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Reducing global warming needs ‘war-time effort’

The threats of climate change seem to be on everyone’s mind, coming up at city council, consortiums and committees across Sudbury.
2degrees
Climate change educator and activist David Noble will speak about climate change Tuesday, Nov. 24 at the Vale Inco Cavern at Science North at 7 p.m. Some city councillors and community leaders have said the city needs to be prepared for climate change by preparing plans and engaging the public.

The threats of climate change seem to be on everyone’s mind, coming up at city council, consortiums and committees across Sudbury.

To educate the public about the threats of climate change, EarthCare Sudbury and Science North have brought in David Noble, a climate change speaker, to speak at Science North on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m., in the Vale Inco Cavern.

2degreesC is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and decision makers about the “perils of allowing climate change to get out of hand.”

Noble maintains that any rise in carbon dioxide emissions beyond two degrees Celsius is dangerous.

His talk in Sudbury will centre on how global warming should be limited to a maximum of two degrees Celsius, said a release from the city. Mention will be made of how government policies, business innovations, citizen action and new clean energy technology can contribute to lowering carbon emissions.

In Sudbury, Bob Rogers, chair of the Nickel District Conservation Authority (NDCA) and Liette Vasseur, vice president of research for Brock University, made a presentation to city council on Nov. 12. Council passed a motion to participate in the Greater Sudbury Climate Change Consortium, spearheaded by the NDCA. This group, made up of health, environmental, social and business leaders, said the city needs to adapt to climate change that is coming.

In some cases, severe weather events, such as the major flooding of the downtown area in July, has already happened say the consortium. At the Nov. 12 city council meeting, David Pearson, Laurentian University scientist, remarked that next time the July summer flooding event could be more severe and affect larger parts of the city.

“The city needs to consider their water and wastewater infrastructure. Pipes may need to be larger to carry the excess water flow,” said Pearson.

The issue was brought up by Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau at city council, where he said the increased flow may be contributing to the release of untreated sewage into lakes and rivers. He remarked that a public forum hosted by the city and local stewardship group is being held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Naughton Community Centre to discuss the issue.

But Noble said adaptation is not the only response to climate change.

“We have to adapt to climate change, but we have to make an effort to reduce climate changes. At some point, if there is too much change, we will not be able to adapt,” Noble remarked.

“It is really a change of philosophy we need,” Claude Berthiaume, Ward 3. Coun. added, saying that the city cannot abandon the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“We have to do both, (adapt to change and reduce change). We have not yet seen a dedicated effort (to reduce climate change). Local governments have to take this on,” Noble noted.

City councillors insisted that senior levels of government had to be partners in the effort.

“This can’t be just a local (government) action,” Ward 9 Coun. Doug Craig insisted.

Noble agreed the federal government had to increase funding for green energy projects as well as raising public awareness. He noted that the Ontario government’s Clean Energy Act was a positive step.

“This is a serious issue. We need a war-time effort (to deal with this),” Noble said, adding that he was impressed the consortium had included social groups such as the Social Planning Council and other non-governmental bodies, such as Eat Local Sudbury, in its list of partners.

He was also upbeat about the various green buildings being erected in the city from the Vale Inco Living With Lakes building at Laurentian University to the new green elementary school in Lively. The school sports a new type of vertical axis wind turbine. But Noble remarked that these examples have to be the norm and not the exception. “Green building has to be mainstream.”

For more information about David Noble and 2degreesC, visit www.2degreesC.com.

For more information about the Simon Lake Stewardship, visit www.simonlakestewardship.ca.


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