Canada Combatting Global Warming 1

The Extent of Canada Combatting Global Warming

Bowen Zhu
565170
CGC1D8-C
Mr. Peterson
April 5, 2016

Canada Combatting Global Warming 2

Global warming is an extremely concerning problem that is getting worse as a result of

the greenhouse effect which is caused primarily through greenhouse gas emissions. Global
warming has led to various effects on the environment and the health of the planet. Sea levels are
rising as a result of global warming as large forms of ice such as glaciers and icebergs are
melting. On average, sea levels have gone up by 8 centimeters from 1992 to 2015 (KestlerDamours, 2015). The average temperature of Canada has also gone up by more than 1.3C from
1948 to 2006; Canadas average winter temperatures has risen 3.2C from 1948 to 2013
(Paperny, 2013). In addition, glaciers are greatly retreating as their sizes are decreasing with the
melting of ice. The Athabasca Glacier located in Jasper National Park, Alberta has retreated
1.5 kilometers in 2014 according to markers dating back to 1890 (The Canadian Press, 2014).
The effects of global warming will continue to worsen if no action is done.
The extent in which Canada is lessening global warming is currently not enough. Global
warming is a crucial problem to solve in order to maintain a habitable world yet not enough
attention has been paid to it and not enough action has been done. Individuals, businesses and the
government all need to increase efforts to combat global warming. The government must
develop effective plans in order to successfully meet its emissions reduction targets. In addition,
the majority of businesses and individuals are not actively looking for ways to reduce their
energy consumption and their greenhouse gas emissions. Action has started to occur, but Canada
will need to increase its efforts in combatting global warming from the government, to
businesses, to individuals. Canada must act in lessening global warming in order to maintain a
habitable and sustainable planet. The country is starting to take action, but it is currently not
enough to create a sizable impact in combatting global warming. It is crucial that the entirety of

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Canada increases their efforts in lessening global warming before the effects of global warming
reach catastrophic levels.

One of the main concerns is Canadas lack of action in the past and that Canada has not
been developing effective plans to lessen global warming. The government of Canada had joined
the Kyoto Protocol and the goal was to reduce Canadas greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent
from 1990 levels to 2012. However, Canada withdrew from the Protocol in 2011 with an
emission level that was more than 20 percent above 1990 levels. Canada has instead set a much
weaker target of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 (Wingrove, 2014). The country will need
to put in much more work to reach this target but some action has started.
Canada has started to invest into methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada
has developed and deployed carbon capture and storage projects such as the 2014 project in
Saskatchewan. This technology takes the carbon dioxide from gases produced in industrial
processes and then transports it to store into carefully selected rock formation several kilometers
beneath Earths surface (CO2 Capture and Storage, 2015). This is an effective and efficient
way to reduce emissions. In comparison to other technical options for reducing CO2 emissions
such as mineral carbonation, 10-40% more energy is needed to reduce the same amount of CO2
emissions. Carbon capture and storage is quite effective as it mitigates the amount of CO2
emitted by capturing CO2 from gases produced from industrial processes which account for 4060% of CO2 emissions in Canada (Quick Facts on CO2 Capture & Storage in Canada, 2013).
A carbon capture and storage project in Saskatchewan, 2014, reduced GHG emissions from
nearby heavy industries by 1 million tons per year equivalent to taking 250 000 cars off the
roads (Collins, 2014). This is a step into the right direction for Canada. However, it is quite an

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expensive method and while it does reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel usage,
other methods are needed in order to shift away from the dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition, regulations have been placed and strengthened such as the Renewable Fuels
Regulations in 2010 regarding vehicles and fuel emissions. Further fuel emissions standards
introduced in 2014 are said to ensure that by 2025, cars will use 50% less fuel than 2008 models
by enforcing higher quality fuel production (Stastna, 2015). In 2010, the Renewable Fuels
Regulations were implemented which is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
around 2 million tons per year by requiring fuel producers to have at least 5% renewable content
of the volume within manufactured fuel (Federal Renewable Fuels Regulations: Overview,
2015). Although the government of Canada has not met its reduction targets in the past, some
effort and action is currently being taken in order to reach future targets. These actions are small
steps that lessen global warming to some extent, but further action needs to be taken in order to
shift from a fossil fuel dependent country to one that is based upon renewable energy as fossil
fuels are one of the main sources of CO2 emissions.
Several businesses in Canada have also started to take action against global warming;
however, the majority of businesses do not have firm plans to lessen global warming. Most small
businesses are focused on lessening their impact on global warming. Businesses that are trying to
lessen global warming do not have long term plans that extend over 2030 (Moodie, 2015). More
businesses will need to take action in order to effectively combat global warming.
Some businesses are focused on marketing environmentally friendly products. For
example, Tesla a company that is developing and marketing electric cars is promoting a new
model of cars (electric) that do not use any fossil fuels or emit any greenhouse gases. This targets
the transportation sector, which accounts for about 33% of carbon emissions in the atmosphere
(Bomford, 2013). In addition, a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a 20-mile electric range could save

