State of the Environment - État de l'Environnement

I definitely agree to david, changes in our nature...

2011-10-26T01:55:14.707-04:00

I definitely agree to david, changes in our nature happens to be our faults. The use of technology and lots of factories changes our climate.

max - Doctoral Degree Online

Climate change is now widely recognized as the maj...

2011-10-13T21:51:25.835-04:00

Climate change is now widely recognized as the major environmental problem facing the globe. So we must protect our nature to keep us from danger.
This blog is very informative.

David - Accelerated Nursing Programs in Minnesota

Yeah I agree with you @Raj, very insightful indeed...

2011-04-10T08:26:59.487-04:00

Yeah I agree with you @Raj, very insightful indeed! I also like the part when it talked about opportunities for adaptation.

Stan Jones ~"Wedding Invite"~

Will climate change be seen as the next emerging i...

2010-03-26T20:24:24.313-04:00

Will climate change be seen as the next emerging issue? Probably not. Those who gain benefit for it have far to much power to prevent this for happening...

I believe the emerging trend goes as follows: governments acting more an more as problem managers and less an less as social solution architects. The tipping point will be achieved as Western societies reach peak oil. From there on is downhill... Now more than ever communities must unite and revert this alarming trend before is to late.

They must take control of the channels through which influence and opinion is shape. Transform ideas into matter and ultimately make this revolutionary actions matter.

A.

Grace and all other readers, Referring to my earl...

2010-02-26T10:38:00.632-05:00

Grace and all other readers,

Referring to my earlier comment, I wanted to share with you this article from Journal of Health Science, released in 2009.

http://jhs.pharm.or.jp/data/55%281%29/55_125.pdf

It shows clear relationship between population, CO2 concentration in atmosphere and global temperature increase.

My sincere advice is that nature will itself regulate to respond to anthropogenic agression. From another article I've seen earlier, much older, there are some other interesting findings relatively to the same topic.

http://www.strom.clemson.edu/becker/prtm320/commons/popco2.html

Have a good reading!

Hello Grace, It's unfortunately an equilibriu...

2010-02-25T11:27:57.579-05:00

Hello Grace,

It's unfortunately an equilibrium matter between economics, politics and business, on which must be based any answer to climate change.

I assisted last week to a presentation made by Karel Ménard from David Suzuki Foundation (I hope to get it) where he made a clear link between temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration. He added also a world population curve evolution that made me think this may be a fundamental cause of climate change, since it correlated the atmospheric CO2 concentration and then temperature. Rapidly seen, it looked really that human activities are at the source of this present climate change.

So which are the solutions? There is probably none unique solution, but if anthropogenic influence must decrease on climate change, this calls for reduction of human activity on Earth. But if this activity doesn't decrease, it must be made differently, but how?

I'm frightened to say that, but does this means that a reduction of the world population is now necessary? After all, within only a century, we passed from a population of around 1 billion up to now near of 8 billions. This is a lot of CO2 only emitted by breathing, and an aspect never really examined for CO2 increase in atmosphere.

Industries are part too, as well as transportation. But for transportation, nothing immediate will be done even if this activity has a contribution percentage in Québec higher than the one of the industry. But industry is right on MDDEP target.

To follow...

The popular comment layout is common, so it is eas...

2010-01-22T12:00:38.305-05:00

The popular comment layout is common, so it is easily recognized when scanning to post a comment. If the comment section is in a different format, then I am going to spend more time trying to decipher what everything means.

parttime money

Interesting… I might try some of this on my blog, ...

2010-01-22T11:19:07.389-05:00

Interesting… I might try some of this on my blog, too. It’s quite interesting how you sometimes stop being innovative and just go for an accepted solution without actually trying to improve it… you make a couple of good points.

parttime money

Never, never feel thankful for having a leader lik...

2010-01-04T22:09:31.472-05:00

Never, never feel thankful for having a leader like Harper. Berlusconi might be an embarrassment, but Harper and his cronies and their policies are downright deadly.

Blogs are so informative where we get lots of info...

2009-12-09T05:33:54.113-05:00

Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!
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MBA Dissertation

Hello Grace, My first comment is relative to the ...

2009-12-01T15:28:32.929-05:00

Hello Grace,

My first comment is relative to the easiness for reaching the announced -20% from 1990 by 2020. Sorry, but your statement is false, because the already installed hydroelectricity facilities and the other ones that will come won't be used to convert businesses from fossil fuels, but to reimburse Quebec debt through additional electricity sales. So, where will this cut come from? From industrial sector, which has already made its effort by reaching Kyoto target according to MDDEP statistics, while transport sector will continue to emit more and more GHG up to 2015.

My second comment is relative to moves from individuals to cut GHG emissions, relatively to the urgency feeling they don't have until it touches them directly. It's a consequence of the Maslow pyramid. There is a good article on "The Skeptical Market Observer" blog covering exactly this point for your personal information.

My third point is relatively to the choice of the target of -20% from 1990 by 2020. In my mind, it's clear this comes from Quebec engagement to WCI which says obligation to meet -15% from 2005 by 2020, which is equivalent to the announced target. I would add that the Commission on Transport and Environment has only been formed on this subject to fake listening, since the target was already chosen. A clue for this affirmation is the few number of days between the end of the hearings and the announcement of the target. Not much time to really think to it.

Finally, to answer at least partially to your interrogation for "why not a higher target", I would suggest you to consider the strong possibility of carbon and industrial jobs leakage for other provinces or countries in the case where target would be too high, frightening all investors to come or stay in Quebec, with all collateral job losses, maybe even yours.

Regards!

I really liked their presentation, it was informat...

2009-11-24T22:11:16.863-05:00

I really liked their presentation, it was informative and insightful, they talked on the same level about sustainability which was good.

