New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire gunsOpinion: Clean energy promises can fuel Eby government's economic roadmap New ministries signal shift towards sustainable economy Mark Zacharias & Evan Pivnick Nov 27, 2024 3:30 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message The Meikle wind farm in northeastern B.C. — one of the largest wind farms in B.C. Pattern Development Listen to this article 00:05:13 In a political moment where voters across the globe are in the mood for change, Premier David Eby’s government, after days of dramatic recounts, was returned to office for a second mandate. Recognizing these are challenging times for incumbents, the premier was quick to announce the reorganization of the government he inherited from former premier John Horgan just two years earlier. Major changes were made to both the organizational structure of the natural resource ministries and the people in charge of it. The new ministry of energy and climate solutions is a smart move, where accountability for all things energy and climate rests with Minister Adrian Dix, a seasoned political veteran with a reputation for getting things done. The new ministry reflects the reality that the world now invests almost twice as much in clean energy as it does in fossil fuels. In 2024, global energy investment is set to exceed US$3 trillion, with US$2 trillion going to clean energy technologies and infrastructure. Spending on renewable power, grids and storage is now higher than total spending on oil, gas and coal, with clean energy employment surpassing that of fossil fuels globally in 2021. Creating a combined energy and climate ministry reflects an important fact: climate and energy are two sides of the same coin. Similarly, the creation of the new ministry of mines and critical minerals acknowledges the province’s mineral wealth and ability to both mine and process these materials in B.C. Helping meet clean-energy-driven demand for critical minerals is a major economic opportunity for the province. Indeed, the global battery market is set to triple in size from US$120 billion in 2023 to US$330 billion in 2030. What’s yet to come, however, are the minister’s mandate letters that will spell out the government’s detailed agenda. It will be tempting to look south of the border at the incoming Trump administration and the political winds of change blowing here in Canada as indicators of where the global economy is headed. But the Eby government must not lose sight of the global picture, where countries around the world are accelerating the deployment of clean energy and technologies. In fact, even the incoming Trump administration is being lobbied by the automotive and fossil fuel industries to keep the U.S. in the Paris Climate Agreement and maintain U.S. President Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credits and EV incentives. Combine this pressure with state-led leadership from California and others, and it’s unclear whether “drill, baby, drill” will indeed become the U.S.’s prevailing economic narrative. Fortunately, the Eby government took some bold first steps in its previous mandate to align B.C.’s economy with this new reality. During his two years as premier, Eby has taken the province’s clean energy future seriously, implementing a number of important changes , such as increasing energy infrastructure investments and providing a credible vision for how the province can best leverage its clean energy advantages. What’s required now is largely the implementation of Eby’s first-term commitments, including the development of an oil and gas emissions cap and support for household clean technologies that help drive down both home energy bills and emissions (often adding cooling to homes that now need it). The new government also needs an action plan to implement the government’s energy strategy, Powering Our Future , to ensure B.C. has sufficient clean electricity for the years ahead. It should prioritize streamlining permitting and regulatory processes for clean energy projects while advancing Indigenous reconciliation and environmental protection. B.C. is poised to prosper. The province’s clean technology sector — currently home to seven of the world’s 100 most promising cleantech firms — will be in high demand as the global market for solar, wind, EVs, batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps is set to rise from US$700 billion in 2023 to more than US$2 trillion by 2035, which is close to the value of the world’s crude oil market in recent years. This, again, is where the world is headed even without further speeding up the clean energy transition. What’s more, analysis from Clean Energy Canada shows that, in a world where Canada and B.C. remain on track to net zero by 2050, over 400,000 clean energy jobs would be created in the province, up from some 83,000 in 2025, representing an annual growth rate of six per cent. Eby has set the province on a path to an affordable, prosperous future, but the journey has only just started. Developments south of the border provide an opportunity for B.C. to step up and fully align its economy with where the global market is headed. Mark Zacharias is the executive director and Evan Pivnick is the clean energy program manager at Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up Related Opinion: B.C. energy future highlights critical choices in provincial election Oct 9, 2024 4:30 PM

If you're heading out to a New Year's Eve party this week, there's a chance you'll stumble across at least one person with a zip lock bag filled with exactly 12 grapes. "Why?" you may wonder to yourself, before carrying on with your end of year festivities . When the clock strikes midnight, as you clink champagne glasses and embrace your friends, you may notice that person reach into the bag to scarf down their 12 grapes as quickly as they can. They may even do it from under a table. READ MORE: 'Big mistake': The one thing you should never do when buying prawns If you're not heading to a party you may instead see the tradition all over your Instagram and TikTok feeds. If you're not across what it's all about, it may leave you scratching your head. Over the past few years, the 12 grapes tradition has become a trend on social media, but it actually dates back to late 19th century Spain and is believed to bring about good fortune. Read on to learn more about the tradition and how it could possibly bring good fortune in 2025. READ MORE: Seven-second test all dog owners need to know  The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight is believed to welcome good prosperity and fortune in the new year for those who follow it. The tradition originated in Spain and is known as 'Las doce uvas de la suerte' or 'The 12 grapes of luck'. Many people believe the tradition is associated with finding love in the new year. This is true, but it's only one interpretation. The grape-eating ritual is associated with luck in any area of life, whether that be your finances, health or love life and it depends on the intentions you set when eating each grape. The tradition is also believed to ward off any evil spirits and negative energy to start the year on a fresh and positive slate. The tradition originated over a century ago in Spain. It first began in the late 19th century but was popularised in the early 20th century by some vine growers in the Alicante region as a way to boost end of year sales.  For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here . It soon transformed into a beloved ritual across the country and today you can even find tins of 12 'lucky grapes' sold in supermarkets throughout Spain that are already peeled, seeded and ready to eat at midnight. In the decades, it has travelled around the world. It is a massive tradition in Spanish-speaking countries but has also become popular in other parts of the world, especially since the trend took on a life of its own on social media. The tradition is not as simple as eating 12 grapes on New Year's Day. There are specific rules to follow for the good luck to come to fruition. To follow the ritual properly, you're supposed to eat the 12 grapes one at a time with each chime of the clock at midnight – so within 12 seconds. This honestly sounds a little too challenging but thankfully now it's expected that you finish the 12 grapes before the clock ticks over to 12:01am. READ MORE:  AFLW stars Emma Kearney and Kate Shierlaw's love story If you can eat the 12 grapes within a minute, according to the ritual, you can expect to see good fortune in the new year. Those who are extra superstitious about the tradition also believe there is a certain type of grape to eat. White Aledo grapes from Alicante are traditionally used, they are grown under the cover of paper bags which results in a more delicate grape with a thin skin and lots of flavour. But these days it's common to eat any type of white grape during the midnight tradition. It seems simple, but eating 12 grapes in one minute can be a challenge and those who follow the tradition have ways to make it easier. Some will pack their 12 grapes in a zip lock bag ready to eat to avoid the need to count them out. Others will serve them skewered on a stick like a fruit kebab to make them easier to eat. READ MORE: Relatable way Emily Blunt met her actor husband Recently the tradition has morphed, with some saying the 12 grapes should be eaten while sitting under a table. Plenty of creators all over social media tout that doing so can bring good fortune in your love life. This isn't based on the original tradition and seems to have begun on TikTok. So maybe, if you're feeling a little superstitious and hoping for some good fortune in 2025, it might be an idea to take your own zip lock bag of grapes to that New Years Eve party. Or perhaps you can scarf them down at home while watching the fireworks on the telly. FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.MILWAUKEE 76, WOFFORD 74

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