Dear Mr. Greg Kyllo
I saw your advertisement titled “How Late is Too Late” in the May 19 Observer. The first paragraph reads “The fire that ravaged Lytton in 2021 was a stark reminder of the massive impact and increased prevalence of extreme weather events in our province.”
You go on to highlight the failings of the current government as well as the potential risks to our region due to extreme weather events and wildfire. You also highlight the importance of disaster and emergency preparedness, response and education, in addition to ensuring infrastructure is up to the challenge.
However, reading the ad, I must ask, do you acknowledge that more frequent and extreme weather events and devastating wildfires are directly related to the burning of fossil fuels which have caused the planet to warm? How many times in the last several decades have researchers warned us of the dire consequences of not reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Yet, your advertisement doesn’t mention climate change once. This is the huge elephant in the room.
Read more: B.C.’s 2023 budget not addressing the urgency of environmental issues: Furstenau
What do you and the BC United Caucus plan to do to mitigate climate change?
Both the previous BC Liberals and the NDP under Horgan and Eby have failed us by subsidizing and promoting the ongoing exploration, production, use and export of liquified natural gas (LNG) i.e., methane, a potent GHG. Similarly, the federal government has failed us with continued support of the oil sands industry.
As B.C.’s and Canada’s GHG emissions increase we repeatedly miss climate targets.
Citizens and elected official of all stripes, at all government levels, must not only prepare for climate change but more importantly, acknowledge the issue and work together to ensure we quickly reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels. Future generations are relying on us.
Julia Beatty
Shuswap Climate Action Society
newsroom@saobserver.net
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