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B.C. Climate News March 7-13: Weaver revisits the Vancouver Institute’s climate crisis | Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon hits new record | UBC prof creates social media hub for climate action

B.C. Climate News March 7-13: Weaver revisits the Vancouver Institute’s climate crisis | Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon hits new record | UBC prof creates social media hub for climate action

Source: NASA

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Here’s your weekly update with what you need to know about global climate change and the steps B.C. This week’s update includes information about the climate and ecological crises in the week of March 7-13 2022.

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This week’s climate news:

  • Australia battered by floods on a scale “never seen before.”
  • Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon hits second straight monthly record
  • A UBC professor creates a social media hub to support climate and ecological action

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned for years that wildfires, drought, severe weather, such as B.C.’s deadly heat dome in June, and flooding would become more frequent and more intense because of the climate crisis.

Last August, it issued a “code red” for humanity and last week the panel, made up of hundreds of scientists from around the world, said the window to stop global warming fromExceeding 1.5 C was closing.

Every Saturday, we will bring you the latest news about climate and environmental issues. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most recent B.C. news delivered to you by 7 a.m. here.

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A glance at B.C.’s carbon numbers:

  • B.C.’s gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2019 (latest available data:) 68.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e.) This is an increase in 3.0 MtCO2e or 5% since 2007, the baseline year.
  • B.C.’s net emissions in 2019: 67.2 MtCO2e, an increase of 1.5 MtCO2e, or two per cent, since 2007.
  • B.C.’s 2030 target: 40 per cent reduction in net emissions below 2007 levels.
  • B.C.’s 2040 target: 60 per cent reduction.
  • B.C.’s 2050 target: 80 per cent reduction.
  • Canada’s 2030 emissions target: Between 40 and 45 per cent reduction.
  • Canada’s 2050 emissions target: Net-zero.
Source: NASA
Source: NASA

Climate change quick facts:

  • The Earth is now approximately 1.1 C warmer today than it was in 1800s.
  • Globally, 2021 was number five in terms of the warmest years.
  • Human activities have led to an increase in atmospheric CO concentrationsBy nearly 49% above the pre-industrial levels that were established in 1850
  • The world is not on the right track to meet the Paris Agreement goal to keep global temperatures below 1.5 C above preindustrial levels. This is to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
  • 2015-2019 were five of the warmest years ever recorded, while 2010-2019 was our warmest decade.
  • Based on the current carbon dioxide emissions trajectory, the temperature could rise by as much as 4.4% by the end century.
  • In 2019, the concentrations of greenhouse gases reached new heights. The levels of carbon dioxide were only 148 percent of their preindustrial levels.
  • To keep temperatures below 1.5 C, emissions must fall 7.6 percent per year between 2020 and 2030. Temperatures must also drop below 2 C per annum.
  • 97% of climate scientists agree the climate is warming and believe that humans are to blame.

(Source: United Nations IPCCWorld Meteorological Organization,UNEP, Nasa, climatedata.ca)

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LATEST CLIMATE NEWS

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon hits second straight monthly record

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest hit record levels for the month of February, preliminary government data showed on Friday, as a scientific study indicated the jungle is nearing a tipping point after which it could no longer sustain itself.

According to INPE data, forest clearing in the region was 199 kilometres (77 miles) for February. This is 62% more than the same month a previous year.

This is the highest February record since 2015/2016, when the data series started. It follows a similar monthly record for January.

The destruction rate in the first two months was three times that of 2021. A total of 629 km2 (243 miles) were cleared, which is roughly the area of Chicago.

Brazil is home to around 60% of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, whose preservation is vital to curbing catastrophic climate change because of the vast amount of greenhouse gas it absorbs.

Read the complete story here.

—Reuters

Andrew Weaver returns to the Vancouver Institute ten years later to discuss the climate crisis

Andrew Weaver, a climate scientist and former leader of B.C.’s Green Party, will give a talk to the Vancouver Institute Saturday evening about the climate crisis.

The talk, called “Back to the Future: Revisiting the climate change crisis a decade later” is being held virtually. You can join the webinar by visiting https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69856370608. The webinar ID: 698 5637 0608.

In an interview Saturday, Weaver said he will be talking about how far we’ve come in a decade from having nearly no climate policies on the table to having “really thoughtful policies,” both provincially and federally.

He will also speak about the role that climate action played in making people aware of the climate crisis, including the influence Greta Thunberg (swedish climate activist) and young activists here in B.C.

Weaver said that scientists have been repeating warnings that the temperature will exceed 1.5 C. There are policies being implemented by government to reduce greenhouse gasses. However, they need to be implemented immediately.

“We don’t need another report….At some point, I will say the scientific community has done its job. Now it’s time for the politicians to do theirs.”

