By Aleksandra Statkiewicz
VOW Intern
Climate change and the earth heating have always been a hot topic (no pun intended). We have lived and seen the last 6 years being our hottest since the Paris Agreement which was ironically agreed upon 6 years ago. The Paris Agreement is a legal binding international treaty that was made to tackle climate change by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to limit the temperature increase in this century to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, review a country’s commitments every 5 years and provide the finances to developing countries for a greener future.
Before the Paris Agreement, world leaders met at a climate change summit called the Conference of All Parties. This year we all watched in angst to observe what promises were made by all countries to fight climate change. Those interested have watched for the past 26 years, silently waiting for world leaders to come together and save Mother Earth from burning. This year at the COP26, we listened to many activists speak (David Attenborough being my personal favourite) about how we no longer have time. We must act now and make MAJOR changes to slow down the global temperature from rising.
Canada can be a major component in creating a green environment globally. This year at COP26 many agreements were made by all countries. They all unanimously decided to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius and agreed to revisit their National Determined Contribution (NDC) at the next climate summit in 2022 instead of 2025. Canada itself has agreed to end public support for oil and gas development by 2022 and only invest in renewable energy from now on. They will work towards ending thermal coal exports by 2030 and will be spending up to $1 billion for the Climate Investment Funds Accelerated Coal Transition Investment Program, which will help developing countries transition to green energy. They have also agreed to reduce methane emissions 30% by 2030, ensuring that all vehicles by 2040 are 100% zero emission and capping all oil and gas emissions by 2050. Prime Minister Trudeau also proposed that the Carbon Tax should be taxed 60% versus 20% to persuade companies to decrease their carbon production and look for a greener solution.
With all those goals made by Canada, we do still need to focus and help communities in our country to guarantee a green future. There are Indigenous communities who are still living without clean water near major cities and without proper hydro systems. In 2015, Canada made the goal to eliminate the boil advisory in all of Canada within 5 years; it is December 2021 and we still have a water-advisory in 29 communities across the country. If we can not keep up with goals that are made, how will we save the earth from burning with the goals set at the COP26?
On more of a personal note, in the past couple weeks after doing a lot of research into climate change and the COP26, I have been quite vocal in my personal and work life about all the environmental disasters that have happened due to climate change. I have noticed that the topic makes others uncomfortable and is always brushed off into another topic. I think climate change should not be a topic that is feared but a mutual interest for all to come together and help Mother Earth.
There is no time for debating, we are on the brink of losing Mother Earth and we must ALL act together to fight for a cleaner and greener future.
Sources
United Nations. (2015). The Paris Agreement. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2021, November 23). Conference of the Parties (COP) | UNFCCC. UNFCCC Sites and Platforms. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from
https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/supreme-bodies/conference-of-the-parties-cop
Government of Canada. (2021, December 20). Ending long-term drinking water advisories. Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2021, from https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1506514143353/1533317130660
Jackson, H. (2021, November 16). What did Canada sign on for at COP26? CTVNews. Retrieved July 12, 2021, from https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/what-did-canada-sign-on-for-at-cop26-1.5666950