Living Green

DID YOU KNOW TREES COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

We are so fortunate to be located close to the National Parks where an abundance of forests is at our doorstep. Like a lot of us, we take the trees around us for granted. The last few years with climate change, we’ve become more aware of our forests and especially when our renowned town of Jasper goes up in flames. How much do we know about forests.

Recently I came across a book written UBC professor of Ecology, Suzanne Simard entitled “Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest”. The way Simard describes forests provides me with another insight.

When Simard was a young government tree scientist, she went out into the forest to find out why some firs in the tree plantations were not doing as well as the healthy young fir trees in the natural forest. BC loggers plant firs for logging over other trees such as birches and broad leaf trees.

What Simard discovered that in a natural forest, the birch trees shade the Douglas fir seedlings, provides more carbon in the form of photosynthetic sugars through the mycorrhizal network below ground. Trees communicate underground through an immense web of fungi otherwise known as Mycorrhizal fungi. It grows inside the plant’s roots, or on the surfaces of the roots where they have a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungus facilitates water and nutrient uptake in the plant, and the plant provides food and nutrients created by photosynthesis to the fungus.

In the spring and fall, when the birches do not have leaves, the fir trees send food back to the birches through the mycorrhizal networks. The trees are helping one another to create a healthy community. It’s a synergistic system where species collaborate. Simard describes that trees are not simply the source of timber or pulp, but are a complicated, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through underground networks by which trees communicate their vitality and vulnerabilities with communal lives not that different from our own. It’s an important concept that we all need to learn about and embrace. Not all scientists are following this.

The forests are facing climate change and overharvesting. Simard’s latest research effort is called the “Mother Tree Project”. Mother trees are biggest, oldest trees in the forest and through their photosynethetic capacity, they provide food. They keep carbon in the soil, keep the water flowing, and help the forest recover from disturbances.

We need to ensure mother trees are there to help the next generation.

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Sources:

• TedTalks
• Finding the Mother Trees: book review
• ‘Mother Trees” are Intelligent.

ARE WE HEADING INTO ICE AGE?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

On my recent trip to Toronto, one of the hotel guests introduced an interesting topic, the ice age. “Yes, we will be looking ahead at an ice age. I don’t know when but it’s coming”. Well, the last time I heard those words was in high school, too many years to count, “what makes you think we’re heading into an ice age?”

He was visiting Toronto from “down under” and taking a break from work as a mining engineer, “there’s a lot of news around the world about the possibility of an ice age ahead”.

What do we know about the Ice Age and how often do Ice Ages happen, and when is the next freeze expected to begin?

Earth has undergone five big ice ages, some of which lasted for hundreds of millions of years.

There are many factors that cause ice age. The main ones include variations in Earth’s orbit known as Milankovitch cycles. Scientist Milutin Milankovitch over a century ago, “hypothesized the long-term, collective effects of changes in Earth’s position relative to the Sun are a strong driver of Earth’s long-term climate and are responsible for triggering the beginning and end of glaciation periods (Ice Ages)”. When summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere fail to rise above freezing for years and winter snowfall doesn’t melt, but instead builds up, compresses and over time starts to compact, or glaciate, into ice sheets, we are in an ice age.

During the last ice age, which finished about 12,000 years ago, enormous ice masses covered much of the land now inhabited by millions of people.

Since the 1800, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has increased very quickly mainly by burning fossil fuels, which has then spurred warming. The source of this new carbon dioxide is not from natural sources like forest fires, volcanoes or outgassing from the ocean. At the end of the last ice age, ecosystems had a good deal of time to adapt to the warming as it occurred. With increased CO2, warming is happening a lot faster. Many climate scientists agree that significant societal, economic, and ecological damage would result if the global average temperature rose by more than 2 °C (3.6 °F) in such a short time. At last count, global temperatures have reached 1.5 deg C.

Although scientists cannot say we have definitely prevented the next ice age, what is certain is that global warming is largely caused by human activities.

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Sources:

• ABC Science News
• Live Science
• Britannica
• Climate Portal

What Is GOTS And How Does It Benefit Conscious Consumers?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

When Spring comes, we get caught up with spring cleaning and this includes your closet.  It feels good to be in style with a new wardrobe.  You are not alone, there’s a growing market for cheaper clothing and new styles but it’s taking a toll on the environment.  On average, people are buying double of what they bought in 2000 and throw out more because of fashion.  Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources and pollutes river and streams.  What’s more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year.