He stated that he was confident that B.C. He is confident that B.C. will achieve its goal to reduce greenhouse gasses by 40% by 2030.

“We are on track to do that. If the U.K. can already be 45 per cent below 1990 levels already, then we can do it here.”

He stated that the greatest problem in B.C. It is the transportation sector that accounts for 40% of all emissions that needs to be addressed.

UBC professor creates social media hub for climate and ecological crises

Hearing that “transformative change” is required to address the world’s climate and ecological crises can feel overwhelming.

That’s one of the reasons why UBC professor Dr. Kai Chan and his team at the university created CoSphere, a new online social media hub where people can connect and learn how to take action for a sustainable future. Chan and his team will launch the new site Monday.

Users can create accounts and post topics in a discussion forum. They can also learn about the steps they can take individually or collectively, to make meaningful changes. It provides explanations on complex issues and posts information about upcoming climate action events.

One of the first topics up — Earth Overshoot Day, which this year for North America falls on Sunday. It’s the date each year when North Americans have already consumed the world’s share of Earth’s renewable resources for the entire year.

To address this overshoot, many assume they need to do more to reduce their environmental footprint, but it’s more than that, said Chan.

“That narrative is a distraction from what’s really needed,” he said, which is an unprecedented collaboration to change economic and societal norms.

Read the complete story here.

—Tiffany Crawford

Australia declares east coast floods a national emergency

Australia declared a national emergency Wednesday to address the devastation caused by floods along its east coast. The country also designated disaster zones for towns that were swept away in the floodwaters.

“Australia is becoming a harder country to live in because of these natural disasters,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday after touring the worst-hit Northern Rivers area of New South Wales.

The emergency declaration, which was set up after Australia’s destructive 2019 bushfires, will help cut red tape and speed up aid amid criticism about a slow response to the floods in which at least 21 people have died.

Frustrated residents of the Northern Rivers, who have been without power or internet access for several days, blame authorities for the slow response and scale to their relief efforts.

Read the complete story here.

—Reuters

Climate action is slow as COVID reaches goals in developing countries

Grenada has faced a host of pandemic-related issues, including higher shipping costs and layoffs. This has made it difficult to combat climate change. It is not the only problem.

Across the world, COVID-19 has hit economic growth and tax revenue, making it harder for governments – particularly in developing nations – to meet their targets on cutting carbon emissions and adapting to climate change.

“COVID has definitely had a negative impact,” said Trevor Thompson, Grenada’s acting chief agriculture officer and a member of the country’s National Climate Change Committee.

The slowdown can be attributed to the absence of face-to–face meetings.

“Virtual meetings could only accomplish so much,” he said.

Scientists warn the world has less than a decade left to slash its still-rising emissions by nearly half, or the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement – aimed at keeping people and nature safe from accelerating warming – will be lost.

Read the complete story here.

—Reuters

Majority of British Columbians are concerned about how climate change will affect their homes: B.C. Hydro survey

According to a B.C. survey, a majority of British Columbians are concerned about the impact of climate change on their homes. Many are also planning to renovate to deal with it. Hydro report released Friday.

Majid Khhoury, a B.C. resident, conducted an online survey. Hydro found that 69% were concerned about the comfort of their homes in extreme weather conditions linked to climate change.

According to the survey, 21 percent of respondents plan to make renovations to prepare for extreme weather.

B.C. Hydro figures show air conditioning use has risen by about 50 per cent over the past decade from a quarter of British Columbians using it at home to nearly 40 per cent — and new research suggests that figure could be even higher after last year’s deadly heat dome in B.C., according to the report.

According to the survey, 14 percent of British Columbians bought an air conditioner unit last summer to improve their home’s comfort. The number was higher — 17 per cent — for those living in the Lower Mainland.

Read the complete story here.

—Tiffany Crawford

So you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle? 

The staggering cost of gas has a lot of people ready to make the switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle.

It’s a good time to consider one because the provincial and federal governments are offering incentives to do so, and those programs won’t be around forever.

Electric vehicles are cheaper and easier to run and maintain than those with internal combustion engines, but they don’t come cheap, even with rebates. So you’ll want to do your research first.

Five things you need to know before you spend your hard-earned cash.


GUIDES AND LINKS

B.C. Flood: See all our coverage of the Fraser Valley and beyond

NASA answers frequently asked questions about climate change

Climate change made B.C. Study concludes that heat wave is 150 times more likely due to climate change

B.C.’s heat wave: Intense weather event is linked to climate crisis, say scientists

Expert: Climate change is expected to increase wildfire season lengths and burn more land.

Vancouver outlines its Climate Emergency Action Plan

COVID-19 may have stopped protests massively, but youth are taking their fight to the courts for the future

Climate displacement in B.C. is a growing concern As extreme weather forces residents from their homes


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