Climate Cafe

Electric bikes are a super way for many people in Ontario to commute to work, lowering the carbon emissions associated with cars.

Dave Wright of Wright Alternative Technologies in South River, Ontario has been excited about electric bikes and scooters for a number of years. Although he’s not related to the Wright brothers, Dave’s enthusiasm for innovation with these bikes is infectious. After a few trips to China to meet with electric bike manufacturers, he is excited to be receiving his first shipping container of bikes in less than two weeks and he has retailers across Ontario, Canada getting ready to sell them.

Dave’s bikes are designed to meet the needs of anyone who can ride a bicycle and they follow the same rules of the road as traditional bikes.

“We made a few adjustments to the design to make them ready for North Americans who want to use them to commute. They are absolutely everywhere in China. I’m sure it will be just a short while before they become commonplace throughout Ontario,” said Wright

Wright has both scooter-like bikes and others that look more like conventional bikes with a battery. The red beauty I tested even has saddlebags (panniers). It can carry up to 330 lbs. The pedals on these models aren’t just for looks either. I found that pedaling added a bit of assist to the electric motor, especially on hills and other than pedaling a bit more weight (from the batteries) the pedals work just like those on conventional bike.

By law, these zero emission vehicles have a speed limit of 50 km/hr in Ontario (these bikes travel at a safe 32 km/hr) and with the standard gel cell lead acid batteries they travel up to 35 km on a full 6 hour charge. Optional lithium-Ion batteries are much lighter and provide for greater range and easier pedaling.

For more information on these electric bikes contact:
Wheel Easy
19 Howard St.
South River, ON
P0A 1X0
Phone: (705) 358-0096
E-mail: dave@wheeleasy.ca

• Learn more about the rules of the road for electric bikes in Ontario and Ontario’s Plan for the emergence of electric vehicles
• A listing of Electric Bike Resellers across the world.
• Learn about the Transport Canada’s path to introduce Electric bikes from 2000-present.

A recent report out of Germany suggests that global warming will take a pause over the next decade. Due to natural variations in the earth-sun cycle, the impacts of climate change (say the study authors) will be muted over the next ten years.

For those of us who are deeply concerned about Climate Change, it is great news that Climate Change deniers are holding up the HEADLINE from Nature Magazine and saying - “Look at this!”  Deniers have ignored hundreds of similar reports, let’s hope the Headline gets everyone to try to understand the report which supports everything scientists have been saying all along.

How is this report the Trojan Horse that may help get deniers to fully embrace the global crisis of Climate Change?

Consider this graph from the report:

• The red line is the 10 year mean for temperatures over past decades.
• The black line is global rise in Climate change suggested by a International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  The panel of thousands of scentists who are urging the world governments to take action.
• The short purple line shows what the temperatures would have been in 2005-2010 had man-made carbon emissions stopped.
• The green line is the forecast temperature from the “Climate Change Pause” study.
• The start of the dark grey area is where we are on the timeline, today - 2008.

While the media have grabbed what they call the dip in the green curve (or global cooling), showing a slower rise in global temperatures over the next ten years, here are the important things to note:

• the next ten years actually refers to the past seven years and the next three . . . ie: the current decade.  Temperature increases this decade have slowed.
• temperature rise in this report meets the IPCC projected global temperature rise of .8 degrees C by 2025.
• the report supports previous studies which show that it’s going to get quite hot, quite quickly over the coming decade: 2010-2020
• the curve doesn’t dip or cool at all, the report suggests that temperatures are projected to rise for every single projected measurement period.
• the purple line (what would have happened, had human created Green House Gas emissions stopped) helps deniers see that human activity causes the temperature increase.
• supports other Global Warming Reports like the one in Science.

Those of us who teach others about Climate Change need to celebrate the Nature Magazine report that is getting Climate Change deniers to use the basic concepts of the Climate Crisis:

• the earth is warming
• human activity is causing the warming
• It’s going to get a lot hotter soon
• scientific studies are cause for action, NOW.

Now, if we can just get a Headline that says “ocean levels are dropping over the next decade”, maybe we can get deniers to understand the threat that rising oceans associated with the climate crisis are having across the globe.

This interesting Web site details 20 cities and countries, travel destinations that are coming under immediate threat from Climate Change

Tufts study concludes that the economic impacts of Global Climate Change will be a lot more than the cost of taking action.  It says that by 2100, annual costs would be $422 billion in hurricane damage; $360 billion in real estate losses, with the biggest risk on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, particularly Florida; $141 billion in increased energy costs; and $950 billion in water costs, especially in the West. (today’s dollars)

For the U.S. inaction on climate change adds up to an annual loss by 2100 of 1.8 percent of gross domestic product, or GDP, the sum of the nation’s output of goods and services.

