I would like to believe that climate change is not happening and is not caused by human activity, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
But scientific observation and studies over 40 years say that this is the case, and the majority of Canadians and countries of the world accept this.
Now scientists, of the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change, report that the situation is worse than previously thought, that some changes are happening sooner than previously expected, and that we have to change things drastically over the next 12 years or suffer very serious climate consequences.
This doesn't mean we have 12 years to decide what we will do and how we will do it. It means that starting now we must reduce carbon in a serious way. If not we will continue to transform the world climate and experience among other things:
• More unprecedented heat waves and large fires.
• Increasing frequency of intense storms and flooding.
• Rising of the earth's temperature.
• Water scarcity in many regions.
• Increasing risks for food production.
• Even more rapidly melting glaciers.
• Coastal flooding and flooding of island nations.
• Climate refugees.
They bring with them major human suffering and huge dollar costs to society and our future and remind me of the bumper sticker, "I am spending my children's inheritance." Excuses such as "we've seen severe weather before," "carbon dioxide is good for the earth," "they aren't reducing so why should we" and "what of the economy" won't help. Denial, delay and despair also will not do.
A green economy, which is more profitable, more dependable and more healthy is necessary. Many places are already profiting by investing in it. Transition of society like the one needed has been done before in the transformation of industry and the economy during the Second World War. Strong will and creativity are needed in individuals and governments. It is not about conservatives or liberals. We all will benefit from a healthy climate. We must require our governments to:
First, avoid further and more disastrous changes in the global climate by beginning now to severely reduce carbon emissions.
Second, invest in our healthy future by investing in the transition to the new economy.
Third, invest in worker retraining to fill the multitude of new jobs which will be created by the new economy.
We need to make this happen. The alternative is unthinkable.
Ross Dabrusin,
Olds
