Global Warming

All that wonder we hear about Canada such as temperate Pacific rainforests in British Columbia, the old French architecture in Montreal’s Old Port, and the cold Arctic to Banff’s National Park; is put at risk with constant temperature changes due to global warming. The environmental threat we face is increasing so rapidly. For instance, average temperatures in Canada have already drastically increased by 1.7 degrees Celsius since 1948. Global warming affects high altitudes greatly. We can also notice increased rainfall and rising sea levels. Warmer water temperature is expected to become very evident over the next century, posing great dangers to the country and its wildlife. Let’s be real though: yes, my topic covers Canadian wildlife, but we are at risk here too!

The Arctic represents a very important and fragile ecosystem we have in Canada. Its temperature warms up at a much faster rate than other ecosystems in the world. There are very obvious and dramatic reductions in sea ice cover during the summer. This shrinking sea ice is detrimental to the whole system of ocean circulation and affects weather around the globe, not just Canada. Therefore, how we address and adapt to our changing climate in the coming years will be vital in determining the future of our civilization.

Additionally, we all know that Canada is popular for its extreme weather. This excruciatingly cold country suffers from increasing wildfires in the West. In recent years, they have become very harsh and dangerous. In 2017, British Columbia experiences its worst fire with almost 900,000 hectares going up in smoke. The science behind this is not that hard to understand. With wetter and harsher winters, more grass grows in the spring which causes summers to be prolonged and reach higher temperatures intensifying the fire season! Easy right? It’s all interrelated. Hot and dry weather turns the grass into a flammable fuel source which then turns our forests into material that is basically ready to be lit up! Wait, I’m not done yet; then, the more forest fires we have, the more greenhouse gasses are emitted, which generates heat we can feel. Now, let’s talk about droughts. Did you know that the more droughts we have, the less food we have to eat? When our summers become longer and our winters shorter, the amount of snowfall decreases. This means that when spring comes, there will be less water melting into rivers and valleys whereby farmland is usually located. It’s a very scary and dangerous vicious cycle we are dealing with here, it’s no joke.

You might be wondering why I’m making this blog post. Well, I’m worried; I think we all are. We need to start taking action. What do I “taking action” mean? Well firstly, I think it's important for me to clarify I’m not trying to shame anyone into taking action here. I think making a change starts with simple daily adjustments such as slowly cutting out plastic for instance. I think we all need to be more intentional and careful with the small daily decisions we make. Ultimately, large corporations could be blamed for their actions since they contribute to bigger damage. But what can we do as citizens of the world? Ok, I feel like I’ve given you enough of a reality check. Let’s stop here.