Discussion on the environment "issue" has reached a fevered pitch hasn't it? Thankfully, we can all breath a collective sigh of relief at least for now since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its 4th assessment report. We can also expect to not be subjected to anymore politicians accusing each other of "climate change denial," a label that seems to have taken on a tone similar to that of being called a "holocaust denier".
With a 90% certainty, the IPCC Report concludes climate change is caused by human activity. Right now the focus is on the federal government to act, but before we shout "off with their heads!" step away from the emotion of it all and ask each ourselves this very important question: "What changes am I going to make in my own life to be environmentally conscious?" For this is the true issue that is before us in Newmarket and Aurora.
Certainly, a national policy that addresses reducing greenhouse gasses, regulating atmospheric pollutants, and managing the chemical content of the goods we use is a must. Without a doubt we will be facing tight auto emission standards. Furthermore, a complete overhaul of local building codes is also a must. But beyond that, what are we as individuals prepared to do? Are we going to go about our lives as before expecting that the federal government can solve this problem by itself? That is folly. Do we believe that the provincial and municipal governments have a part to play? If so, what? And if we believe that all levels of government have parts to play, then logic dictates that citizens have their own parts to play as well.
In communities like Newmarket and Aurora, the car is everything, so central to our lives that living in these communities is virtually impossible without one. The average car produces 2.4Kg of C02 for every litre of gasoline. My wife drives a Mazda3, and conservatively fills up about 50 litres per week. So annually, she is spewing 6,240kg of C02!. Scary, huh? That's just my wife! If I was going to live without a car, I would not be able to have my current job. I would be forced to find a job in downtown Toronto because the GO train is the only efficient way to get anywhere without sacrificing every spare moment left in a day. My wife would also have to leave her job of 13 years because she works in Barrie. No public transit to solve that one.
I recently used an internet carbon calculation tool to estimate my household's greenhouse gas emissions and my house worked out to 17,000 kg of carbon gas per year! I have personally begun to take an active interest in some of the things we can do to reduce that number. Fewer trips with the car is priority number one. No more spontaneous trips to Home Depot. From now on, I'll plan one trip per week and do everything in one go, groceries, video store, hardware, the mall, etc.
I won't be buying a plasma TV because they use 5 times the hydro of a conventional tube TV. I also will not be buying home theatre because I figure I just don't need big theatre sound to go with my big theatre carbon emissions! I'm also turning off my TV until I will sit in front of it. Often, our TV is on from the time we all get home until we go to bed. We're not actively watching it, mind you, it's just on. I already keep my thermostat at 70 when we're home and 68 when we're not, but I think I'll turn it down a notch anyway. My water heater has been turned down, and I limit my showers to under 5 minutes. No more leaving the coffee pot on either. I was going to buy a carafe, but then I figured that would just mean I have to wash it (with hot water). So I decided to limit my coffee to just two cups in the morning and the pot gets shut off the moment its ready. I just leave the beaker on the warmer plate and that keeps it warm until I'm ready to have my second cup. I also don't leave my computer on anymore. I use to let it sit in low power mode, but then with the millions of computers in our country currently sitting idle in low power mode, I figured I could just turn mine off until I need it. I wonder how many kilograms of emissions are thrown up because of that? I also unplugged my extra phones. I only have one wireless and one landline phone now.
The most inconvenient part of ratcheting down our carbon emissions will be convincing my wife to also make sacrifices. I can tell you with some degree of certainty that a carbon trading system within our own household will be in order because there is no way I'm going to convince her to stop using a hair dryer, or jacking up the household temp when the kids go in the bath, or making single cups of tea. No siree, my computer and TV time will definitely take a hit over that one!
But amid all this doom and gloom of changing our lives, there is a tremendous opportunity to create wealth, especially among entrepreneurs. You've heard the saying that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade? Well, I can see a host of individuals running from house to house getting paid to show homeowners how to make serious carbon reductions without killing your lifestyle, or your bank! Remember, carbon reductions will come with cost reductions in some areas, thereby creating financial room to hire professionals to assist you in living under your carbon cap. And for those people that can live below their cap, there is also an opportunity to sell your carbon room if a system like that is ever implemented.
Yes, the challenge before us is great. But what is greater, is the pride we will feel when we overcome it. I believe we can do it. I believe we must do it. If not for our own sake, then for our children's.
We need the planet, and now the planet needs us!
6 comments:
fraser institute, conservative bastion for climate change denial
the only people still denying the science are conservatives. read your fellow bloggers posts occasionally.
Hi Jeffy,
Nice to hear from you again. As usual, liberals mistake opposition to Kyoto as proof of climate change denial.
But blind adherence to Kyoto targets is also a denial of the science! Climatologists are already saying that even if the world met Kyoto targets it would at most delay global warming by six years.
Furthermore, the target of 6% below 1990 levels chosen by Jean Chretien was nothing more than an arbitrary target selected to show up the Americans (Stephane Dion, National Post July 1, 2006). This target itself is a denial of the science. Why? Because the target was never tied to the science in the first place.
So before you accuse anyone of climate change denial, you should read your party leader's press occasionally.
Opposition to Kyoto and opposition to climate change are different.
I strongly oppose Kyoto, because it does nothing to curb climate change. If we want to reduce emissions and slow global warming, than we will be required to make great sacrifices.
I find it amusing that the majority of Liberals I talk to about climate change, who are all for saving the world, drive nice gas gussling cars all the time, waste energy in their homes all the time and will do little to participate in this global solution, other than get mad at Conservatives.
Of course Will, you are right. Opposition to Kyoto does NOT equate to climate change denial. But Liberals like to talk about it thinking they can get away with just talk. It's up to us, as Conservatives, to make sure that the public is also aware that with Liberals, its always Just talk, platitudes, and finger pointing.
Which leaves me asking the same question as before. It's all well and good to make demands of the federal government, but if we care about the environment enough to do more than just demand changes, what changes are we as individuals prepared to make?
Trying to win the tory nomination? Why would you not have a contact link somewhere?
#1 Why would I vote for you over Lois Brown?
#2 Were you at the council meeting on Monday when the Mosque was approved? If not, why not? Sure it's not a federal issue, but I would like to think that my potential MP would have the community at heart.
#3 Are you pro-life? If not, don't bother to answer the first two questions. If you are, would you be able to say "yes" when asked if you are pro-life at the all-candidates debate? Lois Brown failed to bring her spine with her that night, and consequently lost a lot of respect from her core supporters.
Anonymous,
Stay tuned. I will post a blog entry tomorrow that will answer all your questions.
Thanks for reading my blog.
BTW, you can always reach me by either leaving comments, or linking to my website right from the sidebar of my blog. Or, access directly by going to www.kirkwest.ca
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