I had a good chat the other night with a family member decrying the effect wind turbines would have on the shoreline of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada.
NIMBY
“It’s not that I’m against the technology, it’s good. Just put it in the hills or somewhere else far away.”
I explain that the wind turbines need to be built where the wind is and that large lakes produce daily temperature changes that result in on and off-shore breezes. . . that the lack of trees allows the wind to easily blow through the turbines.
“But they really are an eyesore. Traveling in Europe last year I saw too many of them. They are noisy too.”
Noisy? Really? I’ve been near many wind turbines and never really felt turbines compromised my experience of the landscape. In contrast, I wanted to get as close as I could, to marvel at the technology. I get the message though, technology is good, as long as it is Not In My Back Yard.
Alternative Landscapes: Adaptation
OK, I guess we’ll have to go with the alternative to Green Power since we’ve committing to coal burning power plants if no one wants the turbines cluttering the landscape. Let’s consider landscaping adaptation to deal with climate change in these places that we cherish – Beaches.
But beware, if you are a traveler, you’ll want to visit these places sooner rather than later because the landscape impacts are not going to be pleasant.
Beauty of Natural Shorelines at Risk from Climate Change
United States
America’s number one tourist attraction – beaches pump more than 300 Billion dollars into the U.S. Economy. In the U.S., concern over beach erosion is prompting The American Beach and Shoreline Association to request hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to move more sand to the beaches, in an attempt to slow the erosion due to climate change. Read more at Treehugger: Vanishing beach shorelines
Photo via Rutgers
Thailand
Workers build a sea wall defence in southern Thailand as climate negotiators discuss a replacement to the Kyoto protocol in Bangkok. Photograph: VINAI DITHAJOHN/EPA
Sept-Îles, Quebec
Some homeowners are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Shoreline erosion due to higher water levels and greater wave action show significant impacts along the coast of the city of Sept-Îles (population over 28 000), where 80% of the shoreline is very vulnerable to marine erosion. Protective measures (such as rock protections) are in place as an emergency response. However, several of the structures have increased shoreline erosion rates in the adjacent areas. New measures are required and many homes are at risk.
Coping with Shoreline erosion in Sept-Îles
Beach Adaptation vs. Wind Turbines
Perhaps with Climate Change impacting our most treasured vacation destinations more people will get the message: The only real adaptation solution is to fight climate change at the root with adaptation strategies reduce carbon emissions. In the face of alternative mitigation and adaptation measures, the wind turbine doesn’t look too bad.
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