What is Climate Change?

Climate change is one of the most serious global threats to our environment, our economies and our lives. But why is the Earth's climate changing? Why is it heating up?

The atmosphere is like a blanket or greenhouse, trapping heat escaping from the Earth's surface. Carbon dioxide is very effective at trapping heat, and as we burn more wood, coal, gas and oil than ever before, we release more carbon dioxide into this blanket. At the same time, we are cutting forests and changing agricultural land use, so that less carbon dioxide is returned to the soil. As the Earth's atmosphere becomes warmer, we expect temperature to rise, storms to increase, and rain and snowfall patterns to change.

The world's political leaders responded to this threat by signing an international agreement called the "Framework Convention on Climate Change" in 1992, designed to reduce the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Later, in 1997, leaders from 159 countries gathered in Japan to hammer out a more specific agreement. Known as the Kyoto Protocol, it committed Canada and other industrialized countries to cut their emissions of these greenhouse gases.

In November 1998, another global meeting produced the "Buenos Aires Action Plan," establishing deadlines to meet targets for emissions reductions.

How does Canada measure up?

Per person, Canadians are the second highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world (Natural Resources Canada, Canada's Energy Outlook 1996-2020)

• In 1995 at least 80 percent of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions came from burning coal, oil and natural gas to generate electricity and to power our factories, homes and cars. (Environment Canada)
• Canadians own more than 17 million motor vehicles, enough for one vehicle for every other man, woman and child. (Statistics Canada)
• 80 percent of Canadians commute to work by car. Only 10 percent use public transportation. (Statistics Canada)

What is Canada doing?

Canada has promised the rest of the world to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, but we are still increasing our emissions each year. With a growing population, our demand for energy, industrial products and transportation also continues to grow.

Would you like more information on climate change? Download A Guide to Kyoto: Climate Change and What it Means to Canadians (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Why should we care?

Climate change will change our future—our jobs, our local environment, our health and the way we live.

• More severe weather like heavier rain and snowfall, flooding, droughts and forest fires will disrupt our lives, and cost us more through higher taxes and raised insurance premiums.
• Changes in weather patterns will limit what we can do outdoors. Downhill and cross-country ski seasons may get a lot shorter; droughts may affect the quality of camping and hiking sites.
• Health problems like asthma, allergies and bronchitis will worsen because of higher humidity and increased mould, pollen and pollution in the air.
• Tropical infectious diseases like malaria will spread into temperate areas.
• Our employment opportunities will be affected by changes to industry.

What can you do?

The problems seem big but luckily you can help cut greenhouse gas emissions every day!

• Turn off things when not using them. By saving electricity, fossil fuels will not need to be burned to generate electricity.
• Use recycled goods—they take less energy to make than new products. Reuse items, too.
• Switch to energy efficient household technologies such as low flow showerheads, fluorescent lights, energy efficient appliances, windows and doors, and high efficiency natural gas furnaces. Promote the same practice in your school, college or workplace.
• Put on a sweater in the winter and use a fan in the summer—don't rely so much on furnaces and air conditioners to stay comfortable.
• Use major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers in early morning or late evening when energy demands are lower.
• Keep your yard natural—chemical fertilizers are made from fossil fuels and release nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. Use a push lawnmower, since gas mowers pollute and create carbon dioxide.
• Buy locally grown food, not goods shipped from afar.
• Walk, ride your bike, use public transportation or carpool.
• If have to drive, get a small, energy efficient car instead of a gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle or van. Use cleaner burning fuels such as ethanol or propane, and slow down—cars run most efficiently at 90 km/hr (Sierra Club Canada).

Links

Government

• Government of Canada: Global Climate Change
• Environment Canada Green Lane
• Natural Resources Canada: Office of Energy Efficiency
• United States Environmental Protection Agency: Global Warming

United Nations Organizations

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• World Meteological Organization: World Climate Programme (WCP)

Non-governmental Organizations and Research Institutes

• IISDnet: Climate Change
• IISD Linkages: Our Coverage of the United Nations Climate Change Negotiations
• SD Gateway: Climate Change
• Global Climate Change Information Programme
• World Resources Institute: Protecting the Atmosphere
• Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Sierra Club Canada: Protecting the Climate
• World Wildlife Fund: Campaign Climate Change

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