Jaela Bernstien

Journalist

Jaela Bernstien is a Montreal-based journalist who covers climate change and the environment for CBC's online, radio and TV news programs. With over a decade of experience, her work has won several awards including a 2023 National RTDNA award, a 2023 Gold Digital Publishing Award, and a 2018 CAJ award for labour reporting. You can reach her at jaela.bernstien@cbc.ca

Latest from Jaela Bernstien

Billions of litres of water are used yearly by Quebec's mining and metal industry, data reveals

Quebec has lifted the veil of secrecy around the province’s biggest water users, revealing that billions of litres of water are used in a year by the mining and metal industry, along with pulp and paper manufacturing.

Humidex used to be a foreign concept in much of Western Canada. That's changing

As human-caused climate change cranks up the heat in Canada, it’s also likely to lead to more humid days, changing life for many in Western Canada and posing a threat to regions that aren’t adapted to muggy, sweltering weather.

Is Canada ready for a fiery future? We tallied up all of its water bomber planes to find out

A wildfire season like no other has tested Canada’s airborne firefighting capacity, revealing that one of the most forested countries in the world may be ill-equipped to deal with fires raging simultaneously from coast to coast.

SUVs are more popular than ever, but do drivers need all that extra space?

While sport-utility vehicles surge in popularity, a new survey sheds light on how often SUV owners actually use all that extra cargo space and towing capacity.

Ties between pension fund directors and fossil fuels are 'incompatible' for some Canadians

Despite mounting pressure from Canadians who want their money to stop supporting oil and gas, the majority of the country’s largest pension fund managers continue to invest in that sector — and are led by individuals with close ties to fossil fuel companies.

Study reveals global algae blooms are growing, and warming waters may be to blame

Swirling green blooms of phytoplankton along ocean coasts may be happening more often and getting bigger, according to new research published in Nature, raising concerns about the impacts of climate change on the world’s oceans. 

Antarctic expedition gets up close and personal with a melting glacier

When Britney Schmidt piloted a robot down a narrow bore hole to explore the underbelly of the world’s widest glacier, she was amazed by what she saw — ice pockmarked by crevasses and staircase-like patterns. “I never thought of being able to use my eyes to detect melting,” she said.

Why don't we talk about acid rain and the ozone hole anymore? Scientists debunk misinformation

If you’re over 30, you likely remember a time when there was a lot of hand-wringing over the ozone hole and skin cancer, as well as the threat of acid rain destroying life in lakes and on land. The reason we don't hear about it anymore is good news, but misinformation on social media claims otherwise.

What one region's water level woes reveal about climate change and the St. Lawrence River

Strolling along the shore on Ault Island, Cliff Steinburg points to the end of his dock. He says this summer there was less than a foot of water there, making it impossible to launch a boat. While the river has since stabilized, Steinburg worries what next year will bring to a region known for its fishing, beaches, and boating.

Global South makes its case for $700B to protect biodiversity at COP15

The funding gap between what developing countries need for conservation and what's actually being offered by wealthy nations has become a major sticking point at the UN biodiversity conference in Montreal.