As we become more conscious of our environment, I came across GOTS, Global Organic Textile Standard.  You may have already heard about it but what is it?  How does it benefit conscious consumers?   

GOTS was founded by two textile industry organizations since 2006, one US, the other from Germany and two soil organizations, one in the UK the other in Japan.  Together they hold extensive experience in promoting “organic” and all had developed individual processing standards for organic textiles. Their goal was to agree to one common standard, which means they can export with one organic certification that is accepted in all major markets.   

The aim of GOTS is to attain the golden seal of approval for sustainably processed fabric made with organic fibers, typically cotton.  Buying fashion with GOTS certification means you’re wearing clothing that has undergone stringent examination by global-standard.org.  To meet certification:

• Clothing is made from 70% or more organically farmed fibres
• Only low impact chemicals are permitted to protect consumer health as well as the environment
• Manufacturers have met water and energy consumption targets and procedures
• Garment factory workers rights are upheld by the ley safety norms and values of the International Labor Organization

GOTS prohibits the use of the kinds of chemicals commonly used in textile processing that can cause cancer, birth defects and other serious illnesses.  Improvements in manufacture and supply chain mean GOTS certified clothes are usually far superior to their counterparts but it isn’t intended to be a mark of luxury or quality. 

GOT is a reassuring way for fashion conscious consumers to identify sustainable and ethical clothing. 

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Sources:

• GOTS website
• GOTS Certification-Guide to Organic Clothing
• Ultimate Guide to GOTS Certification and Sustainable Textiles

Why We Need Oil

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Canada ranks 4^th in the World in oil and gas production.  Canada is grouped with other developed countries labelled Global North, characterized by democratic systems, a high level of industrialization, technological advancement, political stability, and ageing population.  Global South consists of the world’s developing countries and least developed countries largely Africa, Asia and Latin America. 

In my January 2024 View article, I touched on COP 28 that was held at the end of 2023.  COP or Conference of Parties is an international climate meeting that is held each year by the United Nations.  It was the 28^th time countries have gathered under the convention, hence COP28. The COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, also head of the UAE national oil company, said about oil, “phase down is inevitable, it can only happen when the world has added a sufficient amount of renewable energy capacity”.  

There are those who want the fossil fuel production to immediately shut down.   Realistically, we depend on oil and gas.  Living in Crescent Heights, a number of us are or were employed directly or indirectly in the oil and gas industry.  It’s given us a level of wealth, comfort, necessities and material goods.  Over time, we need to displace fossil fuels with low carbon renewable energy sources.

There are so many products made from oil and natural gas that we use daily and take for granted.  Our clothes, sports equipment, personal care and health products to name a few.  How about our money.  Did you know since 2011, our former “paper and cotton” money is now made from a synthetic polymer called polyethylene terephthalate or PET, a petrochemical derived from oil and natural gas.  These banknotes last up to four times longer and it’s possible to embed more security features than in paper notes to prevent counterfeiting.

The Bank of Canada has advised that over their entire life cycle, polymer bills are responsible for 32% fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and a 30% reduction in energy compared to making paper notes.

Remember we can all reduce our carbon footprint:  Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

For my past View articles, visit the CHCA website. 

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Sources:

• CAPP
• New York Times
• Quora

How Carbon Pricing Works

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Everyone seems to cringe when the word “tax” is brought up in conversations and certainly carbon tax.  As on April 1, the customer carbon levy for gasoline was raised to $80 per tonne from $65 which means the carbon price on a litre of gasoline will now be 17.6 cents per litre, up 3.3 cents per litre from before. That means filling a 50-litre tank from empty will cost about $8.80 in carbon price, about $1.65 more than before.  

Greenhouse gas emissions have contributed to climate change and for 2023, we experienced the warmest year on record with wildfires spreading across the country.  In Alberta, there were 1092 wildfires burning a total of 2.2 million hectares.   The wildfires have destroyed habitats and for threatened species (Alberta Wilderness Association), it will never be the same again.  Much of Alberta is under extreme drought as this past winter has been warm compounded with the lack of snowfall.  The province has declared the start to the wildfire season on February 20. Will we see another year of record wildfires or was it a rare event? 

