Welcome to our Media Room! This is where you can find out about recent news, share in our programs' events, hear from our Champions, and read about other Clean Air Champions' developments.

10 Human Fingerprints on Climate Change

Friday, July 30, 2010

Friday, 30 July, 2010 10 Indicators of a Human Fingerprint on Climate Change The *NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) State of the Climate 2009 report is an excellent summary of the many lines of evidence that global warming is happening. Acknowledging the fact that the planet is warming leads to the all important question- What's causing global warming? To answer this, here is a summary of the empirical evidence that answers this question. Many different observations find a distinct human fingerprint on climate change: 10 Indicators of a Human Fingerprint on Climate Change 1. Humans are currently emitting around 30 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year (CDIAC). Of course, it could be coincidence that CO2 levels are rising so sharply at the same time so let's look at more evidence that we're responsible for the rise in CO2 levels. 2. When we measure the type of carbon accumulating in the atmosphere, we observe more of the type of carbon that comes from fossil fuels (Manning 2006). 3. This is corroborated by measurements of oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen levels are falling in line with the amount of carbon dioxide rising, just as you'd expect from fossil fuel burning which takes oxygen out of the air to create carbon dioxide (Manning 2006). 4. Further independent evidence that humans are raising CO2 levels comes from measurements of carbon found in coral records going back several centuries. These find a recent sharp rise in the type of carbon that comes from fossil fuels (Pelejero 2005). 5. So we know humans are raising CO2 levels. What's the effect? Satellites measure less heat escaping out to space, at the particular wavelengths that CO2 absorbs heat, thus finding "direct experimental evidence for a significant increase in the Earth's greenhouse effect". (Harries 2001, Griggs 2004, Chen 2007). 6. If less heat is escaping to space, where is it going? Back to the Earth's surface. Surface measurements confirm this, observing more downward infrared radiation (Philipona 2004, Wang 2009). A closer look at the downward radiation finds more heat returning at CO2 wavelengths, leading to the conclusion that "this experimental data should effectively end the argument by skeptics that no experimental evidence exists for the connection between greenhouse gas increases in the atmosphere and global warming." (Evans 2006). 7. If an increased greenhouse effect is causing global warming, we should see certain patterns in the warming. For example, the planet should warm faster at night than during the day. This is indeed being observed (Braganza 2004, Alexander 2006). 8. Another distinctive pattern of greenhouse warming is cooling in the upper atmosphere, otherwise known as the stratosphere. This is exactly what's happening (Jones 2003). 9. With the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) warming and the upper atmosphere (the stratophere) cooling, another consequence is the boundary between the troposphere and stratophere, otherwise known as the tropopause, should rise as a consequence of greenhouse warming. This has been observed (Santer 2003). 10. An even higher layer of the atmosphere, the ionosphere, is expected to cool and contract in response to greenhouse warming. This has been observed by satellites (Laštovi?ka 2006). Science isn't a house of cards, ready to topple if you remove one line of evidence. Instead, it's like a jigsaw puzzle. As the body of evidence builds, we get a clearer picture of what's driving our climate. We now have many lines of evidence all pointing to a single, consistent answer - the main driver of global warming is rising carbon dioxide levels from our fossil fuel burning. *State of the Climate is published as a special supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and is edited by D.S. Arndt, M.O. Baringer, and M.R. Johnson. The full report and an online media packet with graphics is available online: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources Source: Skeptical Science:http://www.skepticalscience.com/10-Indicators-of-a-Human-Fingerprint-on-Climate-Change.html

