A call for action on climate change

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/02/2025 (308 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wouldn’t it be nice — and certainly the right thing to do — if a representative of the fossil fuel industry made an announcement that went something like this:

”We acknowledge that we are in the midst of a climate crisis. We accept that climate change is the direct result of the increase in greenhouse gases, caused by the emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and their exploration and production. We have heard from the scientific community loud and clear: ideally, no more fossil fuel exploration and production should take place. Untapped reserves should remain in the ground. While we recognize that shutting everything down abruptly is unrealistic, we believe it is important to demonstrate our good faith and shared concern about global warming. Therefore, we commit to a gradual reduction in production. As a first step, we will decrease overall production by 10 per cent over the next two to three years, with a plan for further reduction in the future.”

It would be a powerful signal if the fossil fuel industry stepped forward with such a commitment, especially in the face of an undeniable climate emergency. In addition to rising temperatures, we are already seeing the impacts of climate change — more extreme weather events like wildfires, droughts, floods, glacier melt, species extinction and ocean acidification. In Manitoba, we are experiencing increased wildfire smoke from distant fires. The health toll is also significant, with 15,000 Canadians dying annually from respiratory issues linked to pollution.

It would be refreshing as well to see the fossil fuel industry shifting investments toward renewable energy sources. Take Exxon Mobil, for example — until recently, the company questioned the validity of climate change, but now, in its annual “Outlook for Energy” reports, it acknowledges the need to move toward renewable energy.

But instead of leadership, what we’re hearing is quite the opposite. In a recent article in the Globe and Mail, we learned that the fossil fuel industry is pushing for increased drilling activity, expecting a 10-year high. The industry is also seeking more regulatory and policy support from the federal government, essentially asking for fewer regulations and policies that could negatively impact fossil fuel production — like emissions caps.

In the article, Mark Scholz, the head of the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors, is quoted, saying “Hope is making a comeback in the oil patch.” He also states, “We are simply not reaching our full potential as an industry or a country,” urging the federal government to reconsider emissions caps. And Alberta Premier Danielle Smith calls the emissions cap “utter foolishness,” pushing for a doubling of oil and gas production in the province.

Let’s pause for a moment to reflect on the language being used here: hope is a term often used by climate scientists and activists advocating for urgent change to mitigate climate change. “We must do better,” is a phrase that resonates with those calling for action because we are truly running out of time. And foolishness — this word is often used to dismiss the science behind climate change, suggesting that it is not a legitimate concern. It is no surprise that even political figures like U.S. President Donald Trump have publicly stated, “I’m not a big believer in global warming.”

But if climate change is not a crisis, why are insurance companies factoring it into their policies? Why has the Bank of Canada identified climate change as a significant vulnerability to the economy? Why are cities and provinces across the country developing climate action plans to address both mitigation and adaptation?

The reality is that we may be running out of time.

If we treat the warming of our planet like a medical emergency, the analogy becomes clear. If your child’s temperature rises by just one degree, you’re concerned. If it rises by two degrees, you’re worried. And if it rises by three degrees, you take your child to the emergency room because the situation has become life-threatening. The Earth is our child, and if we don’t act now we may face a future where the damage is irreversible.

It’s time for the fossil fuel industry and governments to stop ignoring the science. The window for action is closing.

We must do better.

Scott Blyth writes from Brandon.