Climate Watch NL is a network of concerned citizens that envisions a minimal carbon economy for Newfoundland and Labrador by 2050.
Our aim is to participate in critical public dialogue about climate change and call for meaningful policy that will both decarbonize the economy and reduce carbon emissions in NL. Central to our focus are the issues of climate change adaptation and fossil fuel extraction.
We want to engage with government and civil society in a productive conversation by asking important questions about our future direction as a province, and by researching effective solutions to the current climate challenge.
The Issues
There is currently international consensus that, at a global level, we need to keep the earth’s temperature within 1.5 - 2 degrees of the pre-industrial era in order to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.
As shown in the tables below, although we have a relatively small absolute carbon footprint, we also have a high per capita rate of GHG emissions.
Table 1: GHG Emissions Per Province, 1990, 2005, 2015 (Environment Canada)
Table 2: GHG Emissions per Capita, Provinces and OECD Countries (Conference Board of Canada)
As a coastal and northern province, Newfoundland and Labrador is uniquely vulnerable to climate change. Localized climate impacts in NL are already particularly noticeable in some coastal communities and in northern Labrador, and too often these places do not have the financial ability to adequately adapt to these changes.
Equally problematic, NL leaders have chosen to create an economy that is dependent on the fossil fuel industry, the consequences of which we all experienced in the 2015 collapse of oil prices.
The good news is that we CAN reduce our carbon emissions at the same time as we reduce our over-reliance on oil to fuel our economy.
Where we need to be
Climate Watch NL envisions a minimal carbon economy for Newfoundland and Labrador by 2050. As global citizens, it is socially, economically and ecologically responsible to decarbonize our society and our economy.
We also recognize that social inequality, public health and our ecological footprint are intimately linked. We therefore need a socially just transition of the economy that ensures that the most vulnerable citizens do not bear the largest burden in the transition. There are many ways to achieve this goal.
In Newfoundland and Labrador we must cap our own carbon emissions. This should include a commitment to limit fossil fuel extraction. Current research advises that Canada leave over 70% of its oil reserves in the ground (ie. McGlade and Ekins in Nature), a reality that has ramifications for our province among others.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v517/n7533/abs/nature14016.html
What we have to do
Around the world, and in our province, there are currently many effective, unique solutions to help reduce emissions and decarbonize our economy. We need both the political and societal will to make this change happen.
Climate Watch NL wants to engage Newfoundland and Labrador in discussing the solutions to pressing questions that include:
- What existing solutions will help decarbonize the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador?
- How do we best implement these solutions?
- What are the barriers to the implementation of these solutions?
- How do we address the current economic situation while laying the groundwork to a decarbonized future?
We would like you to be part of the conversation.
Invitation to collaborate
Concerned citizens that would like to learn more about Climate Watch NL, contact: info@climatewatchnl.ca
Organizations are also invited to support our work. If you’re interested in being added to our list of supporters, please contact us.