Our Record!

In Canada thanks to Stephen Harper we are again discredited to the world. Since budget cuts to scientific research on the ozone many scientist in the U.S are saying that this will jeopardize Ozone research.

"It's unthinkable that data collection is beginning to shut down in this vast country."Anne Thompson, a professor of meteorology at Penn State University, said in a release

They point out Canada has been a world leader in keeping an eye on the ozone layer.

 The key word in this sentence is "has." Canada Has Been A World Leader on climate change. Canada Has Been A World Leader on Research, Canada Has Been A World Leader on Statistics, Canada Has Been A World Leader on many things, but under Harper our legacy is quickly being tarnished. Throwout the world our country is losing it's stance.We must change this.

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Canada Moving Years Back!

With The Kyoto deadline at the end of the month Canada is in no way going to reach it's target of 6% below 1990 levels. In fact in 2008 the only provinces who actually reduced their emissions below 1990 levels is Quebec and PEI. All the other provinces increased. I think it would be a complete miracle if Harper is going to have a strong new target. With Harper it is business as usual allow companies to continue to pollute the air we breath, The water we drink and the environment that allows us to live. It ecology 101 we need a sustainable planet on order for us to survive. The biggest polluting increase for the next decade will be coming from Transportation and Energy. Ways to fix that have been proposed for years. A carbon tax to reduce the consumption of CO2, Invest heavily like Ontario in changing the energy grid, Invest in high speed rail and mandate more energy efficient cars. Even though Harper isn't doing anything. BC, Quebec and Ontario are. In BC they have a 25$ carbon tax, 15$ in Quebec and The Liberal green energy plan in Ontario. The cost of doing nothing is mounting. The economic effects of Climate change will hurt Canada. From unpredictable weather that will effect the prairies, to more stronger storms and pollution increasing asthma rates and increasing health care cost will cost billions.

Arcand noted that the price of not acting on the climate crisis would be much higher than the cost of these emissions reduction programs.

“In Canada, the costs (of inaction) could go from $5 billion per year in 2020, to between $21 billion and $43 billion by the 2050s,” he said, noting leaving this bill for future generations to pay would be wrong.

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Pigheadedness Makes us Uncomfortable

Every summer, the topic comes up: why don't we have AC on Montreal's public transit. The basic answer is that our pigheaded mayor, Gérald Tremblay insists that it's too expensive and it decreases fuel efficiency, thereby harming the environment. Yet, poll any transit rider and ask them if they would pay more for air conditioning and they will say yes. Who really wants to take a hot crowded bus? Nobody. AC would attract more transit riders and that's why Montreal should catch up to the standard being adopted around the world. Montreal needs comfortable and cool Metros and buses.

MONTREAL - If you rode a bus or métro in Montreal on Thursday, chances are you arrived at your destination hot, damp – and more than a bit cranky.
The searing temperatures on the Société de transport de Montréal’s transit network are a reality of life in this city.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Montreal+m%c3%a9tro+stations+become+underground+saunas/5141074/story.html#ixzz1SqNv4AwH

Let's get Real On Climate Change!

Many people like to point to the oil companies for the blame of Climate change, but households contribute to 45% of all emissions. That means if we wish to achieve the goal most climate scientist say will help us avoid disaster we need to reduce household emissions. We must reduce our emissions by 80% by 2050. So even if all industries close there doors today we would still need to cut household emissions by more than half. An easy way to start reducing emissions considering the energy sector is responsible for 82% of emissions is a shift to cleaner sources of energy such as wind and hydro instead of oil and gas for heating and for industry.  Since motor fuel use is increasing it's share of emission promoting public transit will curve that. Products that we buy which contribute heavily to emission as in order to make and distribute a product CO2 a byproduct is released. In order to make it easier for consumer for consumers to by more Eco friendly product without hurting their bottom line. I have urge this forever a Carbon Tax that gives consumers a rebate so that the more Eco friendly product is actually the more cheaper product and can actually save you money. All of these proposals will make a big scratch, but all Canadians as citizens of the world must act together to conserve energy and the planet for generations to come. We must get real on climate change.

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The Carbon Tax Re-Explained (Libertarian Edition) Part 2

                      Now to continue to refute another point that my friend has brought out which is that he believes that there is no way to monitor how much CO2 was used to make a product in a foreign country when it comes in, But it isn't hard to monitor something that is already monitored. First China is going to have a carbon tax in 2012, and many countries already have a carbon tax including some U.S states. Next when a carbon tax will be introduced it will have to clearly state that shops that distribute a product that was made overseas will have to now report how much Co2 they emitted over seas and tax it when in comes in the border. Another false statement is the ideology that oil will last for another 120 years. Under current consumption which is rising dramatically every year as the world becomes more urbanized and developing countries start to need more resources Oil will be needed. The most oil can last for will be another 47 years. Even with more oil reserves found oil can't last much longer these oil reserves are predicted to be in remote places were no country has right over and even if they do the extraction cost would be very high. This just proves oil is unsubstantial. My Libertarians solution to it is allow the free markets to handle it. His theory is that Oil will gradually rise in prices and eventually it will be to expensive to use it so we will move to another source of energy. Thing is if our economy is dependent on fossil fuels now and will be unless something is done if we let the free markets work oil will rise so high that economy would crash, and we wouldn't have the time to shift to cleaner resources, because we waited to long. Canada has to institute a carbon tax now!
                      