Canada should follow its own carbon policy

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

GLOBE-Net, June 29, 2010 - Canada needs to implement its own progressive carbon policy rather than following the "mindless US path", says famed Harvard University professor Michael Porter. In a speech delivered in Montreal yesterday to an audience of international business, policy and academic leaders prior to the 2010 World Congress of Environment and Resource Economists, Porter said what we really do need is, in effect, a carbon tax. "That is a very visible, transparent, fair approach that is likely to trigger the appropriate innovation." The carbon capture-and-trade model that the U.S. "has patched together" is too complicated and blunts incentives that would enhance innovation and competitiveness, said Porter at a symposium organized by the Sustainable Prosperity network. Professor Porter, widely seen as the world's top competitiveness expert, was the keynote speaker of the High-level Experts lunch panel on how environmental regulations can be designed to boost innovation and competitiveness. Porter argues that strong environmental regulation need not hurt the economy, but can drive innovation and growth. Quoted in an interview with the Montreal Gazette following his presentation, Porter said that carbon and energy issues are becoming critical factors in economic growth. "Even if you don't believe in climate change, we do understand the fundamental importance of energy and energy costs," he said. "A carbon tax would lead to a rethinking of energy use, drive innovation in the green economy and yield profits for "first movers," he added. "I think there is plenty of evidence that that works (where it has been implemented in Europe), and it has been implemented in a very intelligent way in B.C., and it's working there." In earlier writings Porter has written: "Countries need an entirely new way of thinking about the relationship between environment and industrial competitiveness. No lasting success can come from policies that promise that environmentalism will triumph over industry, (or) that industry will triumph over environmentalism. Instead, success must involve innovation-based solutions that promote both environmentalism and industrial competitiveness." "Porter's message is especially relevant for Canada," said Professor Stewart Elgie, chair of Sustainable Prosperity. "If we act now and put a price on carbon emissions, rather than waiting for the U.S., it will not hurt Canada's economy - and will likely improve our competitive position in an ever-greening global economy." Sustainable Prosperity and Resources for the Future hosted the one day high-level symposium entitled "The Porter Hypothesis at 20: How Can Environmental Regulation Enhance Innovation and Competitiveness?." The Chair's Background Paper on the Porter Hypothesis is available for download . The event was designed to explore how Canada should position itself to prosper in a future low-carbon economy, with specific reference to these issues: * How can businesses become greener and more competitive, and stay profitable * Is Canada wise (economically) to wait for the US before regulating carbon emissions? * What approach is best for regulating carbon and pollution (green taxes, cap & trade, clean technology subsidies)? * What can policy-makers learn to help put in place regulations that promise positive economic and environmental outcomes? Michael Porter's PowerPoint Presentation is available here. Source: www.montrealgazette.com

Who Would Believe - Painting the Andes to Fight Climate Change!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

An inventor has set out to paint the peaks of the Andes white in an attempt to combat the effects of climate change. By painting the mountains, Eduardo Gold hopes to replicate the effect of Andean glaciers, which reflect back sunlight and hence heat back through the atmosphere. The technique is scientifically plausible and, according to some scientists, may be the only method of lowering global temperatures in a crisis. "A white surface reflects the sun's rays back through the atmosphere and into space. In doing so, it cools the area around it too," said the 55-year-old activist. "In effect it creates a micro-climate, so we can say that the cold generates more cold, just as heat generates more heat." It is hoped the project will slow the melting of the glaciers. Four workmen have been given the task of painting three peaks, starting with Peru's Chalon Sombrero peak, 15,600ft above sea level. Chalon Sombrero, like many of the Andean peaks, has seen its glacier disappear within living memory. The painters who have already completed two hectares of a planned 70 have been recruited from Licapa village, which depends on the run-off from the mountain for its water. The project is a low technology remedy for global warming. The workers use an environmentally-friendly mix of lime, industrial egg white and water, which is known to have been used since Peru's colonial times. The whitewash is slopped out on the slopes from jugs. If the underlying theory, which is known as solar radiation management, works the glacier should re-emerge in a cooler micro-climate. The pounds 135,000 project is funded by the World Bank after Mr Gold won a competition called "100 Ideas to Save the Planet". The World Bank estimated last year that 22 per cent of Peru's glaciers had melted since 1980. There are projections that all the country's glaciers could disappear in the next 20 years. While novel, the painting scheme is not the only outlandish way of tackling global warming proposed. Firing mirrors into space to reflect the sun's rays, or feeding cattle garlic to reduce methane emissions have been mooted. Locals who have witnessed the destruction of the glaciers are strong supporters of Mr Gold's scheme. "All the peaks here should be painted in this way," said Pablo Parco Palomino. "That way there would be as much water as there was before the glacier disappeared, and that would mean more pasture to support more livestock." But Antonio Brack, Peru's environment minister, told the World Bank that its funding would be better spent on other "projects which would have more impact in mitigating climate change". Mr Gold believes he can get results. "I'd rather try and fail to find a solution than start working out how we are going to survive without the glaciers, as if the situation was irreversible," he said. Steven Chu, the US energy secretary, has endorsed installation of white roofs to help prevent climate change, an idea seen as more logistically feasible than painting mountain peaks. The Daily Telegraph Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Inventor+paints+Andes+combat+global+warming/3212568/story.html#ixzz0sFiMrB3K

