The Star has been running a series on climate change that I have read with some interest, offering as it does a good and extensive primer on the peril we face. Ultimately however, it fails, especially in the last part which talks about what we can do to combat it.
There really is only one solution, which letter writer Norm Beach of Toronto articulates. However, one has to ask a fundamental question: Is anyone in a position of power listening?
The Star’s series on our climate emergency notes that, despite Canada’s small population, we are among the top 10 biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. It’s important to add another inconvenient truth: Our emissions on a per-person basis are more than 20 tonnes annually, the highest of these ten largest-emitting countries, three times the G20 average and 20 times that of Bangladesh.
The good news: Our carbon footprint is getting smaller. The bad news: We’re not doing enough to avert global disaster.
If we keep on electing politicians dedicated to preserving market share for fossil fuels, our flag will get as much international respect as an oil-soaked rag and our children will inherit a devastated planet. Years ago, the Pogo cartoon put it best: “We have met the enemy … and he is us.” Canada, it’s time to get our heads out of the sand, stop squandering our hard-earned reputation, mobilize for the greater good and reclaim our right to be proud of our country.
That is a fine summation. Even the current government pushes the lie that Canada is a bit player and slashing our emissions won't make a dent in the problem. Yet we are indeed in the Top 10 for overall emissions and, if Trans Mountain is built to allow expansion of Tar Sands production, we're expected to move two, perhaps three rungs up that ladder.
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to hear this "bit player" excuse from people like Harper, Kenney and Scheer. It's another thing entirely when the Liberals foist it on us. Yet the Liberal faithful are willing dupes. They buy this nonsense much as Trump's base buy whatever horseshit he serves up for their consumption.
The Trudeau acolytes are indeed as fanatical as Trump's base is in their beliefs about their man, Mound. I have almost given up trying to understand our species.
Delete.. i commented on another Indy Blog early this ayem.. It echoes your concerns.. I won't try to emulate it here.. BUT .. I never doubt you among others are same page, same book .. ahead of 'the curve' .. and 'batting 1000 .. I often .. or always feel.. I am commenting to the same coherent concerned and sharply critical observant remarkable Indy Media stellars and exemplars
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sal. I try to keep abreast of this unfolding catastrophe, but believe me, I am very mindful of the fact that I am also very much part of the problem by virtue of my use of air travel. Climate-change mitigation really demands strong, coherent leadership and action by our governments which, sadly, seems unlikely to materialize.
DeleteThis letter appeared in the Toronto Star earlier this year...
ReplyDeleteIt would be helpful if the media stopped referring to Canadian carbon taxation as climate change policy because it will have no effect whatsoever on world climate as long a the US, China and India continue to pollute with reckless abandon. What is needed is a Manhattan Project-like effort to bring together the world’s leading scientists and engineers to develop and implement measures that could work. Meanwhile, the time politicians waste implementing and evaluating a policy that has no chance of succeeding is time we may not have.
The following summarizes my thoughts on the issue...
A local Green Party official posted a petition asking the CBC to hold a debate on climate change during the election campaign.
I replied; “If you want a debate on Canadian emissions reductions, fine. But unless the party leaders drastically change their policies between now and debate day there will be no point in holding a climate change debate since none of them have a climate change policy.
A Green supporter replied; “The Green Party of Canada has a comprehensive policy that covers social justices issues. the #ClimateCrisis and so much more. Check it out at https://www.greenparty.ca/en/vision-green
I replied; “Your party's Canadian emissions reduction change plan opens with a quote from climate change guru James Hansen published in a scientific journal over 11 years ago. In his paper he warned; "If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm." Last year it exceeded 410 ppm. Forgive me, but if every country had followed your party's current plan 11 years ago it might have made a difference, but it is highly unlikely it would matter a whit if adopted today. Here's a more recent Hansen quote (from The New Yorker last June) regarding his message to young people; "The simple thing is, I’m sorry we’re leaving such a fucking mess." Your party's emissions policy will not mitigate said mess.
I agree with your points, Louis. We have almost reached the point of no return, yet our politicians talk as if there is still plenty of time to turn the ship around. A news story today says the following:
Delete"Canada’s current policies are consistent with global warming exceeding 4 C compared to pre-industrial levels, more than twice the stated goal of the Paris agreement of staying as close to 1.5 C as possible. The United States and Japan are also both in the 4 C category, while the other four G7 members, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom, have policies consistent with more than 3 C in warming."
https://www.cjme.com/2019/08/22/canadas-climate-plan-not-enough-entire-g7-must-do-more-report-says/
"...yet our politicians talk as if there is still plenty of time to turn the ship around." Amazing, isn't it? I wonder how many those jobs one of them break the law to protect will be around a decade after others finally conclude carbon taxation wasn't the answer?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to include in my previous post that five months after the Star ran my letter they ran an editorial calling for a project similar in scope to the Apollo mission to mitigate climate change. It didn't quote me even once. ;-)