We wish that Canada was in the same league as the UK in mitigating GHG emissions and taking practical steps to adapt to global warming. Here are examples of the large differences between the attitude of our two countries.
Response to Climate Change!
The theme of 4RG’s May Climate Change Forum in Peterborough, Ontario, was “A Tale of Two Cities”. This theme compared the measures undertaken by the UK and Canada in the field of climate change policy, regulation of emissions, introduction of renewable sources of energy and practical measures to guard against flooding due to extreme weather events.
Peterborough, Ontario suffered extensive flooding damage in 2002. Governments repaired much of the damage, but did next to nothing to prevent similar damage in the future. Unfortunately in 2004 Peterborough was hit by a second flood of even greater magnitude. If steps had been taken in the interim to avert damage from such an event, the loss could have been much reduced.
Peterborough, England also experienced flood damage on several occasions. Prior to the second flood, UK authorities at both the national and borough levels took practical measures to control the effects of extreme weather events.