The Bolivian ski resort of Chacaltaya, stranded like a beached whale once its 18,000-year-old glacier disappeared permanently in 2009

Europe Bound - Champion Andréanne Morin's Return to the Sport she Loves!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

London, Ontario- June 23rd, 2010 Hello All! Some of you are new to my email updates- Welcome! Others will have memories of my last mass email on August 17th 2008 following the Olympic Rowing Final in Beijing and the heartbreaking race we had, where the Canadian women’s 8 finished fourth by a fraction of a second. Well, here I am again!!! It is not the Olympics just yet, but my rowing career is being prolonged for at least another summer… It may seem as a surprise to some of you I have not spoken to recently. It wasn’t so long ago, I was hard at work in Law School at U de Montreal, soaking up the social life and Bixi-ing around old Montreal! In fact, in early May I was still writing exams, pacing the library and cramming criminal law… Then virtually overnight, I found myself back on Fanshawe Lake in London ONT doing some side-by-side workouts and holding my own against the new crop of national team rowers. In 6 short weeks, I found my sea legs again and stunned a few people throughout the selection process for the European Tour Team. The head coach even told me I was “a freaking happy surprise” - clearly he hadn’t thought in such a short time I could win back a seat in the 8 and be a veteran in the crew! I’ll admit I was also startled by my results, thinking that my fitness would be a limiting factor to my potential…But the half marathons and the running for the past two years are paying off! Thanks to the MAA track team who pushed me on the track! So TODAY is the departure date for the European Tour. Here is the journey I will be taking you on, if you wish to read my emails of course! First stop is at the Royal Henley Regatta in Great Britain. This race, held on the Thames River is the Wimbeldon of rowing. The Brits, sophisticated and honoring tradition, applaud (no yelling allowed) at the river’s edge as the crews row down the 2-mile course. It’s a real treat to compete in this world-class regatta for a second time. In 2003, the Canadian Women’s 8 in which I rowed won and set a course record!! Hope to do the same this year! More to come on British tradition, Bentleys, caviar & champagne and women with excessively large hats… Second stop, a short training camp at Dorney Lake, the rowing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It will be interesting to see how the course has been upgraded since the 2006 World Championships. As most of you know (props to the VANOC crew), the build up to host Olympic Games spans years and requires endless resources. We’ll see where they are 2 years away from the opening ceremonies. Last stop, but certainly not the least- one of favorite places on earth- the Lucerne Rotsee! On July 9-11, we will be competing in the 3rd and final World Cup of the 2010 season in Switzerland. Nestled between the Swiss CCF train and the moow-ing cows in nearby pastures, this racecourse is beautiful! I have several very fond memories there and hope to once again bring home some hardware from this race! This is an important regatta, since most of the countries will be in attendance, and typically, the result at this world cup is a good indicator of the crews to beat at the World Championships in New Zealand later this year. I am thrilled to be back at the grind, pursuing this passion, and hopefully you will enjoy my emails! FYI: I will read every one of your emails, but I may not be quick to reply! If you have any questions, ask away, I will do my best to explain the technicalities of rowing! Andréanne