Canada Combatting Global Warming 5

up to 1150 litres of gasoline. The new model of cars not only saves energy/gasoline, it could
avoid up to 2700 kg of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing pollution from the vehicle by 38%
(Environmental Benefits, n.d.). Electric cars is a new and interesting idea, but further
development and marketing needs to be done in order to allow it to be a standard part of our
society.
In addition to companies that are marketing environmentally friendly products,
businesses such as Starbucks, are also moving towards a more eco-friendly approach. Starbucks,
a major coffee chain, is focusing on renewable energy, energy conservation, and collaboration
and advocacy. More than 80% of Starbucks GHG emissions are from the energy use in stores,
office, and manufacturing plants which have started to been reduced through the use of
renewable energy or more efficient products such as CFL lightbulbs which use 75% less energy
than incandescent bulbs (Global Responsibility Report Goals & Progress, 2014). In 2006,
Starbucks increased its wind power to 20% of the total energy usage which reduced its CO2
emissions by 62 000 tons in the span of approximately a year (Starbucks Climate Change and
Ecological Footprint, n.d.). This is a great start to an environmentally friendly approach for a
major business like Starbucks. A few businesses have started to take action against global
warming but the majority of businesses do not have it as a priority. It is important that enough
businesses combine their efforts in combatting global warming in order to create a sizable
impact.

Global warming is not only the issue of the government and businesses, but also for the
citizens. Each individual has a role to play in lessening global warming but not enough people
are actively seeking ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In 2013, the average

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greenhouse gas emission per person was 20.7 tonnes of CO2 which is an extremely large amount
when

considering

the

population

of

Canada

(Environmental

Indicators,

n.d.).

Several simple changes in an individuals lifestyle help in lessening greenhouse gas

emissions such as minimizing the use of hot water by using cold water whenever possible such
as when washing clothes. Up to 90% of the energy consumed by a washing machine can be
saved by switching from hot/warm water to cold water as heating water consumes most of the
energy used by the machine (Water heaters, 2016). Switching from using hot/warm water to
cold water eliminates more than 225 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions annually in most
households (Efficient Laundry: Wash Clothes in Cold Water to Save Energy, 2011). However,
this is an extremely small difference when compared to the average emission of 20.7 tonnes per
person.
Another simple strategy is to avoid idling vehicles as idling takes up fuel and energy
without any distance travelled from it. For an average vehicle with a 3-litre engine, every 10
minutes of idling costs 300 milliliters in wasted fuel. For every litre of gasoline saved, 2.3
kilograms of CO2 is kept out of the atmosphere. If ten vehicles were to avoid idling for 10
minutes each, it would add up to around 6.9kg of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere (Idling
Wastes Fuel and Money, n.d.). However, similar to the previous strategy, this is a small
difference when compared to the average emission of 20.7 tonnes of CO2 per person. Individuals
can each play a role in lessening global warming and it is necessary that each person is striving
to find methods to reduce their impact. Although each strategy does not create a large difference
on its own, the difference grows exponentially when multiple strategies are used by every person
in Canada but simply not enough people are concerned enough with global warming right now.

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In order to effectively combat global warming, Canada must take more action as an entire
country from individuals to businesses to government. The majority of individuals in Canada
are not majorly concerned with global warming (Weber, 2015), yet even a small change in ones
lifestyle such as using energy efficient appliances can add up to a large difference. Businesses
also play a key role in reducing global warming but only a small amount of businesses are
actively looking for ways to lower global warming. The government will need to set further
plans and investments to manage global warming as a whole. The country is starting to shift onto
the right track, but much more effort is needed in order to effectively lessen global warming. It is
only through the combined efforts of the entire country that Canada can aid in stopping a
catastrophe.
Global warming has become a concern for countries around the world, yet Canada is still
lacking in efforts of reducing it in comparison to a similar country in terms of living standards
such as Denmark. Both countries have fairly high living standards and their Human
Development Index rankings are both near the top. However, Denmark is much more ahead of
Canada in terms of combatting global warming. The use of renewable energy in Denmark has
grown exponentially over the years. In Canada, renewable energy accounts for 17% of Canadas
total energy supply yet wind power in Denmark accounts for 42.1% of Denmarks energy needs
(Jeppesen, 2014). In 2013, a 400-megawatt offshore wind farm was inaugurated in off a Danish
island Denmark is still increasing their efforts and they are tapping into a large amount of new
possibilities while Canada is not striving to reach higher renewable energy usages (Treacy,
2016).
Global warming will continue to be prominent in the future. The average temperature of
Canada is predicted to reach 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2050 which will

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lead to several severe consequences. Reports say that by the 2050s, the warmer weather on
forests will cost the lumber industry between $2 billion and $17 billion a year as a result of forest
fires, changes in growth, etc. In addition, global warming in Toronto is estimated to lead to 5-10
additional deaths per 100 000 people annually by 2050 along with an increase of 3-8 million
dollars cost in city hospitals (Scoffield, 2011). Global warming will lead to severe consequences
on both the environment and the economy of Canada in the future if large actions are not taken to
lessen it.

References
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Canada Combatting Global Warming 10

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