Climate Change

The worlds' oceans are at risk from climate change. As ocean temperatures warm, some species will adjust better than others, causing a shift in the structure of ocean ecosystems. For example, changing salmon migration routes. Pacific salmon are now swimming to the Arctic Ocean in search of cooler waters.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), a by-product of burning fossil fuels, has been identified as the largest single source of greenhouse gases.

Approximately half of the CO₂ released between 1800 and 1994 is now stored in the ocean. About 30 percent of modern carbon emissions are taken up by oceans. The increasing amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere is raising the level of CO₂ in the ocean above normal levels. This, in turn, is making the ocean more acidic, affecting the ability of marine life such as clams to form shells and corals to build structures.

A phytoplankton bloom in the South Atlantic seen from space. Phytoplankton are responsible for much of the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere – half of the total amount produced by all plant life.

Changes in wind velocity and extreme wind events will affect the ocean circulation. This, in turn, alters how nutrients are brought from the ocean depth to feed microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton breathe in CO₂ and release oxygen during photosynthesis, supplying 30 to 50 percent of the world’s oxygen. Shifts in the levels and location of the upwellings could affect the amount and the location of the fish we eat.

A United Nations-appointed panel of experts, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has concluded there, “is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.” 

Canada has become a the fuel tank for the United States, and has continually increased production of oil and gas to meet insatiable U.S. needs. These exports, combined with high levels of domestic consumption, are increasing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

By pursuing offshore oil and gas reserves in British Columbia, Canada will only perpetuate this reliance on polluting energy sources, and not honour the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Accord. Rather than investing further in fossil fuels, now is the time to invest in the development of alternative energies like solar, wind and tidal power.

To achieve Canada’s commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, the governments of Canada, British Columbia and oil and gas companies must invest their research and development funds to establish clean, sustainable energy sources like wind, solar, tidal and micro-hydro. Investments in renewable energy create five times more jobs than the fossil fuel sector. B.C. has enough wind generation potential to launch a competitive worldwide industry.