                    One last point My Libertarian friend mentioned that Canada only emits 0.00000244666% this is a lie. Canada actually emits 2.3% of the worlds emissions although that is relatively small, but Canada is the 8th largest emitter and every other country of the world must reduce their CO2 emissions accordingly we can't just keep pointing at the biggest polluters which includes technically Canada for being responsible to reduce Co2 Emissions.

Renewables Could Save Trillions

Renewable energy costs a lot to implement. It requires a lot of initial capital input and this raises the price for solar and wind energy. However, if we take the plunge now, we could save some money in the future. A lot. In fact, WWF International estimates that the planet would save $5.5 trillion for having 100% of our energy renewable. This is a hard goal to meet. But, even if we achieved 25% renewable or 50% renewable, we would see great savings in the future, both environmentally and economically.

OTTAWA — The planet can save more than $5.5 trillion per year by 2050 by charting a path toward consuming 100 per cent renewable energy, says a new report to be released on Thursday.

The Energy Report, released by WWF International, a global conservation organization, said the plan not only provides sustainable development, but also prevents dangerous levels of global-warming causing pollution in the atmosphere.

Read more at the Province.

Related articles

• Renewables can meet world energy needs by 2050: WWF (reuters.com)
• Renewable energy feasible, group says (theglobeandmail.com)

Prentice the Good Guy?

According to wikileaked documents, former Environment Minister Jim Prentice thought that Harper's response to criticism of the tar sands was too slow. He was ready to to step in, and start real regulation of the tar sands, not the voluntary measures Canada has now. It has been shown time and time again that corporations do not adopt non-mandatory monitoring as they would have to pay more money for it and lose a portion of profits. Apparently, there will be improvements to a flawed monitoring system for the water pollution of the tar sands. The next step would be to install more and better greenhouse gas monitoring and finally, a carbon tax that would penalize those who pollute and reduce everyone's income tax.

Former environment minister Jim Prentice privately told U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson more than a year ago that he was prepared to impose new regulations on the oil sands if the industry and province did not improve their environmental performance, newly released Wikileaks documents reveal.

Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Related articles

• WikiLeaks: Canada 'too slow' to deal with oilsands backlash (thestar.com)
• Prentice was ready to curb oilsands: WikiLeaks (cbc.ca)
• Canada censured over oil sands (bbc.co.uk)

Cancun: a Failure

No matter how much the three main Canadian parties may say that the deal reached in Cancun is a "breakthrough," the facts remain that it was a failure. Most of the agreement was already decided in Copenhagen and there still is no binding agreement on lowering emissions. This is necessary to stop climate change and its consequences. With the Republicans in power in the United States and the Conservatives ruling in Canada, it doesn't seem like there will be any accord any time soon. It would take a miracle to produce an agreement. We will have to wait for next year in South Africa.

The verdicts are in, and all parties are calling the Cancun climate talks a success although the meeting concluded with no binding agreement for reducing greenhouse gases.

The NDP’s environment critic Linda Duncan arrived in Ottawa early Sunday morning, just hours after the environmental summit had wrapped up, calling the agreement that was reached a “breakthrough.”

Read more at the Globe and Mail. 

Related articles

• Cancun climate talks end with modest steps (cbc.ca)
• Cancun climate accords hailed as 'new beginning' (nationalpost.com)
• Much work in next year to build Canada's climate credibility (thestar.com)

Is Harper out of his Mind?

What is Stephen Harper saying? At a press conference, he said that his government would support any binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gases. He also called for countries who aren't interested in coming to an agreement, to discuss with the others. This group would include Canada. The Conservatives don't care for climate change. I do not understand how Harper can say this, as if he cares for a binding agreement. Canada is one of the countries that does the most to obstruct these talks. Last year, we got multiple fossil of the day awards, given to the countries that do the most to stop progress on coming to an agreement and the Colossal Fossil award. Unless Harper is about to do an about-face on this issue, which would be a pleasant, but very unlikely surprise, I do not know how he can say this with a straight face. Oh yeah, he cannot.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, pictured at an event in Nova Scotia on Friday, says he wants to see the world achieve a legally binding agreement to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (CBC)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada would support a binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases.

