ECOCLUB — Climate change, global warming, and the state of our environment seem like a hopeless cause. Media focuses on our rising temperatures and the ticking clock counting down until the moment the effects of climate change become irreversible. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom: many companies and entrepreneurs have been working hard at saving our planet.
Most projects focus on funding and taking carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas emitted by us humans. For example, in Iceland, a company called Climeworks created the world’s largest carbon capture plant (see Image 1). The facility, named Orca, can capture the equivalent of annual carbon emissions from 790 cars and store it underground, where it will turn to stone as it cools. Though this is only a small part of what’s needed, an engineering researcher from the company believes that they will become commonplace in the years to come (Panko, 2021). In addition, the owner of Patagonia, an apparel company, is donating his entire company, worth $3 billion to non-profit organizations and a climate-focused trust. The company owner also promises to donate future income from the business to protect the planet (Kolodny, 2022). These funds help toward initiatives to mitigate global warming.
At the provincial and federal levels, Ontario and Canada are also making changes and creating goals to protect the future of our environment. Since 2005, Ontario’s carbon emissions have dropped 22% (Climate Change, 2021). Canada is part of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change. Though we are not on track to meet the 30% reduction of emissions compared to 2005, it’s still possible, meaning now is the crucial time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet that goal (Canada’s climate plans and targets, 2022).
However, it’s important to remember that we are not yet out of the woods regarding our climate. While new innovations are being introduced, some previously used innovations are proving to have more flaws than initially thought. For example, solar panels are a great renewable energy source. Still, they require immense stretches of land, use lots of water and hazardous materials for manufacturing, and produce emissions during manufacturing and transportation (Environmental Impacts of Solar Power, 2013). Furthermore, aside from innovations being filled with flaws, so are our country’s emission plans, as the climate gets put on the bottom of the priorities list, below building oil pipelines. Aside from simply taking priority over the climate, pipelines also pose risks to the environment, such as leaking hazardous materials, relocating communities (especially Indigeous communities) to make way to the pipeline, while disrupting ecosystems in the process (Cruickshank, 2021).
All hope is not lost, but it’s crucial to never stop being loud about the importance of our environment. Attend climate strikes, participate in climate conversations, and do your part in reducing carbon emissions.
Works Cited
“Canada's climate plans and targets.” Canada.ca, 29 March 2022, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html. Accessed 21 October 2022.
“Climate change | ontario.ca.” Ontario.ca, 30 October 2015, https://www.ontario.ca/page/climate-change. Accessed 21 October 2022.
Cruickshank, Ainslie, et al. “Trans Mountain, Coastal GasLink, Keystone XL: where things stand with Canada’s pipeline projects.” The Narwhal, https://thenarwhal.ca/trans-mountain-coastal-gaslink-keystone-xl-canada-pipeline-projects/. Accessed 21 October 2022.
“Environmental Impacts of Solar Power.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 5 March 2013, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/environmental-impacts-solar-power. Accessed 21 October 2022.
“Fact Sheet.” Fact Sheet, https://renewablesassociation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Recycling-Solar-Panels-English-Web.pdf. Accessed 21 October 2022.
Panko, Ben. “World's Largest Carbon Capture Plant Opens in Iceland.” Smithsonian Magazine, 9 September 2021, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-largest-carbon-capture-plant-opens-iceland-180978620/. Accessed 21 October 2022.
“Patagonia founder just donated the entire company, worth $3 billion, to fight climate change.” CNBC, 14 September 2022, https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/14/patagonia-founder-donates-entire-company-to-fight-climate-change.html. Accessed 21 October 2022.
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