Yes, I am a Green Climate Alarmist!!
Two weeks ago, and a few hours after my last column came out in the Sudbury Star, I received an email from a gentleman who clearly disagrees with the basic premise of my writing and the consensus of climate scientists the world around: that climate change is happening, that it’s having perilous consequences for human health and safety, and that our burning of fossil fuels is one of the main causes.
Apparently, I’m living in a green fantasy world and busy fomenting a green climate alarmist scam. I take no offense at the terminology, nor will I be anything other than respectful in my response. I also won’t waste time defending the basics of climate science, which at this point are settled and incontrovertible.
Interestingly, there is one point upon which I can agree with my correspondent: it would be better if Canada were not buying oil from Saudi Arabia. I would go further and say it would be better if the European Union were not buying natural gas from Russia. In fact, it would be better if no-one was buying oil, gas, or coal from anybody, because the time has come to start leaving fossil fuels where they’ve been for many millions of years: in the ground. If we don’t, we will quickly blow through the remaining greenhouse gas emissions budget determined by physics, and lock in a truly dangerous and unhealthy level of global heating. That is not a good or safe idea, if you care about your kids, or your own health.
But let me address a few other claims arising from the email.
1) The carbon tax is a green scam that’s breaking the backs of people with incomes less than $70,000. My correspondent is clearly aggrieved by the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. Yes, it raises the price of gas at the pump, and the cost of natural gas for heating. However, it’s also refunded each spring, and as the price on carbon rises, the refunds will also rise. Check out your Notice of Assessment from the CRA. And keep in mind that gas and other prices have also shot up south of the border where there’s no “carbon tax”, partly due to fallout from the war in Ukraine.
2) Canada contributes (only) 1.6% of global emissions whereas China contributes 33% (actually 27%, but same ballpark.) Yes, China produces a lot of emissions. It also has a population of 1.4 billion people, each of whom produce less than half the emissions of the average Canadian. We have no excuse for evading responsibility.
3) Canada is already carbon neutral because our forests absorb more emission than Canada produces. This is not true. Since 2001, Canada’s forests have emitted more carbon than they’ve absorbed, making them sources of carbon, not carbon sinks. Forest fires, aggravated by climate change, are amongst the reasons.[1]
4) We can’t replace all existing vehicles with battery-powered EVs. There aren’t enough rare minerals on earth.Likely true, but that doesn’t mean we should stick with gas and diesel. We need a complete revolution in how we get around, including reduced dependence on personal vehicles, greatly enhanced and electrified public transit, and widespread adoption of active transportation, ie. burn calories, not fossil fuels. Get healthy, save money. Win-win.
5) Fossil fuel self-sufficiency is the only way for Canada to be safe from the likes of Putin and China. Sorry, but it’s only possible to make a comment like this if you reject climate science. Extracting and burning more fossil fuels is not a pathway to safety and security. On a heating planet, we will all be less safe. Less healthy. Think heat waves. Droughts. Fires. Crop failures. Floods. Destroyed infrastructure. Hunger. Migration. Conflict. War. Think British Columbia 2021, and much worse.
Am I a Green Climate Alarmist? Climate change is this century’s greatest health threat, and I’m a mom and a pediatrician. You bet I’m alarmed.
[1] https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/state-canadas-forests-report/disturbance-canadas-forests/indicator-carbon-emissions-removals/16552; https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canada-forests-carbon-sink-or-source-1.5011490