There is no single approach to reducing emissions that works for every part of the country.  As a nation, a price on pollution is a cornerstone of Canada’s plan to tackle climate change.  The federal price on carbon, implemented in 2019, means that every jurisdiction has had a price on carbon pollution.  Canada has two different carbon pricing programs — one for big industry where companies pay the price on a share of their actual emissions, and a consumer carbon levy which is applied to fossil fuel purchases.   Putting a price on pollution is better than doing nothing. 

Unlike most other taxes, the carbon tax comes with a rebate. “All direct proceeds from the federal pricing system are returned to the province or territory where they were collected” (Gov’t of Canada).  The Parliamentary Budget Officer, Yves Giroux has noted the carbon tax minus rebates would benefit lower income households the most.  It’s estimated that 8 out of 10 households receive more from the rebate than they pay in added costs created by the tax.  In Alberta, individuals will receive a quarterly payment of $225 and a family of four will receive $1800.  Canada’s carbon pollution pricing will contribute as much as 1/3 of Canada’s emissions reduction in 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050. 

Economists in general have reiterated that the most cost-effective way to attack greenhouse gas emissions is to put a price on pollution.  The carbon levy reduces emissions at a lower cost than other measures, and it has a negligible effect on overall inflation. 

BC has had their own carbon tax since 2008.  They are a textbook example of carbon taxation as it covers approximately 70% of provincial GHG emissions.  Generally, the BC policy has been successful in significantly reducing the level of GHG emissions without compromising economic growth and development.

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Sources:

• Calgary Herald – Mar 30, Apr 2, 4 & 5
• Gov’t of Canada website “How carbon pricing works”
• World Economic Forum

Let’s Embrace Earth Day on April 22

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Living Green
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Did you know – the very first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. 

Who are the Founders – Earthday.org

What is their Mission – to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide and to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

Earth Day is celebrating its 54^th year.  For 20 years, it remained a grassroots affair before going global.  It’s now celebrated in more than 190 countries, with an estimated one billion people the world over participating each year.

Earthday.org is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy.  Earth Day is now a movement.  If more people are aware of the climate crisis and the actions they can take, the more empowered they are to protect the planet.  It is all about educating people about conservation, protesting against climate change and global warming and encouraging volunteering for the good of the planet.

We can make some changes throughout the year to make a positive environmental impact.  Earth Day encourages you to build habits that you can sustain year-round.  Take small steps and do your best.  Here are some ideas: 

• Reduce your lawn, choose wildflowers, native plants to attract pollinators and reduce watering
• Pick up litter as it’s everywhere
• Participate in community cleanup activities
• Compost your kitchen scraps
• Don’t buy as much stuff – reduce, reuse and recycle
• Eat more veggies, you can easily save on money when you buy less meat
• Donate items to thrift store or trade with neighbours
• Get together with friends and family to encourage Earth Day activities
• Reduce plastic use, choose plastic free alternatives that are more environmentally friendly
• Turn off the lights and your computer when not in use
• Go outside and take a hike in the woods, experience nature
• No matter what else you can or can’t do this April try spending some quality time outside
• Educate yourself and pledge to do better
• Densification is changing our neighbourhood, encourage developers to replace trees
• Plant a tree

Trees promote health and social well-being by reducing air pollution and stress.  Humans breathe in oxygen and emits CO2, trees do the opposite. While cities are getting hotter, trees can reduce urban temperatures. They provide habitat and food for animals. Finally, trees are valuable green infrastructure to manage stormwater.

Do you know how many trees supply one day’s worth of oxygen for four people to breathe?

Sources:

• earthday.org
• education.nationalgeographic.org

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Thank Goodness It’s Snowing!

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

In the December 2023 issue of the View, I mentioned that Environment Canada predicted a warm and dry winter for the 2023-2024 season.  So far, we are experiencing Environment Canada’s predictions. We’ve had very little snowfall, the ice sculptures in Banff and Lake Louise melted beyond repair that Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise prematurely ended.  Polar Vortex came and went with temperatures dipping below -35 C causing a grid alert on Jan 13, then rising above +10 C setting a record for warm weather. 

