Everybody talks about the environment....doing something about it is another thing.

The time frame for action is frightening. We will need to focus on the interventions upon which there is high agreement, and high confidence specifically in areas we can control, like modes of transportation, the buildings we inhabit and our dietary preferences.

Transportation: In future people must travel less, and shift to more sustainable choices like car sharing and hybrid and electric cars. using more efficient modes of travel, e.g. swapping cars, trucks and planes to buses and trains is required.

Buildings: using smart thermostats or more efficient air conditioners is only part of the solution.

Diets: We need toconsume about 30% less animal products.The livestock sector is estimated to account for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, more than direct emissions from the transport sector.

Sources: IPCC - summary for policy makers

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main multilateral forum focused on addressing climate change.

Globally, economic and population growth are the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The contribution of population growth between 2000 and 2010 remained roughly identical to the previous three decades, while the contribution of economic growth has risen sharply.

Between 2000 and 2010, both drivers outpaced emission reductions from improvements in energy intensity. Increased use of coal runs counter to decarbonization of the world’s energy supply. [1.3, 5.3, 7.2, 14.3, TS.2.2]

Energy demand growth results from improvements in wealth, lifestyle change, access to modern energy services and adequate housing, and urbanisation.

I have studied the motion recently prepared to mobilize the city to address the gag crisis. I can summarize it as follows:

a climate emergency names, frames, and commits to protecting our economy, ecosystem, and community from climate change as a strategic priority in the City’s strategic plan and budget

the Chairs of the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management, Planning Committee, Transportation Committee, Transit Commission and the Councilor Liaison of Environment Stewardship Advisory Committee act as the steering committee

Set the GHG targets for the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan necessary to limit warming to 1.5C;

Prepare a Climate Change Resilience Strategy and plan

We need to be clear in what we are trying to do.

Building codes and appliance standards, if well designed and implemented, have been among the most environmentally and cost-effective instruments for emission reductions (robust evidence, high agreement)