CH 13THE ENVIRONMENT:

OUR CHALLENGES& RESPONSIBILITIES

Alberta Tar Sands

Soils

POPULATION GROWTH: SUSTAINABILITY

EXPERTS = 2-50 BILLION??

FEEDING PEOPLE70% of water = agriculture1500 liters = 1 kg of wheat1000 liters = 1 l of milk16000liters = 1 kg of beef

PLUS – Deforestation - transportation - overgrazing / dust bowl - urbanization - Acid Rain

Urbanization / ALR

Co2 = Oxygen

SoilFishMoisture

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTFARMINGOffshore Farming / Factory Farms - Genetically Altered Seeds - Needed for growing populationsHerbicides & Pesticides - Ground Water - Birth Defects / Cancer???? Organic Farming - 90% of Canadian organics = Imported - Regulations – What is organic?100 Mile Challenges - local food reduces CO2 Emissions

INTERNATIONAL EFFORTSEarth Summit - 1992 - Reduce resource consumption - Agenda 21 – Protect & Sustainable

- No Lead Gasoline - No Radioactive Waste- Replace Fossil Fuels- WaterWas it successful????

“Locavores”

THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY• B.C. agriculture.

– Grain, cattle, dairy, fruit, ginseng, wineries, tomatoes,

cucumbers, & organics.

• Agricultural Land Reserves.• Fraser Valley.• Okanagan.

• Multinational Corporations

FISHERIES• B.C. Salmon

– 60% of total fish on west coast.– Sockeye, pink, coho, chum, & spring.

• Dwindling stocks.– Overfishing, spawning, habitat, pollution.– Quotas cut / 2010 record Runs??

• Sustainability Issues.– First Nations.– USA – Alaska.– Fish Farming

- ATLANTIC COD– - 1992 Moratorium

FORESTRY• Sustained Yield Mgt.

– Allowable annual cut

• Clear-cut vs. Selective Logging.

• Replanting/silviculture.• Environmental

– Ecosystems• Fish & wildlife.• Watersheds.

• Ecotourism. • Biodiversity / Co2 Production

A B C

Clear-cut logging vs. Selective Logging

Replanting &Silviculture(See animation)

PROTECTING B.C. FORESTS• Biodiversity • Co2 Removal• Protected Areas Strategy (PAS)

– 12% of Prov. Lands

• Watersheds• Great Bear Rainforest (Spirit Bear)

WATER FACTS• 2.5% of world’s water is fresh• 70% = Ice Caps / Glaciers• 25% = Groundwater• 0.3% = Lakes & Rivers• Surface & Ground water use has

trippled over last 50 years.

THREATS TO OUR WATER-Ice caps melting.-Increasing Population-Increasing SOL-Pollution – wastewater / sewage-Over use of Aquifers

WATERCanada uses 343 litres per day per

person. China uses 86 litres.Uses include:

- human consumption.- irrigation.- transportation.- recreation.-hydroelectricity.- waste dumps.

Canada has already established hydroelectric deals with the USA.

The USA tried to sue Canada when we refused to sell water to them.They felt it went against NAFTA. (Are we losing control??)

Should Canada sell water like other resources???

US water shortage ideas => reroute the Columbia River, icebergs from the north, desalination. Decided on CONSERVATION.

VegasGrey Water

THE OZONE LAYER TROPOSPHEREGases that regulate temperature & Block UV rays (Skin Cancer).

CFCs are destroying this layer

MONTREAL PROTOCOL-No CFCs by 2000 – By 2010 97% gone.-CFCs replaced by HCFC – Phase out by 2030.- - If done 100 years to rebuild ozone.

GREENHOUSE GASES-CO2, Methane, etc. trap heat in atmosphere.-Linked to Global Warming-Canada = 7th in world for carbon emissions.

- Alberta Tar Sands – 5% of Can. Total (rising)

GLOBAL WARMING-CO2 in atmosphere up 30% since Ind. Rev.-Temperature up .74* C in 100 yrs.-Up .2* C every 10 yrs.

Are present regulations cutting it!!!???

WHY CARE?“Serious and irreversible changes

due to human activity”Arctic Ice MeltSea Levels Rising

Kelowna - 2009

Drought / Fires / Humans

Mountain Pine Beetle

Floods & Monsoons

Ocean CurrentsChanging Weather

POPULATION & ENVIRONMENT

The Georgia Basin makes up 2.7% of B.C.’stotal area but accounts for 50% of its population.

B.C.’s population has shifted from interior to lower mainland.

ISSUES: - Loss of jobs in interior.

- urban sprawl.

- pollution.

- lack of water.

- sewage.

- loss of habitat.

- cost of living.

- decaying ‘inner core’.

- crime rates.

TAKING ACTION

KYOTO 1997Set average GHG emission targets of 5% of 1990 levels by 2012 (Canada = 6%)USA did not sign.Canada has not met these goals. - Provinces not on board - Harper set his own goals but

continues to have worst record of G8 Nations.

FAILURE??????

1992 EARTH SUMMIT – BRAZILLeaders could not agree on solutions toGHG concentrations.Led to Kyoto.

BALI ROAD MAP 2007New timeline & goals set out.Each country to take “Nationally Appropriate Steps.” STRONG ENOUGH?????

COPENHAGEN 2009Again tried to finalize an agreement.Developing Nations (China / India) felt Developed nations shouldn’t prevent their progress!!! India trying to increase SOL Obama offered $30 Billion to developing nations to lower emissions.Other nations felt unfair & did not pass

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCESPROS / CONSWIND

SOLAR

HYDRO DAMS

RUN OF RIVER

TIDAL

GEOTHERMAL

MAKING A DIFFERENCE