The provincial Liberals have produced yet another chapter in their living breathing “Way Forward” bible this time on climate change and it’s scary.
We now know, unqualified to a 10th of a degree, what the temperature rise will be by mid-century in every part of the province.
On the NE Avalon temps will be about where Halifax is now; with sustainable infrastructure, as promised, I don’t see a problem.
What I am interested in knowing is will my great, great grandchildren enjoy a warming of the wind chill, or will the polar vortex get more severe? What will the ambient temperature be? What about the world’s four jet streams — are they all slowing and is it proportionate? What will be their average speed at mid-century? Will ocean currents speed up or slow down?
The document introduces a slew of new green programs.
Where will the funding come from? We currently can’t afford a truss for a ruptured louse.
Sorry. I forgot. We will be rolling in dough in the new green economy. The Bank of Canada says that the Carbon Tax will make Canada uncompetitive, but alas, the revenue from “sustainable environmental technologies” alone will cure all our financial woes.
Is climate change real? They say it is, but we have no history of geological significance. One century of half decent, world-wide climate history compared to the growth rings of trees of the previous century, and core samples of ice from the Artic can make a very questionable trend. A lot of what we know is conventional thinking, for now.
There are obvious significant changes in the world. In 1800 there was a population of approximately one billion, today roughly seven billion. Add the warm-blooded animals, active volcanos, etc., and there has to be the equivalent of 10 billion heat sources on the planet — It has to be warming from the composting poop alone.
“The Way Forward” mentions de-forestation as a cause of climate change — they want to “enhance carbon sequestration.”
I love that thought, but do they have an inventory of the numerous clear-cut areas in the province, and a plan for re-forestation? There have been millions of board feet of lumber cut and nothing but a mess left behind. So, some would feed the moose … that contributes to sustainable tourism.
The government talks about electric vehicles (EVs) and the effective reduction in C02 emissions. They have some kind of silly consultant’s report saying it will be a big demand for Muskrat Falls power, and they have to spend piles of money on charging stations.
That is an entrepreneurial function for risk takers.
Hotels, restaurants, service stations, etc., that want the business of the few EVs on the road — they will step up and provide the service. Politicians, please don’t burn tax money, borrowed or otherwise, on that.
The growth in market share of EVs to date has fallen far short of the dreamer’s expectations. Worldwide it is under three per cent. The U.S. forecast for 2018 was 1.75 per cent. Even General Motors has gotten stung by the hype. After selling only 20,000 Volt models (2018) and losing a small fortune, it has cancelled the model.
The federal government predicted there would be 500,000 EVs in Canada by now — we are barely at 100,000 and virtually all in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
Revolutionary advances in electric storage technology is required to make EVs go vertical in demand. We are currently at the cassette tape, 8-track, black and white TV stage of development.
Hold off, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Don’t get burned by the hype.
Insulate your homes to the maximum possible. Upgrade your heating systems for best economic efficiency. Cut back your idling. Buy a smaller second car. The time to give serious attention to EVs is when they are as good or better than conventional vehicles.
Wouldn’t it be smart for government to spend our hard-earned tax dollars on real achievable actions, not pie in the sky, as reflected in the rhetoric of sustainability spouted throughout “the Way Forward” plan.
Jim Radford
Salmonier line
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