1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Climate Change

6. 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)

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Peak Energy
Peak Oil
Peak Electricity

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

18. Concept of Peak Oil
Hubbert Peak
Oil Production
Time

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

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

24. 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

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

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

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

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

32. 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

33. 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

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

35. Biodiversity Loss
Geography of the mountain pine beetle

38. 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

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

40. 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

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

42. 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

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

44. 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

45. 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 ( )