1. Taking Action to Limit Climate Change

2. Changing our Energy Sources

3. Changing our Energy Sources
We depend on fossil fuels to power our country, cities, and homes
Extracting, refining and using fossil fuels release greenhouse gases.
One way to reduce greenhouse gases, is to reduce its emissions through cleaner energy sources

4. Clean Energy Source
Description
Wind Power
Wind causes the blades of wind turbines to turn, powering generators that produce electricity.
Geothermal Energy
Thermal energy below Earth’s surface is used to heat homes and other buildings

5. Solar Power
Solar panels absorb radiation from the Sun and convert it into electricity. The Sun’s radiation can also be used to heat water.
Hydroelectricity
The energy of moving water (e.g. a waterfall) turns turbines to power generators that produce electricity.

6. Biofuels
Biofuels use plant-based fuels to produce energy.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear energy is created by splitting the nuclei of atoms. Although nuclear energy plants do not emit greenhouse gases, they do produce radioactive waste, thus creating a different set of problems.

7. How Quickly to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

8. Global temperatures have already risen by 0
Global temperatures have already risen by 0.74°C over the last 100 years
Most scientists say we need to limit the increase to 2°C to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change  need to stabilize greenhouse gases at a lower level than it is today
In order to accomplish this by 2050, we need to reduce emissions by 80% relative to 1990
Ontario has already committed to this, Canada has not.

9. Kyoto Protocol and Action Plan

10. Kyoto Protocol
A plan by the United Nations for controlling greenhouse gas emissions

11. In 2002, Canada agreed to join the Kyoto Protocol.
This set short-term goals requiring industrialized nations to reduce emissions to specific concentrations by 2012
In 2009, a new agreement was put into place to limit the impacts of climate change. About 170 nations participated, and the agreement will take effect in 2013.

12. In 2006, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that Canada would not be meeting the target that was set, and sought other ways to reduce Canada’s emissions
In 2008, the government claimed to be putting in place a program that would reduce emission by 20% between 2006 and 2020
Internationally, Canada was criticised for not living up to Kyoto.

14. The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an agreement between 166 countries in the U.N.
The goal is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to a level where the global temperature increase in the next 100 years will be less than 2°C
Each nation determined how they would contribute, with the expectation being that they will be putting in their best effort

15. The Paris Agreement
Every 5 years the countries will meet to take stock of how their goals are progressing.
Canada has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 30% below 2005 levels, and plans to meet this goal by 2030

16. What Businesses, Industries and Governments can do
Transportation
Use less fuel by driving more efficiently
Use cleaner fuels
Use hybrid or electric vehicles
Support restrictions on pollution levels and incentives
Producing Energy
Improve energy efficiency
Use more clean energy sources

17. What Businesses, Industries and Governments can do
Recycle energy
Capture and store (sequester) CO2
Impose taxes on fossil fuel use
Agriculture
Use less nitrogen fertilizer
Compost
Restore polluted land

18. What Businesses, Industries and Governments can do
Waste Management
Collect methane from landfills
Compost
Reduce the volume of waste generated
Reduce consumption
Recycle
Forests
Reduce deforestation
Use biofuel from waste forestry products
Manage forests so that they are carbon sinks, not sources

19. Transportation
Use less fuel by driving more efficiently
Use cleaner fuels
Use hybrid or electric vehicles
Support restrictions on pollution levels and incentives
Producing Energy
Improve energy efficiency
Use more clean energy sources
Industries
Recycle energy
Capture and store (sequester) CO2
Impose taxes on fossil fuel use
Agriculture
Use less nitrogen fertilizer
Compost
Restore polluted land
Waste Management
Collect methane from landfills
Reduce the volume of waste generated
Reduce consumption
Recycle
Forests
Reduce deforestation
Use biofuel from waste forestry products
Manage forests so that they are carbon sinks, not sources