Last Thursday, Robin and Marian White of the Climate Reality Project argued that climate change is a fact, not a theory.
The Galt Museum and the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs hosted the pair, who spoke passionately to more than 100 people over the course of the day.
The message: Climate change is real and urgent. We must act now to reverse its effects. The Climate Reality Project, founded by Al Gore, is an organization dedicated to engaging mainstream audiences in discussion about climate change and encouraging communities to make efforts to fight it.
“Economy and society are entirely dependent on the environment, not the other way around,” said Marian White.
A presentation filled with images and video footage from all over the globe painted a picture of the climate reality. A helicopter rescues a woman in Brazil as her home is washed away by floodwaters. An entire school floats down the middle of a flooded city street.
The White’s presentation illustrated that major changes in some earth systems, including the melting Arctic ice cap, will lead to dramatic effects on weather and wildlife habitats.
“This would destroy a marine ecosystem all the way up the food chain and guess who’s at the top of that?” Marian said.
Despite emerging research on global warming, there are still many who deny climate change is happening and that humans are to blame.
“Questioning scientific theories is a healthy thing to do,” said Robin White. “That’s how science progresses, but what we often hear from deniers is just plain nonsense and it demands a response.”
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but they’re not entitled to their own facts. Science is about discovering facts. It’s not about opinions or propaganda,” he said.
The Whites presented several clips of U.S. congressmens’ explanations for the existence of climate change.
For example, John Boehner, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, blames volcanic eruptions, but the Whites have statistics that show volcanoes only produce around 0.20 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Humans produce 35 gigatonnes.
Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight, blames climate change on the sun.
“It’s called sunspots,” said Rohrabacher in a 2011 webcast. “Yes, solar activity. That explains why one sees similar temperature cycles on Mars and Jupiter to the cycles that are happening on this planet. That’s why ice caps on those planets, like on ours, expand and contract. It’s the sun, stupid.” Robin White said he would like to politely inform him there are no ice caps on Jupiter.
“Alberta will not get away unaffected either,” he said. “We can look forward to a greater frequency of flooding and drought, water scarcity, more forest and grass fires, desertification in the southeast of the province, health problems and air pollution – this is what we have to look forward to with climate change.”
Alberta emits 33 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gasses. The next highest emitter is Ontario at 26 per cent while Manitoba is the lowest with only three per cent. Emissions per person are a dramatic 68 tonnes for Albertans each year, while the rest of Canada averages 22.6 tonnes.
“We owe it to our children to give reason for hope,” said Robin White.
New forms of energy can also help the economy. The development of wind farms mean jobs. Renewable energy is becoming a large job market, with southern Alberta and the college’s Wind Turbine Technician program at the forefront. In Sierra Leone, children have used solar-powered laptop computers.
Youth in Malawi have built windmills with bicycle parts and scrap metal. The Whites left the audience with a few inspirational quotes. On a smaller scale, one need only make lifestyle changes. Education is important. Challenge those that deny climate change exists.
“Don’t give up,” said Robin White. “Changing laws is even more important than changing light bulbs. Tell your leaders that this matters to you.”