The hope for climate change

This is a letter to the editor of the Calgary Herald, written by Robert Price. It was not printed in the newspaper.

_____________

Dear Sir,
 
Many of us are confused, polarized or downright disinterested on the issue of global warming. The continued flow of information and disinformation on climate science fuels skepticism, mistrust, apathy and an overall sense of disempowerment and hopelessness. “I recycle. I’ve changed my light bulbs. I’m doing my bit” is a common response.
 
In the past week, three diverse audiences, totaling over 250 Calgarians, have heard a very different take on climate change. Groups at the University of Calgary and Red Deer Lake United Church have heard David Noble, founder of the 2degreesC organization, give a clear message of hope.
 
This hope is not based on the idea that global warming is not happening or not happening as quickly. On the contrary, Mr. Noble has stood at the edge of a massive Greenland glacier, measured by scientists as receding at a rate of 34 meters per day. He fully supports the overwhelming scientific evidence that shows that human-induced climate change is accelerating and that the chances to restrict it to 2 degrees C, as agreed by the G8 countries, are running out fast.
 
The hope of which Mr. Noble speaks is based on the idea that, when push comes to shove, each one of us has the capacity to question our individual conscience and to take action on the basis of what we decide is right versus wrong. He believes that, when it comes to climate change, push has long since become a shove; that the time is now for every one of us to ask that question and to exercise our responsibility and moral obligation to act accordingly.
 
Barack Obama is the first world leader for a very long time to call on the citizens of his country to be leaders in shaping their own future. In his election slogan “Yes We Can”, the key word is “We”. Not “We - the government”, but “We – every one of us - taking responsibility and leading through action”. The law of supply and demand suggests that what we will be supplied with what we demand. It follows that we will get the government we demand. With the Copenhagen Climate Change talks only weeks away, the question to our conscience is whether it is morally right to live in ways that use natural resources faster than we can replace them. There can only be one right answer. Its time for us to take responsibility for our personal response to that answer and to lead as citizens by demanding that Canada’s government - the government that we demand - responds to that answer in Copenhagen. It’s time for Canadians to say "Yes We Can!"
 
Rob Price
Calgary