Climate Facts: From Crisis to Action

R&R Institute
Jun 20, 2019
2 min read

What's the deal with C02 anyway? Here's what you need to know:

C02 is a greenhouse gas which has the effect of trapping heat, and we are releasing it at least 100x faster than during the pre-industrial era.

We also know that a small increase in CO2 levels has a profound impact on the greenhouse gas effect -- trapping more heat. So, how did we think this was a good idea to dump so much of it in the thin, life-sustaining atmosphere we live in?

There's 'Eco' in Economic

95-98% of scientists agree that a significant chunk of climate change is anthropogenic -- caused by humans. While climate models are hard to predict with accuracy due to the complexity of geological systems, the increase will peak anywhere between 1.5 and 4.5 deg C (with high confidence statistically). This gives an end result ranging between pretty bad and terrible.

This discrepancy is largely due to the complexity of feedback loops that accelerate the rate of the crisis (perhaps uncontrollably). An example of this type of ‘destabilizing’ feedback loop is the loss of ice surface near the arctic due to increased temperatures, making the dark soil underneath absorb even more heat and release methane (28-36x more potent greenhouse gas than CO2).

The logic of risk mitigation assuming only the absolute best case scenario of 'pretty bad' doesn't quite cut it -- ecologically and economically. It makes economic sense to transition to a low-carbon economy, even if the best case scenario (1.5 deg C increase) climate prediction is right.

**Carbon t*x isn't a dirty word**

A carbon tax has a proven track record of accelerating the advent of cleaner technologies while reducing environmental impact. This is ironically the most conservative approach as it forces businesses to innovate cleaner solutions in order to stay competitive, while also giving money back to families (especially those who opt for cleaner products and solutions).

When voting, please vote for a party that aims to take serious climate action of not only meeting the 2030 Paris agreement, but exceeding it. It doesn't make sense to do good with the carbon tax while also supporting a pipeline project like the TMX; however, if the only other ‘likely to win’ option is someone who is doing worse (no carbon tax) -- vote for the better eco option of the two. The lawsuits and protests that ensue as well as a growing demand for cleaner energy will kill the TMX pipeline project.

For more info on how one can make a difference as an individual, please follow The Reduce and Reuse Institute @reduceandreuse_institute on Instagram as well as stay tuned for email, Facebook and website subscriptions to come shortly!