This year has been filled with extreme weather events.
Land and ocean temperatures are the highest that they have ever been recorded, while the amount of Antarctic Ocean ice is the lowest. It has been Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.
West Kelowna is in flames and Yellowknife is evacuated.
BC is plagued with drought. qathet Regional District’s skies are smoky.
This is not normal, but it was predictable.
For decades the scientific community has warned that burning fossil fuels causes global warming. Despite this, fossil fuel companies intentionally misled the public about dangers inherent to coal, oil and gas, causing irreparable harm to the environment and wasting precious time.
A rapid decarbonization of the global economy is urgently needed. Fossil fuel subsidies must end, and new fossil fuel projects should be cancelled. Massive investments in renewable energy are necessary, as well as in economic activities that foster ecological regeneration.
World leaders must stop pursuing uneconomic and unsustainable growth, and instead start honouring Earth’s planetary boundaries.
Saverio Colasanto is a Powell River resident who lives in the Cranberry area.
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