As a tourism business owner, photographer, and parent, I am concerned that we are at Day 10 in the Copenhagen Talks and we see little progress among nations to any kind of consensus or agreement. I see a need for governments to get past self-interests and a selfish pre-occupation with protecting their own deep-pocketed oil and gas lobby groups, and to set targets for reduced emissions (350ppm), to address the financial support that is necessary from developed countries to help developing countries suffering from climate change already, and to begin the process of collaboration, not insulation.

As I was traveling north, I listened to Anna Maria Tremonti interviewing Dr. James Hansen, the head of the Goddard Space Centre and the leading global scientist on climate change. I learned several things – about how important the 350 ppm target is and why; why cap and trade is not what is needed – rather a carbon tax (which of course is un-popular with any government) is a better choice, and the science of climate change (which is unaffected by Climate Gate).  Regardless of what your beliefs might be about climate change or global warming, it is important to be aware of what the science is showing us.  How we respond is based

I think that you will find this a most educational interview. Listen up….We have a long way to go to get to 350ppm.

Click on The Current below for a link to the CBC interview

Images cut through rhetoric.  We need the leadership of world leaders at Copenhagen to make the commitments to:

1. Reduce CO2 emissions  (Which means Canada has to agree to cut its carbon emissions, and right now, Canada is trying to make this contingent on other developing countries setting ambitious targets.  This is nonsense.  Playing political games with our planet is not what we have elected our politicians to do.  They are accountable to our future generations.)
2. Limit global temperature increase to 2ºCelsius in developed and developing countries.
3. Assist financially those countries that need assistance to deal with climate change mitigation and adaptation issues.
4. Put into place an international global governance approach to manage financial resources that reflect the political realities of today.

The impacts of climate change will be widespread across the globe. In order to understand more about what the human impact of high-end climate change might be, and therefore what would happen if a successful agreement cannot be reached at Copenhagen, the UK’s Met Office Hadley Centre produced an interactive map outlining some of the impacts, based on the latest peer-reviewed science.  Click on the map below to learn more.

The most important reasons for Canada to participate in the UN Climate Talks is to demonstrate our capacity for leadership, action, contribution financially, and commitment as a developed country (that has one of the highest per capita emissions of greenhouse gases in the world) and share a commitment to reducing CO2 emissions to 350ppm and dropping global temperatures by 2º Celsius.

Will our grand-children say…”Sorry, our prime minister was too busy making a political announcement at another Tim Horton’s donut shop to give a damn about climate change?” Come on Mr. Prime Minister, listen to what the American kids are saying to their President.

What will you say to your children and grand-children about how instrumental you were in “making a difference” as a Canadian leader to reducing our emissions and global temperature in December of 2009 when over 190 countries in the world will make agreements about how we act together to solve this problem? This is not about individual beliefs; it’s about global partnership and unity in the face of the most important economic and environmental issue our planet has ever faced.

“If our children knew the facts we do, they’d take action. Shouldn’t you?”

Canadian environmental groups Environmental Defence and ForestEthics are behind the bold campaign that encourages parents to upload photos of their kids to encourage Stephen Harper to think of their needs in considering COP-15, the necessary treaty in Copenhagen.

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.

The bill requires Canada to live up to it’s Kyoto pledge and should help inspire our government to commit to firm Carbon targets at the upcoming meetings in Copenhagen – COP 15.

The IPCC is urging developed countries to reduce emissions by at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80% by the year 2050. These reductions are needed to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.

Bill C-311 incorporates recommendations of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and if the bill passes third reading and the Senate, Canada will need to commit to the firm targets agreed to under Kyoto Protocol.

Take a moment and contact your member of Parliament and encourage them to support Bill C-311 in its third reading.

Download Meet Canada’s Youngest Climate Change Presenter (6 min)

We have a lot to learn from the stories and wisdom of First Nations people who hold cultural knowledge about climate change, and social justice. That’s why I was delighted to learn about Isuma.tv.

http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en

Live Streaming from the Arctic

Countdown to Copenhagen is Isuma’s six-month internet campaign to promote the importance of Inuit knowledge and human rights in the global discussion of Climate Change. Monthly webcasts on IsumaTV from May to November will culminate in Live From the Floe Edge, ten days of daily internet streaming hosted by Zacharias Kunuk live from his arctic wilderness hunting camp during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, December 7-17.

Starting May 29 at 7:45 pm EST

The series will launch with a live webcast on Friday May 29, featuring Siila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit climate activist and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, speaking on Inuit, Human Rights and Climate Change live from Iqaluit, Nunavut to a worldwide audience.. The program leads off at 7:45 pm EST with the World Premiere of Tungijuq, Isuma’s new 6-minute video starring Inuit jazz and throat-singing sensation, Tanya Tagaq. At 8 pm Siila Watt-Cloutier delivers the 9th annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture, introduced by John Ralston Saul, The Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, Isuma’s Zacharias Kunuk and The Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Commissioner of Nunavut.

I’ll be watching. Will you?

Join a gathering:

Screenings organized so far for Friday, May 29 include:

MONTRÉAL Ewola Cinéma
7:45 pm – 10 pm EST Eastern Time
3981 Blvd Saint Laurent Suite #900

TORONTO Hart House (U of T)
7:45pm- 10pm EST
7 Hart House Circle (Debates Room)

IGLOOLIK Isuma building
7:45-10pm EST
www.isuma.ca

WINNIPEG Urban Shaman Gallery
6:45pm-9pm CST
203-290 McDermot Avenue

CALGARY Arusha Centre Society (old YMCA)
5:45 – 8 pm MST Mountain Time
223 12 avenue SW

VANCOUVER Vancity Theatre
4:45 pm – 7 pm PST Pacific Time
Vancouver International Film Centre

Vancouver Peak Oil Group and Vital Knowledge 2.2
4:45 pm – 7 pm PST
Studio 302 – 1067 Granville Street

I am also working with a Sacred Fire Ceremony on Greenland to take place July 17-19 on Greenland.

Download Growing Food vs. Fun Food – The Wooden Monkey part II

On this episode of the Tourism Café, Celes and Todd are in the Nashville airport with a number of Canadian presenters returning to Canada after The Climate Project Summit, a gathering of presenters of Al Gore’s Climate Change presentation.

While spending a few days with Mr. Gore, David Suzuki and other inspiring leaders was great, what was most exciting was meeting a number of terrific Canadians who are leaders in helping other Canadians understand Climate Change and ways that communities, businesses, and individuals can make a difference.

We invite you to meet one of those people who is making a difference.

Lil MacPhearson is owner and founder of The Wooden Monkey, a fabulous Halifax Restaurant serving up delicious local fare and rich dining experiences. Listen to her story about how the issue of food security prompted her to open a restaurant dedicated to engaging local farmers and organic food providers in order to deliver people real food.