Combatting the Climate Crisis | Letters

“The era of global warming has ended. The era of global boiling has arrived.” So announced United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as it was confirmed that July 2023 had become the hottest month in the past 120,000 years.

But, Guterres stated, it’s still possible for us to achieve the target of limiting the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, thus avoiding the worst of global boiling. But this will only be achieved if we set about working for it immediately and with determination. He pointed out that there was much to do to achieve the decarbonization of the economy.

So 80 Muskokans and Almaguins marched to River Mill Park in the rain to tell our leaders, and world leaders, that we must act now, joining global climate actions in 65 countries, over 500 cities ahead of the world leaders’ gathering at the UN in New York to discuss Climate Ambitions.

And we have support at home. 75% of Canadians worry about Climate change. 21% are having fewer or NO children as a result.

These global climate actions aim to stop extraction of fossil fuels from new sources.  Burning oil, coal and gas releases carbon dioxide, CO², into the atmosphere, and wraps the planet in a warm blanket that traps heat. Over two thirds of total global emissions in 2022 were caused by these fossil fuels.

The problem began around 1800, the start of the Industrial Revolution, when fossil fuels replaced human and animal energy to create light, heat and transportation. It must have seemed a miracle to use steam engines instead of horse or hand pulled carts, coal instead of wood for heat, gas lamps instead of candles.

In 1800, CO² in the atmosphere was 290ppm (parts per million). But it is now 419ppm, an increase of 44% since the start of the industrial revolution. Most alarming

perhaps, is that it increased by 13% from 2000 till 2022.

Scientists have calculated that we must not take any more fossil fuels from the ground if we are to slow the increase in GHGS sufficiently to restrict global warming to the 1.5C increase agreed under the Paris Agreement. 

Instead, we must replace fossil fuels with clean energy especially from solar and wind and buy more hydro from Quebec. And Governments need to step up with increased regulations and increased subsidies for these renewables, instead of cancelling them as the Ontario Government did, or handing over in excess of $20bn fossil fuel subsidies as the Canadian government did last year.

As to oil and gas companies, they knew about the impact of fossil fuels on the climate in the 1950s. ExxonMobil is one of many oil companies that has advanced climate change denial internationally, and channelled millions to organisations that peddle science disinformation while advertising that they are champions of climate mitigation.

These companies lobby the Canadian government constantly.  In May there were over six meetings per day. Cenovus had 17 meetings with government representatives which were attended by 90 government officials.

But we have encouraging news! 

Just this week, six young people are taking 32 European Countries to court over climate policies. California is suing the five big oil companies asking them to pay for climate-caused damages, and a Montana judge last week ruled in favor of young people who had accused state officials of violating their constitutional rights by promoting fossil fuels.

There are many other lawsuits across the USA. Perhaps, as with Al Capone, the law will lead the way.

And what can the power of ordinary people do? As an example, in the 50s most people smoked, and then it was tobacco companies that made huge profits.  Governments benefitted enormously from tobacco taxes, disregarding increases in lung cancer, and premature deaths. But despite their great difficulty in defeating tobacco addiction, smokers quit, and tobacco became reviled.

The changes we need to make in reducing fossil fuels will be less painful than giving up smoking, once we all know what we must do. 

What we must do is pressure our governments

• to stop the lobbying by oil and gas companies,  
• to stop subsidising fossil fuels, 
• to regulate and subsidise what we need, including EVs.  

We must support NGOs, such as Environmental Defence, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, David Suzuki Foundation, Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, Climate Action Muskoka, 350.org, Seniors for Climate Action Now, Ecojustice, Almaguin Climate Action, Leadnow, Avaaz, Fur-bearers, Greenpeace and others to mitigate the harm from wildfires, floods, drought, atmospheric rivers and other 100-year disasters which are happening regularly now, caused or made worse by climate boiling.

AND in our own lives as individuals and families there are simple money-saving things we can all do. 

We can reduce burning of fossil fuels and save energy and money by 

• turning down the thermostat in winter, adding another sweater
• Car-pooling and combining errands 
• Caulking windows and doors to keep out the drafts
• Reducing speed and saving 20% of fuel by driving at 100 km/hr instead of 120
• Signing up to Climate Action Muskoka’s Community Carbon Challenge

And Let’s Shop locally, including for locally produced food or grow our own vegetables.

When the time comes, and the furnace needs replacement, or the car or truck is dying

• Switch to an EV, 
• Switch to a cold climate air source heat pump 

These save money too long term

Let’s do all this and make a safer planet for our children and grandchildren.

By Lesley Hastie, Huntsville resident and member of Climate Action Muskoka

Don’t miss out on Doppler!

Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!

Click here to support local news