On Thin Ice
TVO's The Water Brothers visited IISD Experimental Lakes Area to learn what we are doing to track the effect of climate change on our fresh water.
TVO's The Water Brothers visited IISD Experimental Lakes Area to learn what we are doing to track the effect of climate change on our fresh water.
"And a recent study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment predicted that automation was likely to replace 40 to 80 percent of workers at mines."
"We need to plan strategically in this resource-rich region of our province to make intelligent and sustainable decisions that protect our water and natural resources, bolster the economy and protect people’s well-being as the North adapts to these economic and climatic uncertainties."
"Canadian cities need to take action to prepare for climate change impacts. It’s a smart investment. It’s good urban policy. And, perhaps less obviously, it’s strategic for business development."
"We're worried about it because of the potential effects [microplastics] can have on our ecosystems," said Mike Rennie, a senior author on the study and research fellow with the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development.
"Under Canadian law the polluter is supposed to pay, but if there is no polluter [because] they've gone then taxpayers have to pick up the bill for doing the cleanup," said Scott Vaughan, president of the International Institute for Sustainable Development and former federal commissioner of the environment.
"In an increasingly isolationist world, with governmental polices around the globe turning inward, we cannot forget that nations must work together if we are to effectively tackle our most pressing environmental crises. Climate change, pollutants, chemicals—none of these respect national borders as they travel freely between our countries, wreaking whatever havoc they may."
Michael Paterson, a senior research scientist with IISD Experimental Lakes Area, said the days when scientific research was widely accepted based on data are on the wane. "Sadly, when you look at what is going on in the world, that's not the case," Paterson said. "Support for science is diminishing everywhere. If we don't speak out, leaders forget."
"UK prime minister Theresa May visited Riyadh in early April with the intent of “deepening a true strategic partnership” and “helping to wean Saudi Arabia off oil dependency”. That’s rich. In the North Sea oil fields, Britain is propping up a dying industry. Multi-billion tax breaks, supplemented in the 2017 budget, are given at the expense of diversifying the economy towards lower-carbon energy sources."
Jason Potts, a senior associate with the International Institute for Sustainable Development located in Montreal, said the question of "are these things actually working?" remains a difficult one to answer. "We're attempting to answer this question. My message to the world is we need more impact research, and more data. Better data," he said.