Climate Change and Human Health

On April 4^th, 2016 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) posted on their official blog about how climate change threatens human health. The blog post identifies how human driven global warming from rising greenhouse gas concentrations results in increased temperatures, altered precipitation, increases in the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. These global changes threaten human health by affecting food and water sources, the air we breathe, the weather we experience (ex. coastal regions experiencing more severe hurricanes), and our interactions with the built and natural environments.

Sources:

https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/04/how-climate-change-threatens-human-health/

Setting the Agenda – Week 5 – Host a Kitchen Meeting

Opening Message: What are some renewable energy options Saskatchewan could pursue?

When I hosted my kitchen meeting, I purposely asked friends of mine who were not involved with biology or environmental studies. I came up with a few discussion topics and I wanted to make sure that the people I was discussing climate change with, had not had any previous teaching on climate change, past what you would learn in high school science. During the kitchen meeting, I also shared with my participants what I have learned so far from Setting the Agenda with the Climate Friendly Zone. We discussed talking to policy makers regarding Provincial election, and I asked them if they knew how to write a letter to the editor, as well as I shared my letter with them.

Now I will summarize the discussion with you:

·         What does climate change mean to you? The discussion started with one participant saying that it is a change in the climate over an extended period of time, and everyone agreeing with said participant. Another added that it occurs naturally in the environment from the natural release of carbon. She also thought that everyone keeps making a big deal out of it claiming that all the blame is on humans, and that she thought that it will happen no matter what humans do to change it. Some understood the concept more when we talked about global warming, because the topic specified the warming of the climate.

·         Do you think climate change is something we need to be worried about in today’s society? There was quite a distribution in answers to this question. I received some yes’ and some no’s. This is where it is important to indicate that climate change is a long process. It does not happen overnight and the actions we take today to limit carbon emissions will determine the fate of our planet for future generations.

·         What are some renewable energy options that you are aware of? The renewable energy options that people were aware of was solar power and wind energy. The ones that some people were unaware of was carbon-neutral and negative fuels, biomass, ethanol biofuels as well as other biofuels, geothermal energy, as well as hydrogen fuel and thorium fuel. A lot of these are not used widely so they are fairly unknown as energy options. More information on additional sources of renewable energy can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_energy#Geothermal

I     I also had the participants calculate their ecological footprint and I am really glad I included this into our discussion because I think a lot of people were very surprised with how large their ecological footprint is. A lot of what we do day to day can increase out ecological footprint more than we expect and I think it is important to know what you can do to minimize your footprint. Below are a few resources from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society for you to check out to learn ways to reduce your footprint:

      http://environmentalsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/CFZ-Personal-Practices.pdf

http://environmentalsociety.ca/category/tips/ 

My experience while hosting a kitchen meeting has shown me just how much information about how the facts surrounding anthropogenic climate change is undisputed. It is commonly known that 97% of scientists agree that climate change is human-caused. Anthropogenic climate change refers to the production of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. By examining the polar ice cores, scientists are convinced that human activity has increased the proportion of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which has skyrocketed over the past few hundred years. This strong evidence of global warming comes from direct measurements of rising surface air temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures and from phenomena such as increases in average global sea levels, retreating glaciers, and changes to many physical and biological systems.

Sources:

http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/anthropogenic-climate-change.html 

http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/ 

Setting the Agenda – Week 4 – Writing a Letter to the Editor

Opening Message: What are some success stories in which other people and communities have taken climate action?

Reachout.com has some great tips and suggestions for writing a letter to an editor. Reading previously written letters to the editor can help structure your letter in a manner that is grammatically favoured and more likely to be printed and have an impact. Researching your topic and getting all the facts and know what you would like to include in your letter can also be very useful when structuring your letter and getting across your important points. These letters are usually quite short, less than 200 words, and it is important to be upfront with your comments about an article you are writing about, and indicate whether you support the article or disagree with it.

Tips on writing a letter to the editor: http://au.reachout.com/how-to-write-a-letter-to-the-editor

I wrote a letter to the editor of the Star Phoenix in Saskatoon and I am still waiting to see it published in the letters section of the newspaper. I will continue to comment on climate change in the news in hopes that one day a letter of mine will be published, and my voice will be heard.

My letter read:

“With climate change awareness increasing rapidly in the country, I had hoped to see a stronger platform for increasing solar energy, and decreasing carbon emissions in the province. The Saskatchewan Party’s platform indicates they will continue to work towards the target of having 50% of Saskatchewan’s power generation capacity produced by renewable energy by 2030. The NDP platform indicates the same goal, but they are aiming over all for 60% renewable power. These targets may be indicated in their platform but they are not advocating for these issues. Where was the big environmental debate? People are becoming more environmentally aware these days and I think it is important that environmental issues, such as climate change, get the urgency they deserve.”

