Consequences that can appear from the doubling of emission concentrations sometimes looks like an apocalyptic scenario. Yet these previsions are often based on very conservative models. Still, several problems might crop up, on a global scale and for Canada because of changing climate conditions:
.A rise in average temperatures from 1 to 3.5 °C,
.A warm-up in high latitudes that is largely superior than the global average,
.A disturbance of the rain regimes with stronger seasonal disparities, especially in the northern hemisphere,
.More frequent and larger dry spells north of the subtropical zone,
.An extension of the monsoon zone,
.More violent floods and more frequent storms (hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes),
.A reinforcement of desertification in arid and semi-arid zones,
.More notable water droughts,
.An embrittlement of several well-occupied littoral zones,
.A 150 to 550 km migration towards the north of forest ecosystems with a risk of difficult adaptations or brutal disappearances, a risk of recrudescence of infectious diseases, such as: paludism, dengue and yellow fever, all on the account of the range and reproduction period of transmission vectors,
.A rise in sea level (between 15 and 95 cm) caused by thermal dilatation and glacier melting.
Let's not forget that during the last glaciation, a huge ice sheet that spread out through Wisconsin invaded all of Canada. During that 200,000 year period that ended 20,000 years ago, when the Canadian territory was covered by over a kilometre of ice, the average annual temperature on the planet was only 4.5°C lower than what it is today. This is a good idea of the impact of temperature changes on the various ecosystems of the planet, how they can seem insignificant at first glance.
Conclusion
As you can see, the agreement that has just been signed between the government and automobile manufacturers is far from the effort needed to successfully battle the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
It has been established that if we want to stabilize the situation, we would have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80%. The Kyoto protocol, as mentioned above, is only a small step in the right direction. So, if we can't even accomplish this first step, we will compromise our very existence. This sentence might seem severe, but there isn't any other way to put it. Imagine, if we ask the manufacturers to assume only 1/8 of their responsibility in regard to Kyoto as Kyoto represents only 1/8 of the necessary action to stabilize the actual situation, I don't see how I could qualify this agreement between the government and the automobile manufacturers as responsible!
I know that the society in general, companies and individuals do not want to sacrifice their actual lifestyles. But we owe this to our future generations.
As Antoine de St-Exupéry once wrote: "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
I must say, I find nothing funny about this article. But from time to time, we have to look at things head on. Also, I know that this kind of article is unusual on a website dedicated to automobiles, and I consider the opportunity given to me to explain the connection between cars and the environment like a chance to inform its users, the curious ones and the passionate ones about the importance of the automobile on the condition of the planet.
I don't want to take away all the pleasure that you might feel about owning and using your automobile. But it is important to realize that this pleasure has a price. I simply hope that reading articles on this subject, you will come around to feel that you can still get around and have fun with your vehicle, but that there is also a way to do it with minimal impact on the environment. We only have one planet, and we have to start taking better care of it than we have in the last 2 centuries.
.A rise in average temperatures from 1 to 3.5 °C,
.A warm-up in high latitudes that is largely superior than the global average,
.A disturbance of the rain regimes with stronger seasonal disparities, especially in the northern hemisphere,
.More frequent and larger dry spells north of the subtropical zone,
.An extension of the monsoon zone,
.More violent floods and more frequent storms (hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes),
.A reinforcement of desertification in arid and semi-arid zones,
.More notable water droughts,
.An embrittlement of several well-occupied littoral zones,
.A 150 to 550 km migration towards the north of forest ecosystems with a risk of difficult adaptations or brutal disappearances, a risk of recrudescence of infectious diseases, such as: paludism, dengue and yellow fever, all on the account of the range and reproduction period of transmission vectors,
.A rise in sea level (between 15 and 95 cm) caused by thermal dilatation and glacier melting.
Let's not forget that during the last glaciation, a huge ice sheet that spread out through Wisconsin invaded all of Canada. During that 200,000 year period that ended 20,000 years ago, when the Canadian territory was covered by over a kilometre of ice, the average annual temperature on the planet was only 4.5°C lower than what it is today. This is a good idea of the impact of temperature changes on the various ecosystems of the planet, how they can seem insignificant at first glance.
Conclusion
As you can see, the agreement that has just been signed between the government and automobile manufacturers is far from the effort needed to successfully battle the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
It has been established that if we want to stabilize the situation, we would have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80%. The Kyoto protocol, as mentioned above, is only a small step in the right direction. So, if we can't even accomplish this first step, we will compromise our very existence. This sentence might seem severe, but there isn't any other way to put it. Imagine, if we ask the manufacturers to assume only 1/8 of their responsibility in regard to Kyoto as Kyoto represents only 1/8 of the necessary action to stabilize the actual situation, I don't see how I could qualify this agreement between the government and the automobile manufacturers as responsible!
I know that the society in general, companies and individuals do not want to sacrifice their actual lifestyles. But we owe this to our future generations.
As Antoine de St-Exupéry once wrote: "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
I must say, I find nothing funny about this article. But from time to time, we have to look at things head on. Also, I know that this kind of article is unusual on a website dedicated to automobiles, and I consider the opportunity given to me to explain the connection between cars and the environment like a chance to inform its users, the curious ones and the passionate ones about the importance of the automobile on the condition of the planet.
I don't want to take away all the pleasure that you might feel about owning and using your automobile. But it is important to realize that this pleasure has a price. I simply hope that reading articles on this subject, you will come around to feel that you can still get around and have fun with your vehicle, but that there is also a way to do it with minimal impact on the environment. We only have one planet, and we have to start taking better care of it than we have in the last 2 centuries.