Results are based on impacts of climate change described by the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last year.

Read the whole story:

http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/961211.html

It’s easy to plan a carbon-friendly vacation if you know what you are looking for.

Here are a few things to consider:

• How you are getting there? Choose a destination that is close to home.  Choose a mode of transportation that puts the lowest amount of carbon into the atmosphere.  Purchase carbon credits or invest in carbon offsets for your emissions - like tree planting or power generation that wouldn’t other wise happen.
• Go somewhere green. Consider the carbon footprint and energy use of your host location.  There are solar powered places, wind powered places, places that use little energy or are energy efficient, and places that immerse the traveller into the green landscape.
• Eat local. Many places source their food locally, hence lowering emissions for transportation of food.  Ask the host location where their food comes from.  These places usually employ locally too, so the people who are hosting your visit don’t have to put out significant carbon emissions to serve you.
• Choose activities that don’t require carbon emissions. Choose a location where you can walk or take public transit to most of the things you want to see and do.  Consider activities that burn calories instead of carbon like biking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking instead of riding in gas powered golf carts, motorboats, or atvs.

Northern Edge Algonquin is a great example of a location that has been serving up climate-friendly holidays for over a decade.  This year they are making it easy for travellers, encouraging guests to forgo the high gas prices and traffic congestion on the highway by offering a special discount called the Climate-Conscious Traveller package.  Northern Edge Algonquin’s Climate-Conscious Traveller package includes a two for one train ticket from Toronto to Algonquin Park on Ontario Northland train ( a low emissions transportation option), free shuttle to the solar powered eco-lodge and complimentary Climate-Conscious Traveller t-shirt. This special package is just $140.

In addition, as previous guests attest, experiences they offer are decidedly good for the planet, serving up locally produced foods from market gardens and local organic meat producers (some from their own garden),  and employing local staff, some who live right at the eco-lodge.  Guided adventures in Algonquin Park by canoe and sea kayak and hosted yoga retreats are the featured vacation packages.

Carbon Friendly Vacations like this one are good for the planet, economical, and a rewarding way to experience Ontario’s Algonquin Park.  If you are near Toronto, this summer, leave the car parked in the driveway and start your vacation at Toronto’s Union Station.

Learn more about Carbon-friendly vacations offered by Northern Edge Algonquin including: Quest for Balance, Yoga & Sea Kayaking Retreat and adventures in Algonquin Park include Morning Tea with Moose and Waterfalls, Wanderings & Watercolours Canoe trips at: 800 953-3343 or 705 386 1595 and or by visiting the Web site at http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com.

View the BBC Video

The scientists are stunned at dramatic cracks that are appearing at the north coast of Canada.  Research documents how fissures are threatening the breakup of the oldest ice in the arctic.

The Ayles Ice Island, an iceberg the size of Manhattan has split into two, each vast chunk of ice now 400 miles (640km) south of its original position.

Two new Google Map links help people gain a global understanding of current and near future impacts of climate change all over the world.

Learn more about Climate Change in Antarctica.

Learn more about Climate Change in our World. You need to have Google Earth installed on your computer to view these animations. Once you have opened these KML files, click on the icons to find out more about how people around the world are already being affected by changing weather patterns and see the predicted effects of climate change across the globe between now and 2100.

Currently in North Bay, a group of about 50 students have started a campaign to get rid of bottled water being sold in schools, vending machines, businesses, grocery stores, restaurants and more in an effort to help save the world. The campaign will include speaking with local officials, store owners, and the like as well as posting ban the bottle signs all over town. We are looking for a way to post signs which wouldnt have an effect on the environment. Anybody interested in helping this project get onto its feet please feel free to join the facebook group, Ban the Bottle, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12587699797 ..
Similiar campaigns have begun in many locations across Ontario, and Canada… Feel free to start one in your own town, thanks.

-Tim Lucier

Starting today, Sunday, May 11th, Ray Zahab and a team of amazing runners will attempt to run 80 kms per day in ALL 13 Provinces and Territories….whew, it makes me tired to even say it ! The goal is not to just run 80 kms each day- but to visit schools, participate in community supported events and meet with kids, parents and people across Canada! This run has an objective well beyond the extreme endurance. Ray and the team’s goal with this run is to raise awareness for ONExONE and to highlight the tireless work they are doing in Canada and abroad in helping to eradicate social issues that affect children. Check out www.onexonecampaign.com for more info. We also have the goal of inspiring young people into action- and we will visit many schools en route , get their opinions, speak with them- and blog their stories by video on www.canadaonexone.com

On the Web site, track the journey live on the website, with text blogging, daily photo journals, and video stories from Canadians coast to coast to coast !

A multitude of activities have been planned in each Province and Territory. Another example of how one person’s vision can grow to involve and influence many.