Brett Favaro
@brettfavaro.bsky.social
Conservation scientist. Tweets about climate, oceans, & sustainable development. Views my own, and do not necessarily reflect views of employer. He/him.
This is an unhinged assault on the future of the City of Vancouver
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 AM
This is an unhinged assault on the future of the City of Vancouver
Reposted by Brett Favaro
proof that science mis- and disinformation are effective and have profound consequences for society. This is a shameful milestone.
UPDATE: Canada has announced that it has lost its measles elimination status.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
proof that science mis- and disinformation are effective and have profound consequences for society. This is a shameful milestone.
Deeply disturbing
Canada has just lost measles elimination status. The U.S. will undoubtedly follow shortly.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Canada loses measles elimination status after three decades, health agency says
Canada has lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak, the country's public health agency said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Deeply disturbing
Reposted by Brett Favaro
I think the most definitive report on "The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids" is this 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine (NASEM). There MAY be some harms; there ARE some health benefits/potential benefits.
nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2462...
nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2462...
The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research
Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print or as an eBook.
nap.nationalacademies.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I think the most definitive report on "The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids" is this 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine (NASEM). There MAY be some harms; there ARE some health benefits/potential benefits.
nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2462...
nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2462...
Reposted by Brett Favaro
All-Electric Homes Save Money & Improve Health
There is no reason to have fossil gas in your home. Electricity can do everything gas can do but cheaper, cleaner & more efficiently. All gas does is burden us with high costs & bad health for the rest of our lives
www.youtube.com/shorts/uSacJ...
There is no reason to have fossil gas in your home. Electricity can do everything gas can do but cheaper, cleaner & more efficiently. All gas does is burden us with high costs & bad health for the rest of our lives
www.youtube.com/shorts/uSacJ...
All-Electric Homes Save Money and Improve Health
YouTube video by Mark Z. Jacobson
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
All-Electric Homes Save Money & Improve Health
There is no reason to have fossil gas in your home. Electricity can do everything gas can do but cheaper, cleaner & more efficiently. All gas does is burden us with high costs & bad health for the rest of our lives
www.youtube.com/shorts/uSacJ...
There is no reason to have fossil gas in your home. Electricity can do everything gas can do but cheaper, cleaner & more efficiently. All gas does is burden us with high costs & bad health for the rest of our lives
www.youtube.com/shorts/uSacJ...
Reposted by Brett Favaro
I know we've all got a lot on our minds and the gusher of news doesn't stop for anybody, but....
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I know we've all got a lot on our minds and the gusher of news doesn't stop for anybody, but....
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Reposted by Brett Favaro
We joke about the Torment Nexus and all that, but...
The truth is science fiction warned us endlessly not to let fear control us.
"Fear is the mind killer"
"Fear is a path to the Dark Side"
etc.
Silicon Valley claimed to love SF, then built a machine to amplify fear as a means to control people.
The truth is science fiction warned us endlessly not to let fear control us.
"Fear is the mind killer"
"Fear is a path to the Dark Side"
etc.
Silicon Valley claimed to love SF, then built a machine to amplify fear as a means to control people.
November 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We joke about the Torment Nexus and all that, but...
The truth is science fiction warned us endlessly not to let fear control us.
"Fear is the mind killer"
"Fear is a path to the Dark Side"
etc.
Silicon Valley claimed to love SF, then built a machine to amplify fear as a means to control people.
The truth is science fiction warned us endlessly not to let fear control us.
"Fear is the mind killer"
"Fear is a path to the Dark Side"
etc.
Silicon Valley claimed to love SF, then built a machine to amplify fear as a means to control people.
I've been trying to find literature on whether there are any harms to adults who regularly consume THC. And the answer in most papers seems to be yes.
..but then you read past the abstract, and it's virtually always studying people who smoke it, and the harms are due to THAT, not the THC itself.
..but then you read past the abstract, and it's virtually always studying people who smoke it, and the harms are due to THAT, not the THC itself.
What if there was a country where total nicotine use was identical to 26 other countries, but where tobacco-related DEATHS were MUCH MUCH lower than those 26 countries?
Harm depends on the delivery source, not nicotine itself.
Harm depends on the delivery source, not nicotine itself.
November 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I've been trying to find literature on whether there are any harms to adults who regularly consume THC. And the answer in most papers seems to be yes.
..but then you read past the abstract, and it's virtually always studying people who smoke it, and the harms are due to THAT, not the THC itself.
..but then you read past the abstract, and it's virtually always studying people who smoke it, and the harms are due to THAT, not the THC itself.
Oopsie
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself.... According to an MIT study, 95% of businesses that have deployed generative AI have gotten no value from it." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
How Catastrophic Is It If the AI Bubble Bursts? An FAQ.
The AI industry's most important product is not a chatbot or a video generator; it's the story the AI industry is telling about itself
www.theringer.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Oopsie
Premier Eby is absolutely right to staunchly oppose this, and we need to tell him as much
This sounds a bit like the prime minister is prepared to steamroll over many B.C. First Nations and the provincial government to give Alberta what it wants
Or maybe he was just pandering to his audience?
#bcpoli #canpoli
Or maybe he was just pandering to his audience?
#bcpoli #canpoli
Carney tells business crowd a new pipeline project is 'going to…
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Premier Eby is absolutely right to staunchly oppose this, and we need to tell him as much
I'm just waiting for someone to launch the backlash thread.
"Sure they're not buying oil and gas BUT AT WHAT COST"
"Sure they're not buying oil and gas BUT AT WHAT COST"
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I'm just waiting for someone to launch the backlash thread.