January recorded a total of 28.1 cm of snowfall.  Two winter months remain which we are certain but the weather, not so certain. Mother Nature will continue to offer some variety.  According to the City, the river and reservoir levels remain low in southern Alberta and mountain snowpacks are trending below average.  If these conditions do not improve, it’s likely the City will initiate water restrictions earlier than August last year. 

Calgary’s water supply originates from rain and snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains.  There has been more than 51 water shortage advisories in effect across Alberta.  The province is in a drought due to low precipitation, high temperatures and the effects of El Niño, which is bringing milder weather to northern climates.  While household consumption is important, water for agriculture and irrigation is a larger concern.

There’s a strong possibility drought conditions will continue into 2025.  Water is a precious resource and each of us need to be more water conscious. Every drop of water counts.

Sources:

• Calgary Herald
• City of Calgary Website
• CBC News

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Climate Chaos at Burning Man is a Cautionary Tale

This article is authored by Leor Rotchild, a member of the CHCA Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Committee. Leor is a local resident, consultant, and published author.

One person was found dead and 70,000 people were left stranded due to a tropical storm during the 2023 Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert.

It was not the only challenge Burning Man faced that year as a coalition of climate activists parked a 28-foot trailer across the road, causing several miles of gridlock until local law enforcement eventually rammed through the blockade.

The protesters at Burning Man, known as the Seven Circles Alliance, aimed to provoke more aggressive climate action. Their demands included banning private jets, single-use plastics, unnecessary propane burning, and unlimited generator usage during the nine-day event.

According to the Burning Man Project’s own estimates, more than 90 percent of the event’s carbon footprint comes from travel to and from Black Rock City. Another five percent comes from gas and diesel-burning generators that keep lights and air conditioners on throughout the festival. When you factor these together, Burning Man is responsible for about 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to more than what 22,000 gas-powered cars produce in a year.

The annual nine-day Burning Man festival is held in what is typically an arid and dusty desert town known as Black Rock City. This year, the site became a muddy swamp after the clouds opened up and crashed the party with two to three months’ worth of rain in just over 24 hours.

Burning Man attendees were instructed to shelter in place and ration their food, water, and fuel.

Climate change has rewritten the rules, and our existing contingency plans for major events no longer suffice. It’s time to throw away the old playbook and reimagine scenarios that account for the intensifying climate events we face. From sudden floods to raging wildfires and extreme heat waves, we must anticipate the unpredictable and adapt accordingly. Engaging the right stakeholders as part of revised contingency plans is important and should include meteorology experts and local emergency services. Burning Man did both but still underestimated the risks, so more imaginative scenarios are required for adequate preparations.

If Burning Man is a target for protestors, then all events face the same risk. After all, Burning Man is a leader. Their 2030 road map aims to remove enough CO2 from the environment to achieve carbon negative as well as become regenerative and ensure “no matter out of place,” or zero waste.

Both the tropical storm and the climate protest are existential threats to Burning Man, as well as all major events. Can the festival continue as it has before? Does burning “the Man” still make sense when our world is already burning?

The even bigger question is what is the role of events in our world when their environmental impacts are so big, and the risks of climate disruptions are so consequential?’

Adapting to the new risks and contingency measures required for events is only one part of the way forward. The entire events industry needs to reimagine its role as a valuable contributor to the most pressing challenges of our time. Major events from the World Cup to the Global Energy Show and Calgary Folk Music Festival to the Calgary Stampede must be part of the solution to climate change, not part of the problem.

What’s the Point of COP Meeting?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

COP or Conference of Parties (governments) does raise a considerable amount of media attention, and during this time, everyone is talking about climate change.

This year, COP28 was hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The COP28 President, Sultan Al-Jaber is also head of the UAE national oil company, one of the ten largest in the world.

The COP28 President highlighted the climate summit with his indication that he is not on board with plans to end fossil fuel use. He says, “phase down is inevitable, it can only happen when the world has added a sufficient amount of renewable energy capacity.” A British journalist wrote that Jaber’s appointment was akin to putting a major tobacco manufacturer in charge of an anti-smoking conference. Attendees raised their eyebrows at his appointment; however, COP only has a Code of Conduct policy. The COP28 President is leading an initiative to get oil and gas companies to agree to “nearly” eliminate their emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Methane, the major component of natural gas, traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It accounts for roughly a third of global warming since industrialization, according to researchers. Methane doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it is better at trapping heat, so cutting methane emissions is considered one of the most effective ways of tackling climate change. Already, the planet has warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius since the preindustrial era began 250 years ago, and so far, we’ve experienced frequent and intense extreme weather, plus people’s lives are changing.