Champion and Olympian Andréanne Morin and Womens' Eight Team

Clean Air Champion Raising Funds and Awareness for MS

Friday, May 28, 2010

Crystal Phillips is a Clean Air Champion with multiple sclerosis who is looking for your support to help her cover the costs of treatment in India this summer. Crystal’s inspirational story is below. To donate, or read more about Crystal, please go to http://www.crystalpatches.com --- My name is Crystal Phillips, I am 24 years old, am a competitive long track speed skater, natural nutritionist, student of herbology and I have multiple sclerosis. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. There will always be many challenges that you need to face and overcome to make you stronger, to push yourself mentally and physically harder than you ever thought possible. In the spring of 2005 I had an unexpected curve ball thrown at me. It started with a tingly foot one morning. The next day the tingly, numb feeling progressed into both my legs up to my knees. That night at about 4:00am I could barely feel half my body so my roommate drove me to the hospital. The following two days saw me through a battery of tests as the numbness quickly progressed up to my chest. On the third day of being at the hospital and waiting patiently for the MRI results with my mom by my side, a team of neurologists walked in with a look I’ll never forget. My stomach started to turn as they said good morning with a nervous tone to their voice. They went into a lengthy explanation using words I did not understand until the end when they said: “This is also known as Multiple Sclerosis”. The first thing I thought was that I was going to be in a wheel chair in the matter of a couple weeks and eventually die from the disease. All my goals and dreams seemed to have been snatched away. After moments of silence and crying, the neurologists explained that the disease is not a death sentence. They tried to encourage me by telling me that you can lead a pretty normal life, but all I wanted to hear was that I could still skate. They did not sound very optimistic about my skating but did not rule out the possibility, and that was all I needed to stay motivated. It took me 4 long months to recover from the relapse but as soon as I could I started training again. At first, I eased my way back into training but was impatient and feeling so far behind my competition, so I used anger and frustration to push myself harder and harder. Three months into the season I raced my first competition. The races were exceptionally exhausting but I continued to skate all four distances instead of listening to my body. All considered, I skated well but was still nowhere near where I left off. That weekend was not only exhausting physically, but because I put a lot of pressure on myself and had set unrealistic expectations, I was stressed out mentally as well. Two days later, I woke up without any feeling on the entire left side of my body. That’s when reality hit me: “I have Multiple Sclerosis”. I did not truly believe or accept what had happened in the spring. I needed that second relapse to truly understand that I will have to deal with this life long illness with no cure. I was tired of feeling sorry for myself. It was not getting me anywhere and only making matters worse. When I made that realization it was like night and day. I had a whole new outlook on life. I no longer dwell on the past or rely on the future. I live every day to the fullest and have a new appreciation of everything in life ... especially my family and friends who have been by my side. It’s amazing where a simple shift, from negative thoughts to positive thoughts, can take you. I learned that mind over matter is a powerful tool and strongly believe that it was the reason I recovered twice as fast then I did in the spring. Today I feel healthy and happy and up to the challenge of pursuing my dreams and ambitions which include so much more than just speed skating. I see my situation as an opportunity to make a difference, to inspire others to always believe in themselves and have the strength to overcome all obstacles to reach whatever dreams they may have.

Crystal Phillips, National Team Speed Skater and Clean Air Champion

Another Active School Year for HSBC Clean Air Achievers

Monday, May 24, 2010

As the 2009-2010 school year winds down, nearly 6,000 Grade 6-9 students across the country have taken a critical look at their travel behaviours through their participation in the HSBC Clean Air Achievers program. Students in eight provinces (BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NFLD) began traveling by more active or sustainable forms of transportation after learning how the family automobile contributes to air pollution, climate change and negative health effects. There have been many highlights over the past school year including: - Highest number of schools implementing the program to date (105 schools) - First schools in both Manitoba and Newfoundland implement the program - A Collingwood, ON high school takes a team approach and Grade 9 students mentor Grade 8 students from three schools in the program for the board’s Student Success Program - Rural route tours to Huntsville, ON and Kenora, ON providing students in rural areas a chance to participate in the program and be visited by an Olympic athlete - Many greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of more active and sustainable transportation! In the final weeks of the program, many schools will receive the celebratory visit from the Champion athlete to recognize the students’ successes. The athletes have been inspired by the hard work of students across Canada and the students have been inspired to get active for the environment and for their health – a winning combination!

HSBC Clean Air Achievers in Calgary, Alberta showing their certificates of achievement.

High School Climate Challenge is Blossoming in BC

Monday, April 19, 2010

After a successful pilot year in Ontario, the High School Climate Challenge launched in British Columbia in September 2009. Since then, Climate Action Teams at 8 schools across the province have collected data and used the online calculator to figure out their school's greenhouse gas emissions. With this knowledge, the teams have been able to choose sustainability initiatives to implement around their schools that will have the biggest impact. The Climate Action Teams have organized many fantastic initiatives at their schools, including: - A Green Theatre Production - Solar panel installation - Landfill tours - Tours of the local Burns Bog - Compost - Fixing leaky taps - Checking into computer policies (can monitors be turned off at night?) - And many more!! A few of our schools entered the BC Green Games, hosted by Science World of British Columbia and BC Hydro. There were 94 entries from 32 school districts around the province this year, all vying for a share of the $22,500 prize money available. A panel of provincial environmental experts chose the winning school greening project entries, and additional viewer's choice awards were also given out based on online voting. We are proud to report that three of our schools were winners!! Congratulations to Shawnigan Lake School, Windermere Community School, and Fraser Heights School! To view the 2010 winning projects, visit: http://2010.bcgreengames.ca/gallery/the-winners.html

