There is plenty to be done, and plenty of business opportunities, to mitigate the effects of climate change, if people want to get around to it.
That was the topic this morning in the packed room of the first Decarbonize NL conference.
NL is uniquely situated to capitalize and lead the push toward a green economy and away from fossil fuels.
I'm at the packed @DecarbonizeNL conference at MUN's Signal Hill campus. pic.twitter.com/Hl0Tr4AEdT
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
Catherine Abreu, ED of Climate Action Network Canada addressed Decarbonize NL with some startling facts. A UN report released yesterday says that there is now a major climate-related disaster every week.
"A UN report released yesterday shows that we are now having a climate disaster once a week.
In 2016 we lost five Pacific islands."
Catherine Abreu, ED of Climate Action Network Canada, talks about the effect climate change is currently having on NL, and how NL is effect it. pic.twitter.com/Q7PrYdlOKu
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
At 2 per cent, Canada is in the top ten of biggest contributors to Climate Change in the world, but we emit more per capita than any other country.
There are also indirect effects. The historic drought in Syria caused a civil war, which in turn led to the refugee and immigration crisis that is now a top concern in Canada and the US.
Abreu reiterates a point no one is talking about enough.
Climate change resulted in the mid-east extended drought, which caused the Syrian Civil War, which caused the refugee crisis that is now one of the top political talking points in Canada and the US. pic.twitter.com/OyQeAN0qvT
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
The good news is that looking for solutions with clean tech is the fastest growing industry in the world, but Canada’s market share hasn’t grown along with it due to lack of interest or investment, money left on the table.
What’s worse, because of the growing frequency of floods and natural disasters, insurance prices are rising.
Canada, says Abreu, is becoming uninsurable.
It's not just about direct effects.
As natural disasters increase across the country, costs are going up.
"Canada is becoming uninsurable." says Abreu. pic.twitter.com/sHywXxoy4P
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
Canada, NL, Not Taking Advantage of Business Opportunities in Green Tech
The effects of climate change are already hitting Newfoundland and Labrador, but people have to make sure the right actions are taken to do something about it.
Right now, according to Abreu, local sea levels are rising at a rate of almost 2 millimeters a year, while provincial temperatures may rise between three and seven degrees, leading to both droughts and flooding.
NL's increase in temps has been more extreme than predicted, tracking for as much as +7.3 degrees higher by 2050.
The sea level in St. John's is rising 1.9mm a year, much higher than national/global average. pic.twitter.com/ILM9yVO2Kf
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
Warmer summers sound great right?
"You don't get to choose the impacts to you get.
You don't get a longer growing season with the drought. You don't get warmer summers without the floods."
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
There’s still a lot that can be done to help, but conference co-chair Nick Mercer says any actions have to benefit the local community.
"What is the point of a decarbonized economy that doesn't result in prosperity?" asks Chair Nick Mercer pic.twitter.com/KmK8NSifJb
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
He singled out a very familiar example. He says we need look no further than Muskrat Falls.
Decarbonization has to benefit the local community as well as industry and the global climate, argues Mercer.
"What's the point of buildng, say, a green hydroelectric dam if it contaminates a community food source?"
— Andrew Hawthorn @ VOCM (@HawthornVOCM) July 11, 2019
Mercer says renewable energy isn’t necessarily sustainable energy, and more indigenous and community engagement has to happen.