Canada announced at COP28, that it is cutting methane emissions by 75% by 2030. The regulations are in step with the US commitments on methane reduction. As soon as this was announced, Alberta’s UCP government vowed to fight the new federal methane target. At the same time, Canada’s oilpatch calls the goal achievable. The president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada said the federal government’s proposed stronger methane regulations seem to be going in the right direction and that the increased cost to the oil and gas industry is manageable.

Cutting methane emissions is estimated to be the fastest and best way to reduce pollution that’s contributing to climate change, and to be in line with scientific UN studies that state we should continue to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Sources:

• Politico
• CBC
• Global News
• NRDC
• Calgary Herald

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Calgary Marked the First Time it Has Initiated Water Restrictions Due to Drought

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Environment Canada is predicting a warm and drywinter for the 2023-2024 season, just as we saw last winter. During this past summer, Calgary saw persistent hot, dry weather conditions and low flows on the Bow and Elbow Rivers. These conditions were caused by thisyear’s low snowpack and early snowmelt. The flow on the Elbow is the lowest it’s been since around 2000 and the Bow River is the lowest it’s been since 1911.

Calgary is a dry climate, but because of our proximity tothe mountains we can experience unpredictable swingsin the weather from heavy rains to many weeks of drytemperatures and little rain.

This summer Calgary initiated water restrictions due to drought. A drought is when there is less water availableover a large physical area for a long period of time. It happens when precipitation (i.e., rain/snow), river flow,and ground water are at below average levels.

In the face of drought, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners to justify the use of water tomaintain their lawns. Lawns are a crop that we spendtime, energy, and money to maintain, but they don’t feed us or our animals, attract pollinators, provide ahabitat, or really do much of anything besides look good.

To have a “look-good” lawn, you or your gardener need to put in the time and care. Lawns need to be watered, fertilized, and doused with some weed killers during the growing season. Because of the environmental toll thatweed killers and other pesticides can take, the pulling of plants that “don’t belong,” and having to cut or mowit each week only to dispose of it, lawns are falling outof favour.

Reduce your lawn and start planting native plants andwildflowers as they are well adapted to Calgary’s climate and soil conditions and often require little maintenance, water, and fertilizer. Once established, they also provide homes, food, and nesting material for pollinators and other wildlife. Start planning now. An excellent guide is the city’s website “Yard Smart”.

Sources:

• Nicole Newton, Calgary’s manager of natural environment and adaptation.
• City of Calgary Drought Information & City of Calgary Drought Resilience Plan
• Bob Vila

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Canadian Geographic’s September Issue

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability, member of the City’s Climate Advisory Committee
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

To all our Crescent Heights community residents, the September issue of Canadian Geographic, with a readership of four million, made mention of our Pollinator Garden on Crescent Road. The article is titled City of Calgary’s Biodiversity by Design, A Bees and Birds Tour of Calgary.

The Pollinator Garden evolved since 2017 from a four-stall parking lot to an area of planters filled with native plants. Jenna Cross, the City’s Parks Ecologist, took plants from her garden and native plant seeds to put in the planters. They blossomed with beautiful flowers attracting pollinators, mainly bees. Did you know that Calgary is designated a Bee City in Canada?

For the last two years, the City of Calgary has held an education booth at the Pollinator Garden on the importance of bees. The most recent was held on September 27, and those who attended received wildflower seed packets to take home for their garden.

The Pollinator Garden will help conserve our pollinators by providing them with a place to stop, rest, feed, and refuel, and teach others to protect pollinators. Without bees pollinating our plants that are critical for food production, plants would no longer be able to survive.

More than 70 percent of wild bees build their nests in the ground. The nests are shallow and not well protected during our long, cold winters. You can assist bees and other pollinators by not raking up all the leaves and not cleaning up all the dead plants in your garden. Support our native pollinators! Put a few new plants in the ground instead of taking things out. Help the bees and save your back. Leave the leaves!