 Read more at CBC.

Related articles

• Harper says Canada wants binding emissions deal (ctv.ca)
• Intense bargaining in final day of UN climate talks (thestar.com)

Australia names a Forest after Jean Charest

Well, at least people like Jean Charest on the other side of the world.. In Australia, a forest outside of Adelaide is to be named the Jean Charest urban forest. He has won an annual prize given by the state of Southern Australia. Apparently, the decision to name the forest after Quebec's premier was unanimous. Charest received the prize based on Quebec's reduction of GHGs and Charest's "leadership." It's true that the Quebec's emissions did go down about one percent. But, some policies of the Quebec Liberals go against their pledge to reduce emissions. The MTQ plan to redesign the Turcot is one example of this brainless policy. The Quebec Liberals need to act on their pledge.

CANCUN, Mexico — While Canada is being raked over the coals at the UN Climate Summit, Quebec is picking up accolades: a forest in Australia is being named for the province's premier.

The Jean Charest urban forest, on the outskirts of Adelaide, is to highlight the premier's commitment to fighting climate change.

Read more at CTV. 

Related articles

• Charest slams Canada's climate policy in Cancun (cbc.ca)
• Charest should walk the climate walk (theglobeandmail.com)
• 200,000 sign petition calling for Jean Charest's resignation (theglobeandmail.com)

Plane Stupid

A new advertisement by Plane Stupid sets out to show us the damage done by the aviation industry. Taking the plane emits more greenhouse gases than any other type of transport, except maybe the space shuttle. Congratulations to them on this fantastic commercial that won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.

http://planestupid.com

Related articles

• Polar Bears, Commercial Aeroplanes and Viral Film (guardian.co.uk)

No Action From Harper On Climate Change.

Harper is now being accused of lobbying for weaker targets at the next climate summit. We all know Stephen Harper doesn't care for the environment. In Copenhagen  Harper got the fossil of the year award, because he was the the person who did the most to try and stop a treaty from being signed. Now Harper is doing it again. He will want to make sure that no agreement is meet. He wants to make sure that we continue to wait for the next meeting to even start talking about a treaty. Harper is hopeless on the environment he has no plan no platform on the environment. Stephen Harper has to get kicked out of office, so we can actually have a government that will at least do something about the environment, and not give Canada the fossil of the year award again.

Read more here

Climate Bill Dies in Senate

I find it astonishing that the people who killed this bill wasn't entirely the fault of Harper. In the senate the climate bill failed, but in the House the Climate bill passed, so the elected chamber that represents the people passes a and the unelected chamber votes down a bill. The vote was close 43-42. Thing is there are 105 members in the Senate and 20 members didn't vote. The Conservatives have 52 seats just under a majority in the Senate, but the Liberals only have 49 seats. The others are divided to the Progressive Conservative 2 members and 2 independents. Meaning that the Conservatives could have gotten maybe one PC or Independent to vote against it, but I guess no need considering not enough Liberals even voted. This bill would have made Canada follow a new target of CO2 by having to reduce 25% of emissions from 1990 levels by 2020. This is a target we need to get to, but because of the Conservatives and some non voting members in the Senate the environment is going to have to wait a while. I think all this can go away if we elect our senate or abolish the senate all together. We need to do something with the senate, because having a senate that can stop legislation even though the house passed it is just going to make us wait longer for legislation.


Read more here

Related articles

• Unelected Tory senators kill climate bill passed by House (theglobeandmail.com)
• NDP outraged as Senate kills climate change bill (theprovince.com)
• Senate kills climate-change bill ahead of UN talks (thestar.com)

The Story about The Story of Stuff.

Annie Leonard is the face of "The Story of Stuff" since 2007 she has made some video's talking about the problem with our world. I may not agree with a few  things she says, but she definitely is right we have to change the way we do things in the world. She has talked about issue's varying from Cap and Trade (and why it is bad) to water. Her idea's of making sure that we have a clean environment that works with the economy and not an economy based on what she calls "made for the dump" items. Made for the dumb means that companies make products that they know will stop working very soon so the buyer has to keep buying more of that product, and this creates a problem as we are throwing everything in the trash and it's not helping our environment. She gives create solution to the problems we face from making sure you take the extra second to look for good cleaner and healthier items. I recommend all of you to see her video's.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

The Arctic Continues to Melt

While Canada is busy doing nothing on climate change, the Arctic is heating up. The Arctic is losing its most recognizable property, sea ice. As we move into the future, temperature will continue to increase everywhere in the world with horrible consequences. Climate change might cause a slightly larger growing season in small areas, but crops in other areas will suffer almost complete eradication. Sea level will rise, evicting many inhabitants of shore in the world. Canada's geography will be completely altered in the north. Biodiversity will be lost. To combat this, the Tories must accept bigger GHG reduction targets. But, they never will and that's why we need a new government.

