The way forward on the climate crisis

There is a clear way forward for solving the climate change dilemma if we have time before the crisis reaches a tipping point. That could occur any time within the next two decades unless greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced. Geoff Strong was nominated this year for the prestigious Patterson Medal from Environment and Climate Change Canada. Photograph courtesy of Geoff Strong Last week, we outlined why 10 common mitigation solutions for addressing the climate crisis would not work—like planting billions of trees, a carbon tax, or carbon capture and storage—and that any suggestion that allows carbon emissions to continue unabated permits failure. There are two essential objectives to mitigating the climate crisis: one, reducing carbon emissions and air pollutants to near-zero; and two, reducing existing atmospheric carbon dioxide from present 427 parts per million to pre-industrial levels near 300 ppm. The logical way forward is through renewable clean energy to satisfy increased demands for electricity as fossil fuels are phased out. It should be carried out at local (municipal) scales in microgrids. These involve using more resources, but mostly for one-time set-ups of renewable clean energy, and would draw resources away from much heavier demands by fossil fuel industries in the same timeframe. It is important that renewable components be manufactured to be at least 95 per cent recyclable, which is now possible, ensuring resources for future generations. Dr. Richard van der Jagt is an adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa. Photograph courtesy of Richard van der Jagt Nature provides the energy required to accomplish the two objectives through several types of clean, renewable energy, steering us away from global catastrophe: solar, wind, small ‘run-of-river’ hydroelectric, geothermal energy, and ocean waves and currents. All have been harnessed for small projects for centuries; no new technologies are required, and the energy is sourced 100 per cent free from the sun. Renewable energy microgrids for new public or commercial developments can be mandated by municipal or county governments. They are best initiated at local scales, ignoring fossil fuels, and allowing market forces to dictate reductions in fossil fuel ‘demand.’ A gradual conversion to renewable energy would occur as industries recognize the huge cost savings. A mixture of two or more types in each microgrid ensures energy security, while later linking to major grids offers additional mutual security with other microgrids. The remaining problem is convincing governments not to lead renewable energy development, but to be fully onside. Governments first need to stop all fossil fuel subsidies for it makes little sense to be supporting fossil fuels while simultaneously trying to reduce carbon emissions as Canada has been attempting. The federal government supports fossil fuels through subsidies more than 14 times as much as provided for renewable energy. The energy conversion to renewables also assumes that: governments encourage other industries to convert to renewables; federal and provincial governments work together to upgrade the major electric grids, favouring west-east over north-south grids to provide mutual energy security between provinces; eventually most transportation will be electric; and cross-training courses will be arranged for workers switching from fossil fuel jobs into renewable energy. We believe support of renewable energy by the government as outlined here is the correct process to achieve this. This parallels the aim of the proposed Climate Aligned Finance Act, which was sponsored by Senator Rosa Galvez and is being studied at a Senate committee. Bill S-243 is supported by 120 organizations, and aims to “increase transparency and implement accountability while protecting the finance system from climate risks and aligning finances with our national and international climate commitments,” as Galvez said during her speech in the Red Chamber introducing the bill in April 2022. The way forward on the climate crisis must be addressed urgently and as efficiently as possible for the health and survival of the generations that follow us. Geoff Strong is a retired atmospheric/climate scientist and novelist in Cowichan Bay, B.C. He has dedicated more than 60 years to environmental issues, and has been nominated this year for the prestigious Patterson Medal from Environment and Climate Change Canada. Richard van der Jagt is a retired hematologist/oncologist with a longstanding research interest on the effects of the environment on health. He is an adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa. The Hill Times

The way forward on the climate crisis

Renewable energy microgrids are best initiated at local scales, ignoring fossil fuels, and allowing market forces to dictate reductions in fossil fuel demand.

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The way forward on the climate crisis

Renewable energy microgrids are best initiated at local scales, ignoring fossil fuels, and allowing market forces to dictate reductions in fossil fuel demand.

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