What kind of world are we leaving our grandchildren?

By Bill Fox/Columnist

Some of our grandparents, wanting us to have the legacy of a wonderful Earth, actually lost their lives in the Second World War, ensuring that we had this legacy! But are we doing enough today to ensure that the world we leave our grandchildren is equally wonderful?

I’m very concerned that with climate change and global warming, our grandchildren and great grandchildren will look back at disgust on how we were too greedy and unconcerned to act on the warning signs!

I have become increasingly concerned about climate change and, with the help of Paul Woodcroft, a friend from the Port Perry area, I have come across some amazing statistics which I hope we can all start working on.
– Did you know that the organized climate change denial movement (Heartland Institute, Cayo Institute, Ayn Rand Institute, Koch Industries) spends more than $900 million each year on their efforts? These same interests also exert massive influence with American broadcasters CBS, NBC, ABC and so on, so that they will omit climate change discussion. I can only imagine their influence on the political parties they contribute to.

– From 2001 to 2010, the top five oil companies earned $900 billion, but only four per cent of their earning were invested into renewable energy projects!  This is the Earth’s resources they use!
– Canada has been ranked 27th out of 27 developed countries in its action regarding climate change.

– Canada was, in fact, a leading nation in developing the Kyoto Protocol, which committed major industrial economies to reducing their annual carbon dioxide emissions to below 1990 levels, while providing financial supports to developing nations to encourage them to follow suit eventually. Canada signed the accord in 1998 and ratified it in 2002, but was not on track to meet its legally binding targets, so as a result, we pulled out a few years ago. The decision to do so saved the government an estimated $14 billion in penalties. The Conservative government said it had no choice given the economic situation…again so many times, it’s all about money and votes!
– The Conservatives have committed to 17 per cent cuts from 2005 levels by 2020. Environment Canada and Canada’s environment commissioner stated late last year that Canada is a long way off from meeting its modest 2020 targets! So where are we heading?

– It is agreed by 97 per cent of climate scientists that the climate change, which the planet is now undergoing, is caused by human activity. These scientists are telling us that we can limit the impact of climate change! Scientists are also telling us that unless radical changes are made by 2020, permanent, irreversible damage will be done to the ozone layer with disastrous consequences to the planet and to successive generations, such as severe droughts (as California is already experiencing), rise in water levels, gigantic floods and the loss of lands which will displace millions of people and cause wars for food!

So here are some solutions proposed by scientific experts:
– Earth’s temperature increase must not exceed 2 C
– The ozone layer can cope with a maximum of 350 ppm (parts per million) of greenhouse gas emissions; the planet is currently at 400 ppm
-To help to reduce emissions, a carbon tax is needed to be imposed on emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. Several European countries, such as Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway, as well as several American states Quebec and British Columbia currently have a carbon tax, but Canada does not have a federal carbon tax.
– 75 per cent of remaining fossil fuels must remain in ground.
– Entire energy systems must be rebuilt within two decades.
– Wind and solar power energy systems must be dominant
– Investment in massive transportation systems is necessary.
– Significant reduction in deforestation is needed as trees are the lungs of the planet.
– We must see significant improvement in vehicle fuel efficiency and battery-powered cars, such as I saw beginning to happen in California on my recent visit.

We are at a crossroad for humanity! We each must commit ourselves to minimize the impact of climate change. Read more in my next column.