John Woodside
Senior Ottawa Reporter | Ottawa |
English
About John Woodside
John Woodside was named one of Canada Clean50's emerging leaders in 2023 for his outstanding reporting on the climate and related issues. Focusing on finance, lobbying, energy policy and the climate emergency from Ottawa, Woodside brings a depth of experience to Canada's National Observer. Before joining Canada's National Observer, John reported on energy for allNewBrunswick and allNewfoundlandLabrador, and focused on Muskrat Falls, nuclear power, and the Irving group of companies.He has also worked with Cited Media and with the foreign policy news outlet OpenCanada. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Masters in Journalism.
Canada’s biggest banks shoot down climate resolutions at annual meetings
With annual meeting season in the rearview mirror, Canada’s largest banks can agree on one thing: they sure don’t want shareholders influencing environmental policies.
‘They pretend we don’t exist’: Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs insulted after RBC cancels in-person meeting last-minute
“Today is one of the highest insults I've ever received as a chief,” Wet'suwet'en hereditary Chief Namoks said Thursday after RBC cancelled the in-person portion of its meeting at the last minute. “You’ve seen the violence (on Wet'suwet'en territory); I think today's insult was bigger.”
Government risks disaster by barely mentioning financial sector in climate plan
Canada’s emissions reduction plan is “derelict" until it provides a roadmap for how the financial sector will align with climate goals, critics say.
Canada’s economy will survive a breakup with fossil fuels: Carbon Tracker’s Mark Campanale
Canadian banks can drop their fossil fuel investments and the economy will survive, says Carbon Tracker founder Mark Campanale, an expert in getting the financial sector on the path to a climate-safe future.
As AGM season gets closer, banks signal how seriously they take climate — or not
Canada’s biggest banks are responding to climate-related resolutions, offering a peek into how seriously they take the crisis as the annual shareholder meeting season approaches.
RBC tells shareholders to look the other way
RBC has a goal to lend $500 billion worth of "sustainable financing" by 2025. Now the bank is urging shareholders to reject a proposal that would stop it from including fossil fuel companies in that target.
Fossil fuels are killing the planet. So why don’t we stop using them?
Ditching fossil fuels is a key part of tackling climate change and keeping our planet fit for human life, but Bay Street and Big Oil are standing in the way. Here's everything you need to know.
Canadian banks, insurance companies have poured millions into Russian oil and gas
Canadian banks, insurance companies and asset managers have pumped millions into Russian-owned oil and gas companies that have flowed into the petrostate’s war chest.
Canada and the IPCC report’s ‘atlas of human suffering’
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is warning of “unavoidable multiple climate hazards” over the next two decades in a clear recognition society is entering an era of irreversible breakdown without immediate action.
Banks’ charitable donations called a smokescreen for fossil fuel investments — and a turnoff for young customers
Canadian banks are using “strategic philanthropy” to paper over growing climate concerns in an attempt to lock in young customers for life.