Shawnigan Lake School and Brentwood College School at their combined kick-off in November

Physical Inactivity - An Ongoing Issue in Canada

Friday, April 16, 2010

Did you know… •$2.1 billion in health care costs are a direct result of physical inactivity? •More than 20,000 premature deaths occur each year due to physical inactivity? •By reducing our national level of physical inactivity by only 10%, we would save $150 million in one year? So, get off your butt and commit to increasing YOUR physical activity level by at least 10% and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Reference: Peter T. Katzmarzyk, PhD, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 2010

How lazy can we be?

The Story of the Three Trees – Morgan, Mo and Fraser

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The following poem was written by Grade 9 student, Grant S, from Mr. Gibson's class at Collingwood Collegiate Institute in Collingwood, Ontario. The poem was acted out in a skit during Champion Bill Trayling's HSBC Clean Air Achievers celebration presentation. This excellent piece of work illustrates how students can think critically about the environment - and can take action to do their part! The air is filled Filled with CO2 Which trees absorb As they always do The gas is stored Inside it’s trunk. And in the ground Where roots are sunk The Trees were dancing, In the forest so green, When all of a sudden, A car got mean. The tree named Morgan Collapsed in a heap And left all the others To sadly weep Out of Mo’s body Carbon was released Into the atmosphere And away from the deceased But Down to the trees The carbon came back Into the forest And Into Zack Then along came a man Of a very large build Who sent a small shiver And left the trees chilled The logger approached A tree named Fraser He swung his axe It cut like a razor The tree was dragged To a place of fire Poor Fraser was burned On this industrial pyre But just like poor Morgan Carbon was emitted and to the environment A crime was committed This cycle continues Absorbed and gone Until it is meddled with Like what’s going on We are poisoning our air With our cars on the road Increasing carbon levels Until earth explodes! BOOM! That is the story Of three little trees Who because of humans Were brought to their knees

CMA Report Warns Poor Air Quality Killing Canadians

Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Canadian Medical Association released staggering new data today showing that this year alone as many as 21,000 Canadians will die prematurely from the effects of air pollution. While most of those deaths will be due to chronic exposure over a number of years, almost 3,000 will be the result of acute, short-term exposure. The CMA's report entitled 'No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution', shows the effects of poor air quality based on the concentrations of two highly predictive pollutants - ozone and particulate matter - on four distinct age groups of Canadians. "With the ....the Olympics in Beijing, much has been made about the poor air quality in China and the effect it is having on our athletes," said CMA President Dr. Brian Day. "But we have a serious home-grown pollution problem right here and Canadians, ranging from the very young to the very old, are paying the price." Specific findings of the No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution report include: By 2031, almost 90,000 Canadians will have died from the acute short-term effects of air pollution. The number of deaths, due to long-term exposure, will be over 700,000 - the population of Quebec City. In 2008, 80% of those who die due to air pollution will be over age 65. In 2008, 25 Canadians under age 19 will die of the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution. Ontario and Quebec residents are the worst hit Canadians, with 70% of the premature deaths occurring in Central Canada, even though these two provinces comprise only 62% of Canada's population. In 2008 there will be over 9,000 hospital visits, 30,000 emergency department visits and 620,000 doctor's office visits due to air pollution. The economic costs of air pollution in 2008 will top $8 billion. By 2031, they will have accumulated to over $250 billion. "This report shows for the first time the tragic effects of the toxic air that we breathe, whether it is in my hometown of Vancouver, or across the country in St. John's," added Dr. Day. No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution used a software model first developed by the Ontario Medical Association and provides detailed health and economic data relating to changes in air quality. The study uses the best available knowledge and data on air quality, human health and economics to produce accurate forecasts of health impacts and expected costs related to changes in air quality. The tool has also been validated by a panel of international experts on health and the environment. The full report, including provincial data and tables, is available at www.cma.ca For more information: Contact: Lucie Boileau Tel. 1-800 663-7336 x1266, or 613 731-8610 x1266