I also enjoyed Mr. Perras' presentation and ap...

2009-11-17T16:42:15.262-05:00

I also enjoyed Mr. Perras' presentation and appreciate Eva Blue's comment about a presentation she has seen him give. In our class it was important that he prove that Rio Tinto is no longer a giant corporation that believes they are above social and environmental reproach. One element that would have expanded his presentation even more would be more concrete examples to back up the initiatives he was describing in class.
I appreciated that he took the time to come and give his presentation to our class.

I personally enjoyed Mr. Perras' presentation,...

2009-11-17T10:16:36.599-05:00

I personally enjoyed Mr. Perras' presentation, but like Professor Jochen I was a little dissapointed that sustainable development was not addressed in depth.

I had the privilege to hear Mr. Perras speak and t...

2009-11-14T00:17:01.068-05:00

I had the privilege to hear Mr. Perras speak and thoroughly appreciated his candor, sincerity and frankness. He addressed concerns and misconceptions that the "ordinary" or "non-corporate" individuals often have about big corporations. He clearly stated and gave solid examples of how Rio Tinto Alcan had ethics and that being otherwise was not in the best interest for the company.

What makes Mr. Perras more interesting, is by the fact that RTA chose to hire a person like him; a person who worked for NGOs for over 15 (?) years and never for the corporate sector. For me, that was proof enough that RTA is being transparent, conscious and forward thinking. It was clear that Mr. Perras has his beliefs and ethics, that he would not change them without proper validation. They hired him.

The only issue I had with Mr. Perras was that it felt like he was a little harsh on the students and their questions. I'm sure his confidence is necessary for his job but he could have been more sensitive and less harsh with them as they appeared to be much less experienced than him in the corporate setting. This was a class, not a conference.

I had the privilege to hear Mr. Perras speak and t...

2009-11-14T00:05:22.631-05:00

I had the privilege to hear Mr. Perras speak and thoroughly appreciated his candor, sincerity and frankness. He addressed concerns and misconceptions that the "ordinary" or "non-corporate" individuals often have about big corporations. He clearly stated and gave solid examples of how Rio Tinto Alcan had ethics and that being otherwise was not in the best interest for the company.

What makes Mr. Perras more interesting, is by the fact that RTA chose to hire a person like him; a person who worked for NGOs for over 15 (?) years and never for the corporate sector. For me, that was proof enough that RTA is being transparent, conscious and forward thinking. It was clear that Mr. Perras has his beliefs and ethics, that he would not change them without proper validation. They hired him.

Wish I could be able to attend the next class. Such interesting guest speakers!

I don't understand how a cap & trade syste...

2009-09-10T09:57:40.094-04:00

I don't understand how a cap & trade system can possibly be considered as desirable as, let alone better than, a carbon tax. Both aim to achieve the same goal - forcing industry, business and consumers to reduce their carbon emissions.
One is simple, straightforward, enforceable, and has government experience, expertise and existing mechanisms behind it.
One is complex, untested, and will require millions of dollars to create the mechanisms for. It is not transparent, and cannot be applied to consumers. It is subject to lobbying, loopholes, and abuse, and in the current US (and EU) incarnation will give away the majority of credits for free, severely limiting its effectiveness (without limiting the setup or running costs). At its best, it will achieve what a carbon tax would have achieved, at higher cost. At worst, it is government greenwashing: achieving nothing by giving away credits and allowing for so-called "carbon off-sets", but posturing as a hard-line on climate change, generating complacency in a population that thinks it is doing the right thing.
I understand why industry and lobbyists support a cap&trade system; I can't imagine why the administration prefers it, or how environmentalists in the general public support it.

Hello Grace, Very nice article showing at the end...

2009-08-06T08:10:35.624-04:00

Hello Grace,

Very nice article showing at the end the necessity to build an equilibrium point between the perpetual 2 forces: Economy and Environment needs, which aren't complementary.

I fully appreciated. Particularly the point where it's mentioned that finally the mankind hasn't yet evolved from Stone Age, but stays with exactly the same minding, now with technology.

Does there's a way to do different? With proof that even Obama, at the head of one of the main powers in the world, has to put water in its wine, the answer is actually no! At least, as long as the mankind well-being doesn't have a financial value and becomes included in the GDP as an asset, or that economy major changes regarding environment occur. Without this, we will assist to a fight between the same forces in presence since all times up to a near or non return point where mankind will be forced to evolve.

Marc

Man up, Canada, indeed! I got really involved in ...

2009-08-05T21:52:48.737-04:00

Man up, Canada, indeed!

I got really involved in the Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade systems as a result of my involvement with the NDP (who proposes cap-and-trade). To me the most difficult challenge may be in selling either idea to the voters. Happily, the Obama administration, for all its shortcomings, is proposing something outside of election season.

Excellent article, Grace. I intend to use it for future reference.

Hi Christopher, Some of the main sources of smog a...

2009-05-12T00:55:00.000-04:00

Hi Christopher,
Some of the main sources of smog are:

* gasoline and diesel powered vehicles

* factories and utilities

* oil-based paints, solvents and cleaners

*pesticides

* road paving (asphalt) and construction

* barbecues + gas lamps to heat smokers or people sitting on an outdoor terrace

* lawnmowers

* pollutants carried by the wind from pollution sources in the United States

* coal-fired generating stations

Grace

Hi Grace - I read this article recently: http://ww...

2009-05-10T19:17:00.000-04:00

Hi Grace - I read this article recently: http://www.cjad.com/news/565/916776 -- the claim that winter smog is caused by asphalt and road salt is a surprise to me and almost seems rediculous, but I have no idea. Any comment on that?