1. Change is in the Air Ozone Layer Montreal Protocol Greenhouse Gases
Global Warming
Kyoto Protocol
First Nations Clean Energy Plans

2. The Ozone Layer
Ozone, a special kind of oxygen (O3) id the only gas in the atmosphere that blocks the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer in humans and damage other animal and plant life
In 1978 satellite images revealed that it was thinning
Most evident in the polar regions where seasonal thinning, or a hole, appears during winter and early spring
Thins up to 60%

4. What is Depleting the Ozone Layer?
Chemicals, particularly CFCs, destroy the ozone layer
CFCs have been widely used since the 1930s in air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol cans
Believed to have done 80% of the damage

5. Montreal Protocol
The UN Environment Programme created the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of Ozone- depleting chemicals
In 1987, all industrial nations agreed to phase out CFCs by 2000
By 2009, 97% of all chemicals controlled by the protocol have been phased out
Met again in 2007 to deal with HCFCs which was a less harmful replacement. Again agreed to phase out HCFCs by 2030 in developed countries and 2040 in developing countries

6. The Only Solution
Only the complete elimination of HCFCs will begin to halt the damage to the ozone layer
The US Environmental Protection Agency argues that even when all ozone depleting chemicals are phased out, it could take a century before annual thinning over the arctic does not appear

7. Greenhouse Gases
Fossil fuels are the main cause of increasing and accelerating greenhouse gases
Included, oil, coal, and natural gas
Some natural emissions from volcanoes

8. Canada's Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gas emissions have increased in Canada since 1990
Significant growth between and 2007
2007, Canada ranked 7th in the world for emissions from fossil fuels largely due to the development of the tar sands
29.5 megatons of greenhouse gas each year

9. Global Warming Consequences
The global temperature has risen about 7.4% C in the past 100 years
Consequences
Increase in heat waves and violent storms
Loss of animal habitat and biodiversity
Increase in disease due to warmer temperature
Rising oceans and melting polar ice caps
Loss of human landscape and food production

10. BC Forests Under Attack
Warmer temperatures have had devastating effects on BC forests
The pine beetle became a major epidemic due to warmer temperatures because these insects were now active year round and spread easily.
The dead trees now are a major concern as they act as kindling for wildfires
Last year was a record high for BC wildfires

11. Canadian Farmers Under Attack
Climate change does allow for a longer growing season and possibility of increased agricultural land
BUT
Agriculture is sensitive to climate changes, especially moisture changes
A lack of melt water from receding glaciers and short winters in the rockeries will lead to drought conditions for the lower mainland

12. Drying Up
In Canada, changes in temperature and precipitation can affect runoff, evaporation, and the storage of water in lakes, soils, and glaciers
Arid regions such as the Okanogan Valley will be particularly vulnerable due to present supply problems
Reduced water flow will affect agriculture and salmon spawning
Increase bacteria

13. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFCCC was created at the 1992 Earth Summit
Outlined a plan to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration to prevent interference with the Earth’ s climate systems
Several protocols came out of this convention including the Kyoto Protocol
Outlined target reductions for GHG emissions
Introduced carbon credits to keep emissions low

14. Failing the Kyoto Protocol
In 1997 Canada signed the Kyoto Protocol promising to reduce GHG emissions by 6% of its levels by 2012
Government announced this was not possible in and created its own new limits to live up to
WHY?
The conservative Federal government depended upon oil produced from Alberta for international sale especially to China