Latest posts in Climate & Clean Energy
Ask most people what's the most dangerous thing they do every day and they'll likely tell you it's driving or riding in a car. Canada ranks fourth among OECD countries for fatalities per kilometre driven, behind France, the United States and Denmark. But if driving is so dangerous, why do we continue to take the risk?
The truth is, many people in Canada rely on personal vehicles for their livelihoods. We drive to work, school and doctor's appointments. People who live in communities that lack frequent and reliable public transportation, pedestrian walkways and safe bicycle routes may have no alternative to driving a car. What many of us don't realize is that access to these alternatives saves lives. Transit-oriented communities have about one-quarter the per capita traffic fatality rate.Continue reading »
People in Ontario have seen the damage climate change and extreme weather can cause, and the many benefits addressing it can bring. The 2013 floods and ice storm alone cost the province $1.3 billion in private property and infrastructure damage.
With the release of its climate change discussion paper and an invitation for citizens, businesses and communities to provide input, the Ontario government is acknowledging that the challenge must be resolved by the combined efforts of a broad range of people.Continue reading »
Imagine you could have a real impact on climate change in your region using nothing more than a pen. Wielding that kind of power is already a reality for B.C.'s Lower Mainland residents.
From March 16 until May 29, Metro Vancouver voters are being given the opportunity to have a lasting impact on regional greenhouse gas emissions by voting "YES" to a mail-in referendum to secure dedicated funding for a number of major transportation projects. The new transportation plan, developed and agreed upon by the region's 24 mayors, will dramatically expand rail, bus and cycling networks in Metro Vancouver and benefit both transit riders and drivers. Continue reading »
Here's a headline you don't often see: Canada is making real progress in meeting its climate commitments. The problem is, it is only in pockets of the country.Continue reading »
Nobody gets excited about paying property insurance. But anyone who has invested in a home or business understands the importance of protecting it. Insurance provides peace of mind against unforeseen events, so anything that undermines the availability of affordable insurance is cause for concern. It turns out that climate change is doing just that.
Insurance markets depend on reliable and predictable information, and climate change is throwing a wrench into this predictability. Insurers need to set rates to cover claimed losses and make a profit. Rates must be affordable so enough people purchase insurance policies, or the system will fail. Climate change contributes to more intense extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, prolonged droughts and wildfires. Insurers have lost confidence that they can pay for losses now that "once in a hundred years" events are happening more frequently. Insurers are raising premiums to protect themselves, and insurance rates are increasing and becoming unaffordable for many.