Ecojustice Victories 2007

GLOBAL WARMING LITIGATION: Launched the first ever lawsuit against the government of Canada for abandoning its binding international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, flouting domestic and international laws

TRASH PLAN APPEALED: Won the right to appeal a controversial proposal by the world’s largest cement company to burn thousands of tonnes of tires and trash in an antiquated cement kiln near Kingston, Ontario

SAVING ONTARIO SPECIES: Successfully advocated for Ontario to pass the strongest endangered species legislation in Canada – ensuring the survival of the province’s more than 200 endangered species as well as their natural habitats

GREAT NEWS FOR ORCAs: Successfully halted controversial plans to conduct seismic testing off the coast of BC that would have posed significant risks to marine mammals, including endangered Orca whales

PLOVER PROTECTED: Won a reprieve for the Piping Plover, an endangered bird found in Canada from Alberta to Ontario, by forcing the federal government to revise its strategy to protect the bird’s habitat

VICTORY FOR THE BIRDS: Spurred an investigation by the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation, exposing the destruction of 45,000 migratory bird nests each year by logging companies in Ontario’s public forests

WATER BOTTLER PERMIT SHRINKS: Successfully challenged a 10-year water-taking permit granted to one of Canada’s largest water bottling companies, reducing the length of the permit and ensuring far greater oversight and scrutiny of the company’s activities

VICTORY HALTS MINE: Won a precedent-setting decision that upheld the right of Canadians to be consulted during environmental assessments, putting the future of the Red Chris Mine in northwestern BC in doubt

PROTECTING CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS: Won the right to intervene at Canada’s top court, challenging a controversial Quebec Court of Appeal decision that could impair the rights of citizens to launch class action lawsuits over environmental harm