In this essay I will be going over the role that Canada plays in contributing to global warming, how it is affected by the impacts of climate change, and what policies they are inputting to reduce their levels of emissions, as well as how they are adapting. I have chosen Canada because it is in close relation with the United States, and it is also their largest trading partners. Some Canadian policies toward climate change and global warming are strong but there may be more that they can do to further boost their success in reducing it.
Canada is in North America and is home to about 36.95 million people (“Canada Population 2018,” 2018). Canada is the second largest country, in area, and the largest North American country. The boarder that is shared between the United States and Canada is the longest land boarder in the world. The Canadian economy has three types of industries, service, manufacturing and natural resources. The service industry helps to provide thousands of jobs in education, banking, tourism, health care, etc. Now, more than 75% of workers in Canada hold positions within the service industry (“Canada’s Economy,” 2012). The manufacturing industry produces products to sell, not only in Canada, but around the world as well. The natural recourses in Canada hold a large percentage of exports and come from forestry, mining, energy, finishing, etc. Many economies still depend on their natural resources. 1 in 7 people live in poverty in Canada, that’s about 4.9 million people. Between 1980 and 2005, the average earnings for the poor dropped by 20% (“Canada Without Poverty,” 2018).
From 1990 to 2016, greenhouse gas emissions fluctuated from 600 megatonnes (Mt) to 704 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. A recent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions was driven by reduction from the electricity sector (“Greenhouse gas emissions,” 2018). It has been noted that by 2016 the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions was the oil and gas sector. This sector accounts for 26% of national emissions. From 1990 to 2016 this sector increased by 70%, 107 megatonnes to 183 megatonnes. This increase was due to the production of crude oil and the oil sands industry, a huge energy source for Canada that is obtained by mining and drilling. The second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses comes from the transportation sector. This sector accounts for about 25% of total emissions. From 1990 to 2016 this sector increased by 42% because of freight and passenger light trucks. Together, these sectors make up 50% of total emissions. Other sectors, such as, waste, electricity, agriculture, etc. accounted for about 6% and 12% (“GHG emissions by sector,” 2018). Out of China, the United States, European Nation, India, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada and Mexico, Canada ranks 9th out of 10. Canada, in 2013, emitted 1.6% of global emissions. This includes energy and non-energy related resources (“GHG emissions by sector,” 2018).
Canada is known to be very cool and sunny and, in the winter, it collects an average snowfall. Due to climate change that description has quickly changed. Climate change has affected the arctic, seas level and has caused extreme weather. The melting of sea ice in the Arctic disrupts circulation within the ocean and, of course, changes the overall climate. Canada has been experiencing an increase in wildfires, droughts and floods. Overall Canada has become warmer and wetter but there has been a shift in the distribution of rain, snow and ice. An example to showcase these devasting circumstances is the Fort McMurray wildfire that occurred in 2016 in Alberta, Canada. One of the nation’s largest wildfire evacuation of more than 88,000 people. More than 2,400 homes and buildings were burned, which led to an estimated cost of 9.9 billion dollars for repairs and rebuilding. The minister of Canada, Catherine McKenna, spoke out to say, “From 1983 to 2004, insurance claims in Canada from severe-weather events totaled almost $400 million a year. In the past decade alone, that amount tripled to more than $1 billion a year. Climate change is expected to cost Canada’s economy $5 billion a year by 2020, and as much as $43 billion a year by 2050. Inaction is simply not an option” (“How is Climate Change,” 2018). Another effect of climate change in Canada is the rising of sea levels. Eight of Canada’s provinces and three of their territory's boarder ocean waters, which means that major areas and cities are in the wake of sea level rise. With oceans rising and Antarctic ice melting; the Minister of Canada raises concern. Along with the two problems mentioned earlier, there’s also the increase of storms, all of these issues combined could lead to flooding all over the country.
Canada has been working to reduce greenhouse gases and climate change. Based on the Paris Agreement made by Canada and 194 other countries in 2015, they are fighting to limit the global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius, as well as limit increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius (“GHG emissions by sector,” 2018). In order to reduce emissions, Canada is planning to take another look at ways they can become more energy efficient, while also saving money. They hope to repurpose waste as fuels, build an integrated electricity system and others. A big issue that Canada wishes to solve is short lived climate pollutants. These are climate forcers that remain for a shorter time than longer climate pollutants, they are harmful to the air and can heat the atmosphere a thousand times more than carbon dioxide. These pollutants include methane and black carbon. The Environment and Climate Change Canada has come up with a plan to reduce these pollutants. First, they will work to enhance domestic mitigation. Second, they will broaden the understanding through science and communication. Third, they will build partnerships internationally. Fourth, they will coordinate Canada’s government. And lastly, they will collaborate with new partners (“Actions to reduce,” 2018). Canada has their eyes set on many more projects than just those listed above, it's only a matter of working towards the finish line.
Although, Canada plays some role in contributing to global warming, as does everyone, they have input many polices and projects to help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases going out, as well as efforts to slow climate change. I think that every country contributes to global warming, obviously. It’s almost inevitable when it comes to having the perfect, most pure world with the cleanest air, although that is the dream. I believe that as long as every country is doing their own part to help, they will be able to reduce the amount of pollutants and toxins going into the air and oceans. Climate change is a sad truth that we as humans caused and at this point there's very little we can do to completely fix it, all we can do now is try to prevent it from worsening but even that is a long shot. It also makes it harder to “fix” when not everyone believes in climate change and the harmful impacts it has on our environment. Climate change is not a myth, there is scientific evidence to prove it.