As we prepare for the decisions that came from the climate conference in Paris, we need to inform ourselves about the reality of what can or cannot be accomplished.
I urge everyone to read Robert Lyman’s Climate Change Targets for Canada. Examining the Implications on the Friends of Science website.
Lyman’s article details the greenhouse gas emissions of the various economic sectors as reported by Environment Canada.
He then shows the impact of various proposed reduction targets discussed by countries attending the Paris climate conference.
If we are forced to accept a reduction target agreed to by our enthusiastic and inexperienced minister of environment through subsequent legislation, we all need to understand the impacts of doing so.
The truth is they will be extremely costly. We will experience increased taxes, and higher cost of fuel and heating. Poverty levels will increase, as poor families will struggle with increasing costs of these basic needs.
Industrial development will slow and investors will balk at any Canadian business opportunity.
Canada contributes 1.8 per cent of the world’s CO2.
What effect can we have on the climate even if we reduce our emissions by 80 per cent which is the target some scientists say will be needed across all countries, to keep the climate from warming 2 Celsius.
Add to the ridiculousness of this requirement the fact that the science on the cause of climate change is not settled and there is much evidence to show that the sun is the main driver of the earth’s climate.
The fact is that historically increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 follow increasing global temperature.
Shouldn’t that fact alone make us all think twice about what we are doing?
Bob Reid
Vernon