"Sure they're not buying oil and gas BUT AT WHAT COST"
"Sure they're not buying oil and gas BUT AT WHAT COST"
It strikes me that the more you use this stuff, the more likely it seems to be that it will send you into a psychotic break.
None of us should assume we are immune.
None of us should assume we are immune.
November 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It strikes me that the more you use this stuff, the more likely it seems to be that it will send you into a psychotic break.
None of us should assume we are immune.
None of us should assume we are immune.
Question for the hive mind:
Is there a way to find out what a normal failure rate is for a given class across universities? E.g. say you're looking at something like intro to biology - what proportion of the class would you expect to not pass? I'm curious about norms across disciplines
Is there a way to find out what a normal failure rate is for a given class across universities? E.g. say you're looking at something like intro to biology - what proportion of the class would you expect to not pass? I'm curious about norms across disciplines
November 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Question for the hive mind:
Is there a way to find out what a normal failure rate is for a given class across universities? E.g. say you're looking at something like intro to biology - what proportion of the class would you expect to not pass? I'm curious about norms across disciplines
Is there a way to find out what a normal failure rate is for a given class across universities? E.g. say you're looking at something like intro to biology - what proportion of the class would you expect to not pass? I'm curious about norms across disciplines
If true the signs would be undeniable within a matter of days or weeks. So, uh, let's check back in a bit and see!
AI pioneers claim human-level general intelligence is already here on.ft.com/3JERVRg
AI pioneers claim human-level general intelligence is already here
Tech leaders say systems now rival human intelligence in key tasks, further fuelling the superintelligence debate
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
If true the signs would be undeniable within a matter of days or weeks. So, uh, let's check back in a bit and see!
Vaccines are... Good, actually!?
No CTV News, this does not surprise me at all. I've been paying attention to the ongoing pandemic. You have been too busy minimizing.
Study compares heart risks of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and the results may surprise you
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
Study compares heart risks of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and the results may surprise you
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
Study compares heart risks of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and the results may surprise you
The risk of children developing rare but serious heart complications is higher after a COVID-19 infection than after vaccination, according to a new study.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Vaccines are... Good, actually!?
Learning to draw is incredibly difficult but it's also pretty satisfying to see improvement. Melinoë last night vs a couple months ago...
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Learning to draw is incredibly difficult but it's also pretty satisfying to see improvement. Melinoë last night vs a couple months ago...
Reposted by Brett Favaro
Tonight's even more proof the mainstream reporters who are still on Twitter are suffering from a brain problem akin Havana Syndrome that is preventing them from accurately doing their jobs. They are being cooked alive by a snuff-focused apartheid algorithm.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Tonight's even more proof the mainstream reporters who are still on Twitter are suffering from a brain problem akin Havana Syndrome that is preventing them from accurately doing their jobs. They are being cooked alive by a snuff-focused apartheid algorithm.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
Once more, for old times’ sake
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Once more, for old times’ sake
Meanwhile in Canada we're evidently suspending the yacht tax
November 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Meanwhile in Canada we're evidently suspending the yacht tax
Reposted by Brett Favaro
A moment of silence, please, for the "young men are all MAGA now" narrative.
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 AM
A moment of silence, please, for the "young men are all MAGA now" narrative.
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
Reposted by Brett Favaro
Kneecap to the PSE sector - TOTAL temporary resident target (TFWs plus international students) to be roughly halved, from 670K to 370K.
That's minimum a $2 Billion hit to the sector. Probably more. Will work this out later
That's minimum a $2 Billion hit to the sector. Probably more. Will work this out later
November 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Kneecap to the PSE sector - TOTAL temporary resident target (TFWs plus international students) to be roughly halved, from 670K to 370K.
That's minimum a $2 Billion hit to the sector. Probably more. Will work this out later
That's minimum a $2 Billion hit to the sector. Probably more. Will work this out later
Reposted by Brett Favaro
I think every Democrat should be shown this chart and required to explain why any policy solution would convince voters in this environment, and if they cannot, give three steps to fix the media environment, and if they cannot, be forced to resign their seat
November 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I think every Democrat should be shown this chart and required to explain why any policy solution would convince voters in this environment, and if they cannot, give three steps to fix the media environment, and if they cannot, be forced to resign their seat
The Cowichan court case is dominating BC politics discourse. Municipal leaders are using it to rile up white hot rage.
But how many of these commentators have actually read the decision?
I'm going to challenge myself to try.
But how many of these commentators have actually read the decision?
I'm going to challenge myself to try.
November 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The Cowichan court case is dominating BC politics discourse. Municipal leaders are using it to rile up white hot rage.
But how many of these commentators have actually read the decision?
I'm going to challenge myself to try.
But how many of these commentators have actually read the decision?
I'm going to challenge myself to try.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
If I have a choice -- one one side, middle-aged academic author with grand 3-volume tome on How to Create the Perfect World (I get two or three of these *a week*); on the other side, someone who boosted heat pump uptake in midsized NYC multifamily buildings by 17% -- I choose the latter every time.
November 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
If I have a choice -- one one side, middle-aged academic author with grand 3-volume tome on How to Create the Perfect World (I get two or three of these *a week*); on the other side, someone who boosted heat pump uptake in midsized NYC multifamily buildings by 17% -- I choose the latter every time.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
One thing I've really come to appreciate over the course of my career is how easy it is to write a big article or book about How Everything Should Change and how difficult it is to actually change any single thing.
November 3, 2025 at 6:41 PM
One thing I've really come to appreciate over the course of my career is how easy it is to write a big article or book about How Everything Should Change and how difficult it is to actually change any single thing.