Scientists are more certain than ever that human activity – in particular the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation – is causing climate change, according to the recently-released report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The David Suzuki Foundation is calling on all Canadians to support action on climate change as the report also showed that it is possible to prevent the most serious risks of climate change – but the window of opportunity is closing and the response needs to be more urgent and far-reaching.
"This year in Canada, we experienced numerous extreme weather events, such as the floods in Calgary and Toronto," said David Suzuki Foundation science and policy manager Ian Bruce.
"This shows how vulnerable our communities are if climate change is allowed to intensify. The IPCC report suggests that if we continue with business as usual in terms of rising carbon emissions, we will become even more vulnerable. But the report says we still have a choice; we can act to reverse the trend in emissions growth."
"If you were 95 per cent certain your house was at risk of catching fire, and if there was something you could do to prevent it, you would do it," Bruce said.
The current rising global emission trajectory, mainly from overuse of fossil fuels, is dangerous as this is more likely to cause more dramatic temperature increases and extreme weather events in the future. The global average temperature has already risen almost one degree celsius since 1901.
"This may not seem like much, but it is," Bruce said. "Keep in mind that there is only a five degree difference between the Ice Age and our current climate, which can be likened to Goldilocks conditions – just right for human habitation, not too hot and not too cold."
"Our parents' generation didn't know about the risk of global warming and climate change, but we do," Bruce said. "It's unfair to leave this problem to our children and grandchildren to deal with the dire consequences."