Thank you to everyone a part of the success of the Pollinator Garden. Appreciation goes to the City’s plant ecologists, Jenna Cross and Mitchell Addison, the Mormon Church for allowing the use of their water, and resident volunteer Mike Macdonald for the care of the plants.

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Canada’s Summer of Fire

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Since May, wildfires have erupted across our country and our fire season is not over. Why are there so many? So far, 15 million hectares have gone up in smoke, the previous record is 7.6 million hectares in 1989. The ten-year average is 2.5 million hectares.

Canada is home to approximately 30 percent of the world’s boreal forests. “The Canadian boreal forest is one of the largest intact forest and wetland ecosystems remaining on earth. It stretches across the center of the country, from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Yukon, covering nearly 6 million km2 and over 58 percent of Canada’s land mass.”

Every year, scientists say it’s normal to experience a wildfire. Boreal forests are evergreen forests located north of the 50th parallel. They are adapted to burn, are evolved to burn, every 100 to 200 years. It’s part of the natural cycle for Canada’s boreal forests to burn. Fires keep nutrients cycling through the soil.

This year though, it’s unusual as wildfires are occurring in almost every part of Canada and they are lasting longer. Climate change is making weather like heat and drought more likely. Climate change will worsen three major factors that influence wildfires: dry fuel to burn, frequent lightning strikes, and dry, windy weather that fans the flames.

Boreal forests store about two-thirds of the world’s forest carbon, most of which is contained in the soil and has accumulated over hundreds or even thousands of years.

More and more Canadians are living, working, and playing in Canada’s forests, resulting in another ignition source, humans. Fire is inevitable and there will be more in the future, but climate change will make it more common and more dangerous. Estimates suggest that wildfires in Canadian boreal forests will increase by 150% by 2050.

Canada’s boreal forests store a big amount of carbon – about 208 billion tons of CO2, or 11% of the world’s total. Unfortunately, trees do burn, releasing the stored carbon into the atmosphere, thus threatening our global ability to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Wildfires in boreal forests can be especially harmful in terms of emissions they release into the atmosphere. Canada’s record wildfires are intensifying climate change, worsening air quality, and are detrimental to those who have health issues. With the wildfires, we are experiencing 464 hours of smoke, 13 hours more than in 2018, all coming from BC.

Sources:

• Union of Concerned Scientists
• NPR
• Climate Atlas of Canada
• wwf.ca

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Our Planet Is Getting Warmer. Are We Prepared? How Heat Domes, El Niño, and Greenhouse Gases All Play a Part

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

What is a Heat Dome?
A heat dome occurs when a ridge of high pressure builds over an area. It can stretch over a large area and linger for days to weeks. High pressure conditions combine to act as a ‘lid’ on the atmosphere. In a process known as convection, warm air attempts to escape but the high-pressure dome causes it to sink back down to earth. As the winds move the hot air east, the jet stream traps the air where it sinks, resulting in heat waves.

In the summer of 2021, BC experienced a heat dome, the deadliest weather event in Canada. Temperatures went up 20 degrees C above normal. The BC Coroners Service confirmed that there were 619 heat-related deaths during the heat dome. Heat domes are especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, and those with health conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Lytton’s temperature measured 49.6 degrees on June 29 and the entire BC town subsequently burned in a wildfire the next day.

Such extreme heat events are forecasted to become more frequent and intense due to climate change. This trend is worrying news for the planet.

The costs of the 2021 heat wave are reported in The Canadian Climate Institute’s “The Case for Adapting to Extreme Heat.” It provides a summary on how to prevent future extreme heat events from becoming disasters and how to limit the impacts on people, communities, and the economy. Alberta has a website with more information as well: alberta.ca/beprepared.

Four heat domes have contributed to this past July being the hottest month on record globally. Part of this is El Nino, which is developing and likely to strengthen. There is a good chance many more heat records will be broken. The four heat domes currently at play are in the southern US, the North Atlantic Ocean, North Africa including southern Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Sources:

• Canadian Climate Institute
• National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Earth Day came and went – What is Earth Day and what does it mean to you?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
— Robert Swan

Prior to 1970, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. In spring 1970, US senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. In the same year, twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities for a healthier environment. Then on December 2, 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. What followed was the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Every year on April 22, for one day, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to show support for environmental protection and inspire appreciation of the environment. It came and went but are we doing enough to protect planet Earth?

