Role of the Educational Curriculum in Preparing Our Youth for Environmental Challenges Gord Miller Environmental Commissioner of Ontario EcoLinks 2010 The Ontario Society of Environmental Education April 28, 2010, Seneca College

There Four Issues that Matter Climate Change Peak Energy Biodiversity Loss Water Shortages

There Four Issues that Matter Climate Change Peak Energy Biodiversity Loss Water Shortages They are the four “pressures” on public decision making that will shape events in the coming decades

The Four pressures … interrelated … share common cause represent different foci within society and are represented by different groups all occurring concurrently but with … different levels of public awareness varying geographic impact

Climate Change

Climate Change It’s not about believing It’s already happening It’s accelerating at a frightening pace It may not have touched you yet (but it doesn’t have a gentle hand)

Climate Change So what does that mean to Ontario in the next two decades? more extreme precipitation events – flooding, culvert washouts, CSOs more extreme weather – power outages, etc. less assimilative capacity at low flow more frost cycles disrupting roads more pest problems - range extensions

Climate Change how can the educational curriculum prepare our youth for the challenges they will face?

Climate Change There is a huge wealth of curricula materials within climate change study Science – weather, agriculture, species range extensions, acidification of the oceans, thermal expansions, glaciations, Archimedes' principle, Planck’s Law … History – the Little Ice Age Math – the frequency of storm events Geography, Social Studies, Literature

Peak Energy Peak Oil Peak Electricity

Peak Oil It’s not about believing It’s already happening It may not have touched you yet

Concept of Peak Oil Hubbert Peak Oil Production Time

Concept of Peak Oil ‘Stable’ Prices Lots of Oil Time

Concept of Peak Oil Huge Price Increases Still Lots of Oil Time

Peak Oil So what does that mean to Ontario in the next two decades? much more expensive fuel (possible shortages) more expensive food less wealth generally – constraints on taxes increased pressure on public transit distance dominates … again … suburban trend reverses

Peak Oil How can the educational curriculum prepare our youth for the challenges they will face?

Peak Oil The nature of fossil petroleum The pervasive use of petroleum in our society for energy and materials The geopolitical importance of oil The graphing of oil consumption Municipal planning in an oil constrained world

Peak Electricity not a shortage issue per say but still a big problem 2009 the average market price was … $0.033 /kWh

Peak Electricity not a shortage issue per say but still a big problem 2009 the average market price was … $0.033 /kWh 2009 the peak market price was … $1.89 /kWh there will be upward pressure on peak load prices

Peak Electricity long term increase in base prices despite interval metering much stronger thrust on reduction of energy use and energy efficiency development of a conserver society

Peak Electricity How can the educational curriculum prepare our youth for the challenges they will face?

Peak Electricity Read your meter … relate lifestyle with energy consumption Look at small scale renewable energy technologies Study low energy consuming societies

Biodiversity Loss It’s not about believing It’s already happening It’s accelerating at a frightening pace It may not have touched you yet

Biodiversity Loss So what does that mean to Ontario in the next two decades? loss of street and park trees reports of extinctions and extirpations great disruptions in forests and aquatic ecosystems much greater public sensitivity to wildlife and natural area issues

Biodiversity Loss How can the educational curriculum prepare our youth for the challenges they will face?

Biodiversity Loss Geography of the mountain pine beetle

Biodiversity Loss Geography of the mountain pine beetle History of the passenger pigeon / buffalo / American chestnut Success of the whooping crane / peregrine falcon / American eagle Amphibian decline – earth monitors

Water Shortages It’s not about believing It’s already happening It may not have touched you yet

Water Shortages So what does that mean to Ontario in the next two decades? threatened municipal supplies / constraints on growth demand for grey water re-use, rain water capture technology controversy and conflict over long distance pipelines continued threats re Great Lakes takings

Water Shortages How can the educational curriculum prepare our youth for the challenges they will face?

Water Shortages The value of water to our society The Great Lakes The historical role of our waterways … wars, exploration, agriculture The future geopolitical importance of our water

In Summary … the coming changes caused by the four pressures will cause a restructuring of our entire economy

In Summary … the coming changes caused by the four pressures will cause a restructuring of our entire economy If our society is to adapt to the changes as best we can … we must prepare our youth for the challenges they will face

Thank You For Your Attention The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian (1906-1945)