Today's letters: How Canada should tackle climate change in 2025

Tuesday. Dec. 31: Smart regulation, innovation and incentives for the use of cleaner energy sources might be ore useful than a carbon tax, a reader says. You can writer to us too, at [email protected]

Published Dec 31, 2024  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

A cruise ship passes the spectacular Alaska glaciers. Greenhouse gases are warming the Earth's atmosphere, and Canada's current policies are ineffective, says a letter-writer. Photo by Robin Robinson

We need a better climate-change plan

Human activities have unequivocally caused global warming, principally through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That is the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Absent aggressive action to curtail further GHG emissions, more frequent incidents of extreme weather events are virtually assured.

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Canada’s carbon tax has drawn a lot of criticism, and promises to be a factor in the coming federal election. The criticism is justified, not only because of its adverse effect on the cost of living, but also because, even if the tax were successful in reducing Canada’s GHG emissions to zero, it would not have a detectable impact on the climate. This can be easily demonstrated by examining the relevant numbers. Canada’s most recent estimated level of CO2 equivalent GHG emissions was 0.7 gigatonnes, well below even the margin of error for global GHG emissions (± 6.6 gigatonnes out of 59 gigatonnes in 2019, according to the IPCC).

The hard reality is that, absent substantial reductions by large GHG emitters (United States, China, Russia, India, etc.), there will be no escape from the devastating consequences of climate change for any country, no matter how diligent it is in curtailing its own emissions.  The winds will blow, the waters will flood, and the fires will burn without the slightest regard for national borders. Famine will spread and wars will be fought over scarce water resources. Masses of refugees will attempt to escape from their scorched lands towards increasingly less welcoming countries.

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Canada should still make every effort to reduce its GHG emissions, insignificant as they are in the grand scheme of things. But a carbon tax will not help. Smart regulation, innovation and incentives for the use of cleaner energy sources might. A mitigation fund could be created and rigorously administered, to better protect homes, buildings, roads, the power grid and so on.

Innovation is key. We need better systems for the early detection of forest fires. We could harness the power of AI for the identification of the most vulnerable structures, and so on. There will be a cost for these and other smart measures. In the long run, it’ll be worth it.

Tony Manera, Ottawa

The Liberal ship is sinking fast

The federal government ship “Libtanic” is sinking. The captain has been hiding below decks. The co-captain has abandoned the ship. Crew members are scrambling to occupy the upper cabins or ones closest to the lifeboats. Meanwhile, the pilot who was courted to take over the ship’s rescue has decided to wait on shore, hoping to manage the salvage operations. The passengers who paid for the cruise are wondering who to blame and wishing they had chosen a different cruise company.

Michael Eugene Pongray, Russell

Crossing Freeland was a foolish move

Re: All you need to know about why Chrystia Freeland resigned, Dec. 16.

I may be only 50 per cent Ukrainian, but I remember the character traits of my grandmother, mother and four aunts well. Pity the fool who disrespects any woman of Ukrainian heritage.

Justin Trudeau has been that kind of fool.

Thomas Brawn, Orléans

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