The urgency of solving the issues with climate change is real. The new edition of the report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is clear: global climate change is accelerating and is caused by humans. The report mentions an unprecedented rate of warming – never seen in 2000 years – created by human influence. The sad news is also that “there is a gap between the size of the climate challenge and efforts to address it” (Moser, 2017). That should raise an important question for all individuals: How can I (we) do my (our) part and help the planet? Studying what happens in Canada seems a good starting point.
\nI should admit the facts are shocking. \u201cCanada\u2019s climate has warmed and will warm further in the future, driven by human influence. Both past and future warming in Canada is, on average, about double the magnitude of global warming.\u201d(Bush et al, 2017, p.1) Why would Canada warm more than other countries, what are the impacts, what are the scenarios that anticipate various versions of the coming years, and finally how can we apply hope? Here is my understanding and explanation of the situation.
\nWhy is Canada warming faster than other regions? Multiple reasons confirm that information. As per BBC in 2019: \u201cCanada\u2019s rapid warming is due to a number of factors, including a loss of snow and sea ice, which is increasing the absorption of solar radiation and causing larger surface warming than in other regions, according to the report.\u201d Reading this news article while experiencing one of the strongest heat waves in Victoria, BC emphasizes the phenomena. The situation is alarming because changes in climate extremes mean more natural disasters (flooding, heatwaves, and pestilence), and because the Canadian government does not seem nearby cutting emissions as per the Paris agreement. Changingclimate.ca mentions a Canadian survey where “87% of respondents indicated that they are already seeing the effects of climate change in their community”. This is huge: more than 8 people out of 10 can testify about observing climate change in our country. Sometimes people tend to be skeptical about science, but it is hard to deny when your neighbors confirm the facts by their own experience.
\nWhy does climate change matter? When warming increases, the risks, and impacts related to climate also augment (Warren, 2021). The impacts are important and can already be seen and felt. Temperature Changes \u2013 Changes in rainfall and snowfall \u2013 Changes in Climate Extremes \u2013 Changes in snow and ice \u2013 Changes in freshwater availability \u2013 Ocean Changes \u2013 Sea Level change. Most scientists agree on these. To provide a real illustration: the changes in climate extremes are now a reality easily visible in Canada. The warm seasons like spring and summer get higher temperatures while winter gets milder weather. Even a few degrees difference have an important impact. Populations need to adapt when there is less snow available for transportation and fishing in the northern part of the country, for example. More disasters like wildfires also occur in Western Canada when the forest is very dry and the region does not get enough precipitation. On the other hand, \u201cExtreme precipitation amounts accumulated over a day or shorter are projected to increase.\u201d(Bush et al., 2017). The earth is going through many irregularities and they will likely involve consequences on humans and non-humans species.
\nScenarios help to understand. They are projections, not predictions. (Pond, personal communication, July 9, 2021). \u201cProjections of changes in the climate system are made using a hierarchy of climate models ranging from simple climate models to models of intermediate complexity, to comprehensive climate models, and Earth System Models\u201d. (IPCC, 2013). Scenarios like the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) come from a need for modeling different stories on how the future could be; while still acknowledging that uncertainty will remain. Scenarios would be used by models to create possibilities (projections). The population, economic growth, education, urbanization, and technological development are part of the inputs that go into scenarios. My understanding is that these factors evolve without a climate policy in place and are part of the world we live in: they could definitely influence the outcomes. A great summary of climate models and projections comes from climatedata.ca when comparing the range of a hurricane shown on a map with climate modeling: it is not 100% precise but it provides enough information for planning to be effective.
\nMy current enrolment in the Climate Action Leadership program leads me to read literature to find clarity and various opinions on the environmental situation. One such piece, Commanding Hope explores the vision of a Canadian environmentalist. The author Thomas Homer-Dixon (2020, p.6) mentioned in it: \u201c(\u2026) at this crucial moment in humanity\u2019s history, three changes are essential to keep us from descending into retractable, savage violence.\u201d Understanding others and the way we think and that others think seems to be part of the solution. Then sharing a story of a positive future that individuals create together based on different perspectives will help to address common problems. Finally, there is a need for an extraordinary mobilization to construct that future.
\nI would agree that hope is necessary and can lead to great changes. By deepening my understanding of climate science and the situation in Canada, I am hopeful that I can be part of the change. Let\u2019s see how we can get there, rather sooner than later.
\nTo conclude, I would like to share powerful words from Josephine Bacon, an Innu poet from Pessamit in Quebec. I watched a documentary on her recently: her connection to nature and her poetry inspired me to raise my voice.<\/p>\n
Kill me, If I don\u2019t respect my land \u2014If I keep silent When they don\u2019t respect my people
\nNipaii manenitamani nitassi \u2014 eka tshituiani manenimakanitaui nitinnimat<\/p>\n
References
\nBritish Broadcasting Corporation, (2019, April 3). Canada warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, report says. https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-47754189<\/p>\n
Bush, E., Gillett, N., Bonsal, B., Cohen, S., Derksen, C., Flato, G., Greenan, B., Shepherd, M., & Zhang, X. (2019). Canada\u2019s changing climate report: Executive summary. Environment and Climate Change Canada. https:\/\/changingclimate.ca\/CCCR2019\/chapter\/executive-summary\/<\/p>\n
Climatedata.ca (2021). Understanding ranges in climate projections. Environment and Climate Change Canada. https:\/\/climatedata.ca\/resource\/understanding-ranges-in-climate-projections\/<\/p>\n
Homer-Dixon, T. (2020). Commanding Hope (1st ed.). KNOPF CANADA.<\/p>\n
IPCC (2013). Summary for policymakers. Climate change 2013: The physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.WG1AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf (ipcc.ch)<\/p>\n
Moser, S., Coffee, J., & Seville, A. (2017). Rising to the challenge together. A review and critical assessment of the state of the US climate adaptation. Kresge Foundation. https:\/\/kresge.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/rising_to_the_challenge_together_linked_0.pdf <\/p>\n
Warren, F. & Lulham, N. (2021). Canada in a changing climate: National issues report. Government of Canada. www.ChangingClimate.ca\/National-Issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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