Planet Earth deserves more respect, and with climate change things are getting worse, more than we could have imagined. In a recent Herald article, they said, “Unwillingness to sacrifice is ruining the planet”. The author asks, “Would you give up your SUV for a hybrid vehicle, forgo the annual Hawaii holiday for a camping trip, eat less or no meat, take public transit instead of driving, shop less, switch off lights and the computer, forego the purchase of or turn down the AC?”

Every day we see and hear of “increasingly frequent, unpredictable, and punishing droughts, storms, floods, and hurricanes, yet sacrifice is still mostly out of the question. It seems the only thing we’re truly prepared to give up is the future.”

Sources:

• Calgary Herald – “Little to Praise on Earth Day” – Nicholas Read
• earthday.org
• epa.gov

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

IPCC 6th Climate Change Assessment Report

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

On March 20, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), a UN agency, released their 6th Climate Change Assessment report, the result of research conducted over the past five years. UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres, at a press conference, stated “humanity is on thin ice and that ice is melting fast… the climate time bomb is ticking.” The report suggests things are getting worse, but it makes one thing clear: the actions we take today will significantly impact our planet in the coming years.

196 countries adopted the Paris Agreement in December 2015. It established that the world must limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees C in this century and preferably 1.5 degrees C. The Earth has already warmed to 1.1 degrees C above 1850-1900 in 2011-2020 and is likely to cross 1.5 degrees C in the 2030s.

All hope is not lost yet.

Governments would have to up their commitments by 2030 and attain net zero by 2050 to keep warming around 1.5 degrees C as agreed to in the Paris Agreement.

Why 1.5 degrees? It is the limit at which many scientists believe humans can survive without causing the physical environment to be destroyed. It is the ‘target’ set by the IPCC as being ‘relatively safe’.

Overshooting 1.5 degrees C appears inevitable. We will continue to see more intense and frequent extreme weather, including blistering heat waves, droughts, powerful hurricanes, and heavier rainfall. Moving forward, without major changes this decade, they will get exponentially worse.

What should be made clear is that human beings have caused the Earth’s surface temperature to rise, through emitting greenhouse gases, not natural processes.

Sources:

• IPCC – Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Local governments around the world are solving their own climate problems. The City of Calgary formed the Climate Advisory Committee last December of which I am a member. The Committee’s responsibilities are numerous and varied, including advising Council on policies and initiatives that relate to climate change mitigation and adaptation in Calgary.

A suggestion to the readers of my article, download from the City of Calgary’s website, the Council- approved “Calgary Climate Strategy: Pathways to 2050.” It sets the City’s climate vision, guiding principles, goals, and targets to achieve the outcomes of the Climate Emergency Declaration.

What is Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation?

Since the late 1800s, we have elevated our standards of living but also elevated the amount of heat trapping greenhouse gases we are releasing into our atmosphere to power machines, generate electricity, and to heat our homes. As the levels of CO2 continue to rise, the planet is getting warmer, and as a result we are experiencing the early effects of climate change. As we continue to industrialize, global need for energy will continue to grow. CO2 stays in the atmosphere for a long time and if we continue to emit, we will be trapping the extra heat for hundreds of years.

Mitigation is a human intervention to reduce the sources of heat-trapping greenhouses gases into the atmosphere or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases.

Adaptation (adapting to life in a changing climate) involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. The goal is to reduce our risks from the harmful effects of climate change.

Sources:

• Calgary 2023-2026 Climate Implementation Plan
• NASA
• MIT Climate Portal

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

What is CEIP?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

The month of February was busy with homeowners applying to be part of CEIP, the Clean Energy Improvement Program that was launched on January 31. For those who are not familiar with this program, the following is some background.

October 3, 2022, Natural Resources Canada announced a $25.6 million investment in four Alberta municipalities.

December 6, 2022, Calgary approved the CEIP Bylaw 53M2021 for $15 million the City received.

The CEIP was launched the following month on January 31.

The new City initiative is to help the residential homeowner finance the up-front costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

Availability is limited and provided on a first-come first-served basis.

