Thread by @tracey_saxby

The latest update from scientists on the #ClimateEmergency: "transformational system changes are required."

This is essential reading for every politician and every decision maker in Canada. #bcpoli #cdnpoli

Thread below... 🔥
theguardian.com/environment/20…

From the scientific article signed by 13,800+ scientists:

"there has been an unprecedented surge in climate-related disasters since 2019."

academic.oup.com/bioscience/adv…

Let's bring this home to BC:

Deadly heatwaves. Floods. Wildfires. Fire clouds. Drought. Crop failure. Fisheries collapse. Infrastructure damage.

This is climate change, and it is terrifying. If you're not freaked out yet, you're not paying attention.

"There is also mounting evidence that we are nearing or have already crossed tipping points associated with critical parts of the Earth system."

Because we kept doing business as usual and burning more fossil fuels, we are on the brink of climate, ecological, & social collapse.

Greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all set new year-to-date records in both 2020 and 2021.

Emissions keep on INCREASING! See BC's past emissions versus where we need to be. We need to reduce emissions by 7% every year to get on track.

"The year 2020 was the second hottest year on record, and all five of the hottest years on record have occurred since 2015."

My prediction is that temperatures in 2021 will surpass any of the hottest years on record, by far.

As we head into the second heatwave of the year...

Ocean temperatures and sea levels set new records.

It's getting hotter, the sea level is rising, and the ocean is also getting more acidic, which has devastating impacts on marine organisms.

This is why we're seeing salmon fisheries collapse, and shellfish fisheries collapse.

The good news is that we can avoid the WORST impacts of climate change if we take action NOW. But we need to start immediately.

"Because of the limited time available, priorities must shift toward immediate and drastic reductions in dangerous short-lived greenhouse gases, especially methane."

That means no LNG exports. No more fracked gas. Policies to capture leaking methane in the fracking fields.

We need to address the "root cause: the overexploitation of the Earth."

For example, "halting the unsustainable exploitation of natural habitats."

This is why British Columbians are calling for an immediate moratorium on old-growth logging.

Scientists list six key actions:

1) Eliminate fossil fuels and shift to renewables.
2) Slash short-lived air pollutants like black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons.
3) Protect and restore nature to capture carbon and protect biodiversity.

4) Switch to food-based diets, reduce food waste, and improve cropping practices.
5) Move from GDP growth and overconsumption to ecological economics and a circular economy, where prices reflect the full environmental cost of goods and services.
6) Decrease the human population.

"Given the intensifying urgency and insufficient efforts to tackle the climate crisis at scale internationally, progress on the six above steps is imperative."

Scientists also call for three short-term policies:
1) Global implementation of a significant carbon price;
2) Global phase-out and ban of fossil fuels;
3) Development of strategic climate reserves to protect and restore natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.

"Implementing these three policies soon will help ensure the long-term sustainability of human civilization and give future generations the opportunity to thrive."

"We reaffirm the climate emergency declaration and again call for transformative change, which is needed now more than ever to protect life on Earth and remain within as many planetary boundaries as possible."

"The speed of change is essential, and new climate policies should be part of COVID-19 recovery plans. We must now join together as a global community with a shared sense of urgency, cooperation, and equity."

To people reading this thread: please retweet and tag your MLA and MP. Let them know that we expect bold and visionary leadership to immediately address the climate crisis. Demand climate action now.

Our lives depend on it.
#ClimateEmergency