Craig Scott, executive director of Ecology North, says the upcoming territorial and federal elections may be the first in Canadian history to be decided by climate issues.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a time of division right now, when you look at the Alberta election you look at places in the states and around the world where fear and hate seems to be the dominant narrative in politics,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat narrative needs to change to one of hope, looking toward the younger generation to envision a future they can thrive in.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e at a crossroads for our planet right now,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.
Scott made his remarks during an April 23 panel discussion on climate change at Northern United Place. Ecology North and the NWT Chapter of the Council of Canadians organized the event to mark Earth Week.
Kimberly Fairman, executive director of the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, spoke about how Northern communities are already feeling the effects of climate change.
SA国际影视传媒淚n the NWT and in the circumpolar North, we are already seeing the impacts of climate change through changing food systems, water system impacts and biodiversity shifts,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
These changes were documented through a joint project with KSA国际影视传媒檃lemi Dene School in Ndilo, where researchers worked with elders and youth in the community to identify and document climate-related health impacts, said Fairman.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the changes they were seeing in their surroundings include an increase in ice melting due to warmer temperatures and permafrost thawing, which may contribute to diverse health and socio-cultural impacts such as winter travel safety,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Researchers worked with high school students to form adaptive strategies and solutions for these problems and Fairman stressed the importance of including youth in planning for future changes.
The growing concern around climate change is not new, said David Bob, president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour (NFTL).
SA国际影视传媒淚t has been in the media for a few decades,SA国际影视传媒� said Bob.
SA国际影视传媒淎re we ready to take steps which will lead to greater change for future generations?SA国际影视传媒�
Canada now has a target to sell 10 per cent of zero-emission vehicles by 2025 and 100 per cent zero-emission vehicles by 2040, he noted.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is time we began to look toward expansion, rather than limiting focus on preserving what exists in our federal and territorial governments,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Canada Post has the largest public fleet of vehicles in the country, said Bob, and switching them to electric power would produce a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
SA国际影视传媒淲ith the influx of electric cars, weSA国际影视传媒檒l need charging stations for these vehicles,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur provincial and territorial governments can help ease this transition by providing charging stations outside government offices.SA国际影视传媒�
Much of the eveningSA国际影视传媒檚 discussion was focused on the future, and improving the world the next generation will inherit.
Ella Kokelj, a student at Sir John Franklin High School and member of Ecology North, said having a relationship with the land is important.
SA国际影视传媒淚 love being outside,SA国际影视传媒� said Kokelj. SA国际影视传媒淭he land has always been somewhere where I feel content, somewhere I feel free and most myself.SA国际影视传媒�
But that place is in jeopardy unless those who care for it speak up, she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 worry that no one in coming generations will feel connected enough to the land to care about its future,SA国际影视传媒� said Kokelj.
SA国际影视传媒淗ow can anyone care deeply and profoundly about something that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 even influence their lives?SA国际影视传媒�
She said land-based education is important to help children establish a connection to nature.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we need,SA国际影视传媒� said Kokelj.
SA国际影视传媒淎 connection that is established that makes people care and take responsibility for the natural world.SA国际影视传媒�
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