Tracy Mitchell from Saskatoon successfully had a letter to the editor published in the Star Phoenix on December 15^th, 2015. She talked about how Saskatchewan continues to lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to climate action. I think this is a pretty powerful letter to the editor because only recently has Saskatchewan begun its journey towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has started to treat climate change in Canada with the urgency it deserves, and with the provincial election today, I hope the elected Premier and MLA’s treat climate action like the urgent issue it is.

Tracy Mitchell’s Letter to the Editor: http://thestarphoenix.com/storyline/saskatchewan-continues-to-lag-behind-the-rest-of-the-world-when-it-comes-to-climate-change-letter-to-the-editor

Setting the Agenda with the Climate Friendly Zone – Week 3: Encourage a Friend

Opening Message: Why is climate change an important issue at home?

I initiated a discussion with a friend on the importance of climate change at home. The SES poster for week three of “Setting the Agenda” provides resources for tips on how to communicate climate change issues with friends and family. There are tips from videos, articles, and organizations at 

http://environmentalsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CFZ-week-3-Setting-the-Agenda.pdf .

The first thing I had my friend do was calculate their carbon footprint using the footprint calculator at http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/ to see how their daily actions impact the environment. Have you calculated your carbon footprint? I encourage you do so to take the first step in reducing your carbon footprint.

The point of this week is not to convince your friends or family of anything, it is simply to share information on climate change with them and express your concern for the issue. I was able to sit down with a friend who did not know a lot of facts about climate change. I shared some resources and a personal story about myself and why I encourage others to get educated on this issue. As a biology student, I know that a lot of things that happen in nature do not happen overnight. They happen over years and years. What our generation does for the planet today, can affect how the planet will be for our family in the future. I believe that if we tweak our daily routines just slightly, we can reduce carbon emissions significantly. All it takes is sharing the information with the people closest to us, suggest ways they can help, and have them share the information they just learned with the people closest to them!

Personally, one thing that I believe is important when discussing climate change with others who do not share the same level of passion for it as I do, is the fact that we need to think about it long term. I find that there are a lot of people who do not believe that climate change is happening because the effects are not always immediate. It is important to remember that climate change IS happening. It has always been happening and increases in greenhouse gas emissions adding to global warming, increasing climate change that then affects all sorts of global processes.

I spent a lot of time outside as a child. Enjoying the fresh, clean air was never something I thought twice about. I grew up in a small town and attended a K-12 school where environmental awareness was never something that was taught. I can remember a couple years where our school was taught how to recycle, but that is about it. There are still adults today who aren`t sure if some items can be recycled. The city of Saskatoon is a great resource to look into when you aren`t sure if something can be recycled. Go to https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/waste-recycling/recycling/what-recycle for more information! The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is another great resource to look into for items that can`t be recycled, but need to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way so they do not end up in a landfill. Visit http://www.saskwastereduction.ca/recycle/db?location=Saskatoon&materials=All+Materials&keywords for more information

When I decided to do a biology degree at the University of Saskatchewan, I just knew that I wanted to do environmental biology. I am not really sure why. It was never something I had considered doing before. The more schooling I did, the more my environmental awareness increased and I started to think about what lights I was constantly leaving on or what appliances I was leaving plugged in. I have started warming up my car for less time in the winter than I usually do. I take the bus every day, or I catch a ride to school if I can. I recycle everything I can and I encourage other members of my house hold to do the same.

Setting the Agenda with the Climate Friendly Zone – Week 2: Talking to Candidates

Opening Message: What role does policy have in addressing climate change?

This week, we invite you to consider contacting your MLA and political candidates in your constituency to speak with them about climate change, and the need for climate policies to be put in motion in Saskatchewan. I also encourage you to personally consider where you stand on climate change initiatives in Saskatchewan, and how the importance of climate change weighs in your books.

