Local impacts of climate change were the focus of discussion at the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) annual general meeting on Feb. 17.
Chair Art Versteeg told about 40 people who attended the event at the Harriston library that after years of government cutbacks, conservation authorities find themselves at the forefront in the race to adjust to new weather patterns and their effects.
“We’re a small agency and we have a limited budget,” said Versteeg, adding municipalities have stepped into the void in terms of funding and supporting the authority’s operations.
“It’s been a long time since the province has been a meaningful partner in conservation,” added Versteeg.
“We have to continue to remind the province that municipalities shouldn’t have to carry the entire load.”
Municipalities will definitely play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, said Huron-Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan.
Having attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris as a representative of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities initiative, Twolan noted “Over 70 per cent of greenhouse gases are produced in the cities … so clearly major cities and municipalities have a role to play.”
Twolan said all the high profile speakers at the conference last November and December stressed, “it will be up to local politicians to get things done.
“The onus, and it was said several times at the Paris conference, is on us … it will start with local councils and mayors. That’s what’s going to drive climate change.”
Twolan said the conference sent a clear message that alternative energy sources must become primary sources.
“The message that was delivered over and over and over was more wind turbines and more solar, more renewables.”
As someone who comes from a “nuclear community,” Twolan was surprised to find “nuclear was not mentioned once.”
And yet, he said, “Obviously nuclear power has to be part of the solution.”
But even so, Twolan believes a zero emissions world is a daunting target.
“We need to build 51 nuclear power stations a year until 2150 to get to zero emissions – that’s how bad it is.”
