and possibly Canadians.

Commentary | Apr 2, 2019

Canada’s Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development Julie Gelfand just released her spring report. We respond to her findings on the government’s action to combat aquatic invasive species and protecting fish from mining effluent.

Commentary | Mar 11, 2019

“As the impact of climate change only continues to intensify, algal blooms will prove to be more of an environmental hazard in North America. Canada should proactively safeguard its abundant freshwater supplies by taking algal blooms seriously and treating them as a national issue.” Matt McCandless makes the case in The Hill Times.

Commentary | Jan 28, 2019

Now that cannabis legalization is sweeping North America, it is time for us to explore the impact of marijuana on our abundant supplies of fresh water. Vince Palace, our head research scientist, takes us through the existing science and explains what IISD-ELA is gearing up to discover this summer.

Commentary | Jan 10, 2019

In Canada, Western and Indigenous approaches to science are often considered incompatible. We explore how they can and should be working in tandem to further our understanding and protection of fresh water and the environment.

Commentary | Dec 4, 2018

“North America’s governments, scientists and industry need to work together to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the effects of marijuana on fresh water, and update wastewater treatment facilities and regulations to protect our lakes and rivers.” Vince Palace makes the argument in The Guardian.

Commentary | Nov 29, 2018

Lauren Hayhurst has secured a rare hat-trick, having been a undergraduate student, graduate student and employee at the world’s freshwater laboratory. She shares her stories (and secrets) with us all.

Commentary | Nov 24, 2018

“Now is the time for our policymakers to take the energy generated by the plastic buzz and channel into a more strategic and nuanced assault on the welter of issues that is plaguing our abundant freshwater supplies.” Matt McCandless makes the case in Salon.com.

Commentary | Oct 29, 2018

Accuracy. Precision. Consistency. These three words embody the key objectives of any analytical laboratory. Sonya Havens explains how IISD-ELA works to ensure those standards.