Whether we like it or not, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s intention to withdraw Canada from the next round of Kyoto is the right decision. For us to try to curb our green house emissions to 6% below 1990 level is a far too ambitious goal, especially in light of our ongoing oil production in Alberta.
While it isn’t ideal that we tap into a source which may significantly contribute to global warming, oil and gas is currently our best option to satisfy our immediate energy needs. It simply doesn’t make any sense to all of a sudden either sharply reduce or entirely cut off production when we don’t have any alternative energy source and infrastructure in place to do so. Nevertheless, Canadians should not become dependent upon oil and gas as a ongoing means to look after our energy needs as the amount that is being consumed on a daily base will eventually not only continue to take its toll on the environment but will also take its toll on our dwindling supply. What I believe is needed is a measured approach where we transition from oil and gas to other means such as solar energy which seems to offer the best potential among all of the other alternative considerations such as wind, geo-thermal etc, however, with this being said they each have their strengths and limitations.
Currently, there is a lot of research and development going into solar energy and with it the sector as a whole has definitely come a long ways. Some people are under the false impression that solar power is new and is just a passing fad, the truth is that solar research has been going on for over 25 years and has seen substantial scientific growth to come to a point where I believe within the next 2-5 years it will be possible to either substantially cut back on our need for fossil fuels or eliminate it altogether. Progressive oil and gas companies are looking into and evaluating many of the major solar companies in order to save on their own energy consumption as well as a means to conserve their current gas supply.
For the time being, what I think we need to do in regards to our part in climate control is to set a goal where we will do our best to keep our green house emission at a zero growth/neutral level from where it currently is with the objective of possibly reducing it as much as we can. In addition to this, a portion of the monies that is being generated through the sale of our surplus energy needs to go into funding alternative energy. We definitely need to keep green initiatives in mind and adequately fund them.
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Thank you for your comment. It is very important for people to keep this discussion on climate change alive regardless of which position you may take. With this being said, i don’t believe our current weather pattern is usual, outside of it being usual to what we have already done–which is consistently contributed more and more greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere and which in my opinion is accelerating global warming. Here is a section from the Vancouver Sun newspaper:
Climate Change Conference– Hottest 13 years have been in past 15: scientists (Wednesday, November 30, 2011 sec. B2)
“Thirteen of the world’s hottest years on record have occurred in the past fifteen years and the Artic ice levels were at their thinnest this year, scientists have warned. This year was also the hottest ever to coincide with the normally cooling effect of La Nina weather system in the Pacific. Global temperatures in 2011 are currently the tenth highest on record and are higher than any previous year with La Nina event, which has a relative cooling influence.”
(World Meteorological Organization)
[…] green house gases are no laughing matter and is something we really need to take seriously. With Canada and the US unwilling to sign a binding agreement to the next round of the Kyoto Accord, one would have to wonder if we as a global community will be able to contain our near catastrophic […]
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thank you for your comments and for your interest in my other article “Artic Awareness.” I’m not quite sure what you mean by greener ideal so I don’t want to make any assumptions while trying to respond to it. It is really good that you’re keeping an open mind towards green initiatives. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year–all the best for 2012!
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