The response to the program is welcomed. Some particulars are:

• The loan is tied to the property and not to the homeowner.
• Maximum loan available to each property is $50,000.
• The loan is repayable through property taxes in 20 years or sooner.

Sources:

• Find out more on the City of Calgary’s YouTube.

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

What is Weather and What is Climate?

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

While reading Letters to the Editor in the Calgary Herald, I recall an individual making a comment about City Council declaring a Climate Emergency, “I don’t know what the fuss is about it’s just the weather”. People are reluctant to believe that the climate is changing when they can look outside their window and see for themselves that the weather appears typical.

Could it be the confusion surrounding distinctions between weather and climate, thus the slow reaction to act on climate change?

Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, climate describes what the weather is like over a long period of time in a specific area. Though they are closely related, weather and climate aren’t the same thing. Climate is what you expect, weather is what actually happens.

Another difference between weather and climate could be explained with an analogy: weather influences what clothes you wear on a given day, while the climate where you live influences the entire wardrobe you buy.

Extreme weather is becoming more common, support for climate policies is also growing, especially at the local level. Everyone on Earth is experiencing the effects of a hotter planet. That makes it a problem of the present, not of the future.

Various levels of government are providing money to help make homes more energy efficient, to increase public transportation, and to install bike lanes, plus greater investment in renewable energy. Renewable energy supplies have expanded, world energy usage has also expanded.

The more the world economy grows, the more difficult it is to rein in the growth. Addressing climate change is a priority.

Sources:

• US – EPA

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Carbon Pollution

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless gas that is highly important to life on Earth. Excessive concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide can disrupt the natural regulation of temperature in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.

Carbon tax is about recognizing the cost of pollution and is the cornerstone of Canada’s climate policy. It is a subspecies of Pigovian tax; taxes that are designed primarily to change behaviour rather than to raise revenue. Putting a price on carbon pollution is widely recognized as the most efficient means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while encouraging industries to become more efficient and to use cleaner technologies. It should also help achieve Canada’s climate targets – a 40 to 45% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

In 2019, Canada imposed a national carbon tax of $16 a ton of CO2, increasing to $39 a ton by 2022. Most of the revenue will be refunded to individuals under the Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP).

In July of this year, a tax-free CAIP was directly paid to help individuals and families offset the cost of the federal pollution pricing. It is available to residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

The Alberta program provides an annual credit of:

• $539 for an individual
• $270 for a spouse or common-law partner
• $135 per child under 19
• $270 for the first child in a single-parent family

In 2020, the largest CO2 emitters were in:

• China (29%)
• The US (14%)
• India (7%)
• Russia (5%)
• Japan (3%)

Sources:

• Government of Canada – CAIP
• The World Bank
• Clean Prosperity
• Economist
• Investopedia

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.

Climate Anxiety

by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
stephanie@crescentheightsyyc.ca

At a recent gathering, I had the opportunity to hear the Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson speak. He noted that when he had a conversation with his 19-year-old daughter about climate change, she flatly stated she doesn’t plan to have children.

The young people are not just reading about climate change in the media – they’re watching it unfold in front of their own eyes. The young people feel humanity is doomed and think they won’t have access to the same opportunities that their parents had. Four out of 10 global respondents are hesitant to have children. Young people are feeling distressed because the environment isn’t doing well, and they are being left with a really complex set of problems to deal with as they grow up.

Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change
There are three pathways in which climate change can impact our mental health:

1. Experiences of Extreme Weather Events
Such as flooding, droughts, and forest fires, can lead to loss of home, habitat, loved ones, injuries, loss of sleep, and other challenges.

2. Experiences of Environmental Changes
Such as observing a close by river drying up, disappearance of animals in a region, or changes in seasons.

3. Awareness of Climate Change Information
Young people described as the “climate generation” have never known a life without hearing about climate change and how it will adversely affect their future.

It must be understood that it is a healthy and normal response to feel distressed about the climate crisis. It’s not a mental health disorder. It’s a sign that you care and are attached to what’s going on in the world.

Climate change is global and long term. We must learn to cope with the difficult emotions, otherwise these emotions can overwhelm, preventing us from participating in solutions.

Sources:

• EU Science Hub
• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
• climateatlas.ca – Mental Health and Climate Change

Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.