Climate change harsh reality for (Oshawa, Ontario) region ("most issues…will be food issues")

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/story1513.html

Climate change harsh reality for region

By Katie Strachan
The Oshawa Express

Global warming is irreversible and it’s an epidemic Durham Region is taking to task. “It’s quite catastrophic,” says Jenna Dunlop, the region’s policy and research advisor. “Most of the issues we’ll face will be food issues. All things that we normally expect, we won’t be able to expect.” The region has already initiated a great deal of programs to combat traffic congestion by adding new clean diesel burning buses, improving roads, adding idle policies for buses and Durham Region fleet vehicles and using only LED traffic light bulbs. Durham buses can only idle for three minutes unless necessary to maintain a comfortable environment for riders such as warming it in the winter. The idle rule for fleet vehicles has been set at one minute.

In an effort to spread the positive word about carpooling, the region initiated the Smart Commute program, which encourages employers to explore different options like carpooling, teleworking and other forms such as biking or walking to work. So far eight major employers in Durham Region have joined the program, which has resulted in 121 metric tonnes of GHGs reduced in the air. Although the term “global warming” is being thrown around often across the globe, the true definition of it can be debated.“There’s a lot of confusion about what global warming is and the effects of it,” explained Dunlop, who is also the staff liaison for the Durham Region Roundtable Against Climate Change.

“The global temperature is absolutely rising and most of it is due to green house gases (GHG). The effects of GHG are irreversible.” “Patterns of climate change have been slow in the past, but with the increase in GHGs the climate is now changing rapidly,” explained Dunlop. GHGs affect the weather we have said the expert, Dunlop. Durham can expect extreme weather, a drop in water levels, unpredictable rain conditions and shorter winters courtesy of the build up of GHGs in the atmosphere.“Although (shorter winters) don’t sound so bad, agriculture will change for the better but there will be more free-thaw cycles, which cause major damage to infrastructure,” added Dunlop. According to an updated report, Durham is taking great measures towards reducing GHGs, which will ultimately reduce the region’s ecological footprint. Specifically the region is working to reduce the amount of cars on the road and making everything they do more “green”.

They are now using a pre-wetting and antiicing process to reduce over-use of salt and they are using much less sand, which creates dust and fine particles, which enter streams through catch basins and affects spawning of the fish. The road lines are being painted with a water-based paint decreasing the impact on the natural environment. As for energy-consumption, the region is doing it’s best to educate residents to turn off the lights and turn down the heat or air conditioning.“There is a significant amount of work that is already being done in Durham Region,” says Dunlop. Since 2000 the region has provided funding for the security of about 1,070 hectares of environmentally sensitive land.

…