Sunday, November 3, 2024

Climate Change. It’s never been about data. It’s about anger, and anger sells.

 

Good morning,   

There was a moment, as I entered adulthood in the early 2000s, when the zeitgeist among people concerned over the climate crisis went something like this: the world may not support drastic action on climate change yet because we don’t understand the danger we’re facing — but when disasters start rolling in, we’ll unite under a common cause and fix this thing

Well, the disasters keep rolling in. Since the start of the century, the 10 deadliest climate-related disasters alone have killed more than half a million people worldwide. Climate change has cost us $2.8 trillion over that same period. As Natasha Bulowski reported this week, climate disaster survivors are trying to raise the alarm and show us — physically show us — what happens when extreme weather comes for our homes and communities. But, at least among the most powerful, the response is often the opposite of unity. Instead, we get blame, division, paranoia and lies. 

Take for instance the bickering between Alberta and Ottawa. Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta — a place that lost one of its most iconic parks to fire over the summer and half the province is still grappling with drought — is facing a leadership review this week. So, Smith went back to the metaphorical well (which isn't running dry) and picked yet another fight with Ottawa over the carbon tax. It’s a tried-and-tested technique for firing up the base. In this case, Smith’s base are the rural Albertans whose fields are dry and homes vulnerable to fire; Canadians most in need of immediate climate action. Instead, they get tossed some red meat.

In Ontario, Doug Ford is pandering to suburban commuters by pledging to rip out bike lanesthrowing out a modest yet effective climate solution in the hopes of riling up the drivers of Etobicoke and Brampton enough that they’ll reward him with his third majority government. Forget that bike lanes have been shown to benefit drivers as well as cyclists — not to mention boosting business traffic and sales — it’s never been about data. It’s about anger, and anger sells.

The climate-skeptic games extend outside the public realm and into industry spaces, too. John Woodside reported this week that the head of the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) called the energy transition “cult-like” in a rage-baiting eight-minute speech to a far-right think tank audience. The association and its members, it appears, would rather people direct their skepticism to the bare possibility of averting climate disaster by transitioning off their products, than have them think too hard about how, for instance, exporting LNG has recently been found to be even worse for the climate than burning coal. It’s a smart strategy, especially when you consider that CGA member FortisBC is working hard behind the scenes to reverse Vancouver’s gas ban for new builds —  there’s no reason FortisBC shouldn’t lose out on any of its customer base when the energy transition is just a cult, right?  

South of the border, this kind of rhetorical whataboutism, finger-pointing, misdirection, pandering and rage could be about to get so much worse. Another Trump victory, following a campaign fuelled in part by climate conspiracy theories, would effectively kill American involvement in the green transition. Worse, a second administration led by a famously climate-denying Trump would double down on oil and gas, throw out environmental regulations, and kneecap the growth of the green energy industry.

I’m reflecting on all of this, not because it’s therapeutic (although maybe it is a little bit), but because based on what we’re seeing today, it doesn’t look like humanity is going to organically coalesce around solutions anytime soon. If that’s the case, we must find a way to demand those solutions from our leaders, no matter how deeply flawed and cynical the leadership class may be. We’ll have to fight disinformation with all the tools we have at our disposal, from inoculation to counter-messaging. First, let’s hold liars accountable. 

If you’re reading this newsletter, you understand the position we’re in. That’s a start. 

— Jimmy, managing editor

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Health Canada probes claim that government officials helped pesticide company overturn a ban

CANADA'S                                                                                                         NATIONAL                                                                                                     OBSERVER

A bee forages on a cosmos flower.
A PinP photo.

Health Canada is investigating after Canada's National Observer revealed that government officials supported efforts by the pesticide industry to discredit a researcher's findings and overturn a proposed ban on a class of pesticides harmful to bees, the environment and human health. Story  here.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Alberta UCP to vote on celebrating CO2 - not recognizing it as pollutant

CANADA’S NATIONAL OBSERVER


A proposal to stop labelling carbon dioxide as a pollutant and instead celebrate it as a "foundational nutrient for all life on Earth” will be up for debate at the United Conservative Party’s annual general meeting in November. Story here.

Friday, October 18, 2024

Court sides with youth in historic climate case against Ontario

ecojustice


Seven Ontario youth are celebrating a landmark victory handed 


down by the province’s top court. The Court of Appeal ruled in 


favour of their youth-led climate lawsuit against the Ontario 


government. The ruling confirms that Ontario’s weak target is 


risking the lives and well-being of Ontarians. Story here.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Pathogens from salmon aquaculture in relation to conservation of wild Pacific salmon in Canada

 SCIENCE ADVANCE

The spread of pathogens from farmed salmon is a conservation concern for wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Story here.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Changes in Hog Farming are long overdue.

Winnipeg Free Press

When Manitobans dig into their Sunday pork roast, pepperoni 

pizza or ham sandwich, how many spare a thought for the animal farmed and slaughtered for 

their momentary meal? 


Story here.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Manmade climate change worsened the heavy rainfall and winds in Hurricane Milton, according to new rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution.

WORLD WEATHER ATTRIBUTION

The findings for Hurricane Milton are similar to those for Hurricane Helene and in line with previous attribution studies in the area. Based on that, the researchers conclude that such changes in heavy rainfall are attributable to human-caused climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and natural gas, and deforestation.

The rapid analysis found:Climate change increased rainfall from Hurricane Milton about 20-30%.

Rainfall storms similar to Milton are today about twice as likely as they were without human-induced warming.

Climate change made wind speeds from Milton around 10% stronger.

Addressing social vulnerabilities and implementing nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands, can help reduce future impacts from these storms

As the team recently conducted a detailed attribution study on Hurricane Helene the rainfall data for this new analysis is based only on weather observations data, rather than also using climate models.

You can find the full analysis on the WWA website.

Thanks,
Ignacio Amigo

Climate Change. It’s never been about data. It’s about anger, and anger sells.

  Good morning,    There was a moment, as I entered adulthood in the early 2000s, when the zeitgeist among people concerned over the climate...