This link will take you to the poster for week two of “Setting the Agenda” with the SES. There you will find topics to share and discuss with local political candidates. This can be done when they come to your door, or by you taking the initiative to contact them on these issues directly.  Let these candidates know that their action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an important issue that will determine how you vote.

http://environmentalsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CFZ-Setting-the-Agenda-Week-Two.pdf

Find your constituency at: http://www.elections.sk.ca/voters/find-my-constituency-gis/

The MLA for my area, Saskatoon Silver Springs, is Ken Cheveldayoff. He is a member of the Saskatchewan Party, and a strong supporter of Premier Brad Wall. You can find out more about Ken at http://www.cheveldayoff.com/index.php, and even though there is little information on Ken’s political website regarding their focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions but there is a document briefly stating the investment made by BHP Billiton on the development of technology for carbon capture and storage to aid in the global fight against climate change.

http://www.cheveldayoff.com/index.php?docID=323&searchText=climate%20change

To find you MLA representative of the Saskatchewan party, go to http://www.saskparty.com/mlas

As I get older, I become more and more invested in who is going to be running our country and the province I live in, and I am more inclined to know where they stand on issues that I feel are important. I have declared my home a climate friendly zone, and I encourage others to do the same, so candidates and other people in your neighbourhood know where you stand on the issue that is climate change. I want to make the people of Saskatchewan aware of climate change because I believe that if we all change out daily habits slightly, drive less, and recycle more, we can help the province and the country reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For those who are able, I also encourage looking into investing in solar energy. The start-up costs will be paid back in the money you will save on your energy bills in roughly 10 years, and your savings will only increase after that. It is definitely something to look into if you ask me.

My hopes for Saskatchewan are that the province will rally behind a candidate who is passionate about saving the planet, and will insert his actions by any means necessary to do so. Let’s live green everybody!

Setting the Agenda with the Climate Friendly Zone – Week 1: Educate Yourself

Opening Message: Why is climate change an important issue in a global context?

The SES has worked hard to provide you with resources to help you educate yourself and those around you about climate change in Saskatchewan.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides fantastic information on current issues in climate change, as they are the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. The IPCC was founded in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Their mission is to, “provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.”

The SES has gathered resources on global climate change issues, resources on climate change in Saskatchewan, and links to Saskatchewan climate change organizations. The link below will take you to the poster for week one of “Setting the Agenda” with the SES, and this poster includes the links to the resources mentioned. 

http://environmentalsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CFZ-Week-One-Educate-Yourself.pdf

This link will take you to the home page of the IPCC website:

http://www.ipcc.ch/

Source on IPCC history: http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.shtml

I personally feel that the issue of climate change is one that can cause a lot of controversy, especially since there are a lot of sources on the web that do not provide true or adequate information. Something that I feel is hard for some people to grasp is that climate change is a slow process that humans can impact every single day. There are so many small acts everyone could do every day that could greatly impact our planets future for the better. Use reusable grocery bags when you shop, turn off lights in a room you are not in, unplug and turn off appliances when they are not in use, upgrade your appliances to energy efficient ones, walk or bike or carpool when possible, and before you throw something in the garbage, as yourself if it can be recycled! 

Do You Know What Climate Change Is?

As David Suzuki would say, “climate change occurs when long-term weather patterns are altered.” These long-term patterns typically occur through human activity. Global warming is one measure of climate change, and is a rise in the average global temperature. Ways in which we alter the global temperature is through the use of motor vehicles, idling of vehicles, increased disposal of waste and improper recycling, or lack thereof.

Life on Earth survives because of the warmth from the sun. Some of the incoming solar radiation bounces back into space, but some of it is trapped by a balance of gases in our atmosphere. This layer of gases acts as insulation for our planet. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important gas in this layer. Carbon is stored all over the planet in plants, soil, and oceans and people. We release carbon as CO2 into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and cutting down trees. We have anthropogenically released so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that there is now 42% more CO2 in the atmosphere than there was before the industrial era (David Suzuki Foundation). This layer of gases in the atmosphere has become a thick, “heat trapping blanket,” and now we are seeing extreme effects around the globe. Global effects of climate change include volcanic eruptions, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, and plate tectonics altering ocean currents and heat transport.

Sources:

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/climate-change-basics/climate-change-101-1/

Who Am I and Why Should You Care

Hello, and welcome to my blog on making Saskatoon a climate friendly zone! My name is Kaitlin Edstrom and I am a 5th year Environmental Biology student at the University of Saskatchewan. I have joined forces with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) to increase awareness of climate change and gain support from our community. 

My goal of this blog is to educate you and increase your awareness of the climate changes that are currently happening around our globe. Anthropogenic activity is the main cause of global warming and many people are unaware of the small changes they can make each and every day to do their part in helping the environment. I plan on providing you with ways to minimize your ecological footprint and decreasing your waste. Have you ever calculated your ecological footprint? Do you have any idea how much land area it would take to support your current lifestyle? I encourage you to take a few minutes out of your day to take this quiz and calculate your ecological footprint. This is the first step in doing your part to help the environment!

The ecological footprint calculator can be found at this link: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/