Can we talk?

As it becomes harder to avoid seeing how climate change is affecting our daily lives, there is more interest in exploring the causes and workable solutions, and more people wanting to talk about it.

Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora has begun venturing into additional territory by going out to interact with community groups to talk about climate change, and by hosting a market tent at both Newmarket and Aurora farmers markets in September.

As it becomes harder to avoid seeing how climate change is affecting our daily lives, there is more interest in exploring the causes and workable solutions, and more people wanting to talk about it.

In a survey provided at those events we asked people to choose their fears and hopes about climate change from among a number of options. There was an enthusiastic response from many who were eager to engage, and to share additional comments. Wildfire, drought and extreme heat topped the list of climate fears, while leading causes for hope were solar energy, scientists and local progress.

Perhaps not surprisingly, politicians received the fewest votes for a source of hope! Details of these responses will be provided on our website.

Energy, housing, health care, transportation, and food security are all top of mind for Canadians. Linking those concerns to a changing climate is one way of reaching an understanding of why it is important to phase out fossil fuels, and turn toward the enormous potential of clean, renewable, sustainable resources to transform our economy and our lives.

When we sit down with a group of people to discuss climate change, we find that we can learn from each other. By connecting the dots that lead from burning oil and gas to rising greenhouse gas pollution, all the way to increased costs of everything including health care, food, housing, and insurance premiums, we see that there is a need for open, frank discussion.

Through conversations fuelled by awareness and shared action, we signal to leaders, big business, and communities our desire for meaningful action on climate change. Together we can counteract misinformation, and increase our understanding and our resilience.

We can learn from other countries that are surging ahead to a clean energy future. The Environmental Defense Fund in 2024 put out a list of the top 10 countries leading the way in clean energy technologies. So why isn’t Canada on that list, with our abundant resources in solar and wind power?

Denmark leads with 67 per cent of its power derived from wind and solar. Wind power alone providing 54 per cent. China is showing the way with a steady transition from reliance on fossil fuels to rapidly increasing use of solar and wind energy.

Reducing, and ultimately ending our reliance on fossil fuels will lead to healthier, more secure lives, so let’s not keep kicking the climate crisis down the road, because we are almost out of pavement. The prospect of stranded assets is a major concern for the fossil fuel industry.

Investments in mining and oil drilling are done with a long-term view and are not expected to break even and become profitable for decades. This is one reason oil and gas companies lobby hard against any attempts by the government to put a cap on emissions. They would have us believe that future generations will develop some means of reducing the greenhouse gases we have added to our finite atmosphere.

The wind and the sun are free, advances in battery storage are moving ahead fast, so putting the burden on the shoulders of youth is not acceptable. We must act now.

Change begins with talking, but it is what we do after the conversation that drives real action.

Canada could become a superpower in clean energy, and a beacon of hope in a warming world, showing the way to a brighter future. Getting together to talk about it is one way to begin. Drop us a line if your community or school group would like to start a conversation — we are listening.

Read this article on Newmarket Today!