Beyond Your Backyard - It Is Time To Change Climate Change

By Kimberley J Epp

Let me start out by thanking the small group that attended my winter bird feeding/bird count program this past Sunday for the Moose Jaw Nature Society.

We had a great time, saw many winter birds, hand fed numerous chickadees and nuthatches, and had great fellowship afterwards with homemade pie and coffee (etc.) at Verobas.

But how would you feel if these cheery birds were no longer here? Did you know that we are losing species on a daily basis? The normal rate of extinction is 12 or fewer species a year. We are losing one to twelve species world-wide per day!  We are, in fact, set to lose 60 per cent of all species on earth by 2050. 

This is due to habitat loss, over-hunting, poaching and the biggest threat of all - climate change.

In 2015, India hit the highest temperature ever recorded; 51 degrees Celsius. Hundreds of people died. In 2016, mass graves were dug in anticipation of another heat wave and more deaths.

We have already lost 50 per cent of the species we have had over the past century. Many of these species you may not know of, as many are insects - but all are invaluable to the ecosystem. As they say, each creature plays an integral part. Sometimes we do not see that role until they are gone.

Case and point; when they extirpated the wolf population from Yellowstone. Elk and deer populations became too large and they over-ate the shrubbery. The entire landscape changed. Returning new wolves to the park has again brought that balance back.

So, how can you help?

Nova Scotia received record levels of snowfall in 2018.

One of the biggest threats to the climate (and the removal of the rain forest, native prairie and other habitats) is the meat industry.

Our need to factory farm large quantities of livestock (seven animals to every person on earth) produces a lot of waste that leaches into the water and environment. Trees help to purify water and air, but they can only do so much when few are available and large quantities of waste and methane are released into the environment. Grass can only hold a limited amount of carbon. Cattle especially produce a lot of methane, which contributes to the carbon in the atmosphere. Reducing your meat intake would not only be good for your health, but also the environment. 

You can also take care of your garbage more carefully.

Recycle everything that can be recycled, compost everything that can be broken down, buy groceries with less packaging, bring a reusable cup to the coffee shop, take public transportation when possible, car pool, or buy a more energy efficient vehicle. You can also install solar panels, a clean and free source of energy. Plant more trees, as each tree can convert extra carbon/CO2 into oxygen. As Jane Goodall said; "What you do makes a difference. But you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."

Third world developing countries are turning to solar in a world where power wasn't previously available. Solar is a clean and free source of energy. In just 2 months, you can save the equivalent of 18 trees, and prevent approximately 700 pounds of carbon emissions from reaching the atmosphere!

These are only suggestions, and even if you make small changes it will make a difference.

Each of us, however must do our part. This is especially important, as here in a province of only 1 million people we emit the highest amount of carbon per capita in all of Canada. We also have the highest population per capita of climate change deniers. Canada is also one of the top ten highest emitting countries world-wide. That's not something we should be proud of! If you care about the kind of world your children and grandchildren will live in, make the change for them.

Climate and weather are two separate things.

All of the carbon in the atmosphere contributes to global changes, which includes a raise in global temperature by nearly 2 degrees in less than a century. This causes drastic changes in our climate, as it is happening at a faster rate than what would normally be occurring. That is why every year you see unprecedented heat waves, cold waves, droughts, storms, hurricanes and fires. And it will only get worse before it will get better. That is why we must make changes now. Our factories must also make changes, and reduce their carbon footprint.

Green house gas emissions can be broken down into the following numbers.

Six per cent of emissions come from buildings via the building materials used. Fourteen per cent come from our transportation. Twenty-one percent come from manufacturing processes, such as our large factories. Twenty-four percent come from energy. Twenty-five per cent come from agriculture, which is the highest number. And ten per cent come from other sources. Every year, air pollution is responsible for 6.5 million deaths, and it is only getting worse.

Manufacturing Accounts For 21 Percent Of The World’s Greenhouse Gases

The following four quotes say it all. Al Gore was quoted as saying; "In the next generation, if they live in a world of floods and storms and rising seas and droughts and refugees escaping by the millions escaping unlivable conditions, destabilizing countries around the world, they will be well justified in looking back at us and asking, what were you thinking?"

As Leonardio DeCaprio stated; "Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. Let us not take this planet for granted."

Fido is no fool - Photo Credit Unknown

James Hansen of NASA stated; "These weather events are not simply an example of what climate change could bring. They are caused by climate change."

As Jane Goodall said; "There is still a window of time, but that window of time is small."

Want to learn more about climate change, and how you can help? Join the Moose Jaw Nature Society this Friday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm, where we will welcome Jim Elliott as our guest speaker. We will be meeting in the basement (side door will be open) of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church at 60 High Street East. Visitors welcome, and memberships will also be available. There is no charge for the program, and refreshments will be available. Bring your questions and ideas for what will undoubtedly be a lively discussion. 

Jim Elliott is the Chairperson of the Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians, an environmental and social justice organization with chapters across Canada.  We, independently, work on five themes, energy & climate change, water, trade, healthcare and democracy. 

Much of the recent work of the Regina Chapter has focused on Climate Change, Pipelines (Line 3, Energy East, Keystone XL and Kinder Morgan) and the protection of our water from developments.  The Regina Chapter is 1 of 20 intervenors in the recent Carbon Tax Reference Case in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal which was held on February 13-14.

Jim Elliott has been an environmental activist for almost 40 years, working with Nature Regina, Nature Saskatchewan, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan and personally where he advocates for rainwater harvesting, renewable energy and low impact living. Jim will be talking about the state of provincial action on climate change in Saskatchewan, what is and isn’t being done.  He will also talk about recent actions on a petition to have the provincial government take more aggressive action on reducing our carbon footprint.

Epp is an Environmental Educator and writer, and is also the President of the Moose Jaw Nature Society. She can be reached at kepp@shaw.ca or on the Moose Jaw Nature Society Facebook page.