Writers Festival recap I - Climate Change discussion |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Friday, 24 April 2009 19:00 |
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(Cult)ure is at the Ottawa International Writers Festival, at the St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities, in the Byward Market, from April 22nd to May 2nd. On Thursday, April 23, Thomas Homer-Dixon, the academic and bestselling author, and journalist William Marsden discussed climate change. The discussion was framed around the book Homer-Dixon recently edited, called "Carbon Shift," about the twin problems of climate change and peak oil. Marsden contributed an essay to the book, about the environmental catastrophe that is the Alberta tar sands industry, which was also the topic of his own book, "Stupid to the Last Drop." The basic premise of the talk was a little depressing: that it's already to late to prevent climate change. There are already parts of the planet that are dealing with dangerously heightened water levels, melting ice, and increased or fluctuating temperatures. The discussions we have now can only be about mitigation and adaptation to these changes. Homer-Dixon's main point during the discussion, and in his book, is that we must put an economic price on carbon consumption - whether through a cap and trade system, or a tax, it doesn't really matter - but we must do it in order to reduce our collective carbon footprint to zero. Both speakers acknowledged that political and public will is insufficient right now to initiate this crucial revolution. It will probably take some great global crisis - perhaps a food shortage - to spark such a drastic behavioural change. There is good news, though, both noted. All practices and policies that we take now, as individuals, communities, and governments, to reduce or eliminate our fossil fuel consumption will help ease that transition once it becomes inevitable. And there are current working models we can follow: Sweden is rapidly approaching carbon neutrality, and other European countries, such as Finland, Denmark, and Germany, are also well on their way. It will be more difficult to implement such changes in North America, because of geographic, cultural, economic, and political obstacles - but at least now the president of the US is talking about things like cap and trade, and halting the import of tar sands-produced oil to the country. It is also reassuring to know that there are intelligent people like Homer-Dixon and Marsden thinking, writing, and talking about these serious ideas; and that the audience on Thursday night - much of which consisted of students and other young people - was receptive to listening to and discussing them. As for the venue - the basement of St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities - it was great - cozy and casual - and they serve beer!
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 April 2009 10:54 |
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