Related articles

• "NOAA Releases Arctic Report Card For 2010" and related posts (aboutmyplanet.com)
• As the sea ice melts, so melts the Arctic (theglobeandmail.com)
• Sea ice melting as Arctic temperature rises. (washingtonpost.com)

Short on Money

The Harper government is falling short on its promised contribution to an international climate change fund. Tory sneakiness is the culprit here. It's all in the fine print. Canada will provide the 400 million dollars, but 72% in loans to private companies and only 11% to help developing countries adapt to climate change. The focus should be to help the countries that will bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change, but the Conservative government lending money, with expectations to get it back. We should be donating, or providing grants, not loaning. But, since when have the Conservatives wanted to spend on climate change, something that in their minds doesn't exist.

OTTAWA — The Harper government is falling short on its "fair share" of a $30-billion international fund to deal with climate change, according to a breakdown provided by Environment Canada and a recent analysis by an environmental think-tank.

The government and Canadian environmental groups agree that a $400-million pledge by Environment Minister Jim Prentice is an appropriate amount for the fund, which is being used for climate-change adaptation and clean-energy projects in developing countries.

Read more at the Montreal Gazette.

Related articles

• Struggling to Adjust: Adaptation Finance in Developing Countries (worldchanging.com)

Artic ice is melting at almost record rate.

The Arctic as we all know is the part of the planet that will be effected the most by climate change. In the first half of this year Arctic melting is almost at a record high pace. In Northern Canada monthly ratings show that the temperature is 4 degrees above average. Greenland has had the hottest air temperature recorded ice caps in Greenland has been breaking out (ex: the largest ice glacier loss for the country occurred this summer at Petermann Glacier which was about 3 times bigger than Manhattan).Now what will 4 degrees in the north do to us here? Last winter has had major snow storm to the mid Atlantic and northeast part of the U.S, because of higher Arctic temperature. Since the colder air is usually held up in the Arctic it doesn't go south, but because of Arctic melting the cold air went down to the south. We need to stop this trend! This report only proves again that Climate change is real.

Read more here

Water Disater

Water as we all know helps with food drinking and agriculuture, But it can do the oposite and so much more, because of climate change extrem weather activity has happened that have distroyed many crops. Climate change have caused many climate catastrophies like hurricains will come more and more which will cause major disators all around the world. With the polar ice caps melting the water level will rise all around and flood many areas. We have to take action to ensure that the effects of climate change are as minimal as possible, and water is seen as the resource of health and life and not the resource of catastrophies and death.

Related articles

• World must tackle water-shortage threat: adviser (reuters.com)
• A river ran through it (eurekalert.org)

Canada is Paying Off it's Debt.

Since the effects of climate change is caused by the more developed countries, and the effects of climate change occur in the more poorer nations the term debt has a new meaning. It is called our ecological debt. As we here in Canada pollute a CO2 that creates the effects of climate change on these nations then we are in a way responsible for them. Which means we are in debt to these nations for letting us pollute to make there lives harder. The Conservative Government is paying off this debt now. 400 million dollars is going to help developing nations like Haiti,Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. I find this a very genouruse gesture that I hope Haper continues.

Canada and other rich countries at last year's Copenhagen climate talks agreed to set up an annual $30 billion global pot for poorer nations to tap into.

— $20 million for the Least Developed Countries Fund;
— $10 million to improve climate research centres in Africa;
— $5 million for various climate-change initiatives in Haiti;
— $7 million for adaptation and food security in Ethiopia;
— $3 million for a Vietnamese climate program;
— $293 million for the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank that funds projects in developing countries;
— $40 million for a World Bank forestry fund;
— $5 million in various small-scale projects; and,
— $18.5 million for the Global Environment Facility.

 Read more here

"c" is for Copenhagon and Cancun.

The disaster that was the climate change Copenhagen meeting now has an identical twin named Cancun. Now we can relieve Harper's attempt to do nothing. We can see Harper try to stop any sort of deal that would require him to actually care about the environment. Now to be fair many countries do come to Copenhagon to do something, and hope that a big deal was made. The fact is we are progessing in making a deal, but it will be after Cancun. World leaders are going to this meeting to try to not do something there, but to again build a foundation that will maybe create something there. This doesn't seem to promising. With Kyoto expiring in 2012 the question is will we put tougher targets in are new deal or will we go for lower targets than the Kyoto one fo a future date.

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• New UN climate deal will take years: Prentice (cbc.ca)
• Jim Prentice plays down hopes for climate deal (theglobeandmail.com)
• The Big Debate: on the eve of Cancun, can we cut carbon in time? (independent.co.uk)