Climate change is already having major negative consequences for people all over the world, including shifting weather patterns, more severe weather events, and increasing sea levels. The poorest and most disadvantaged people are the ones that are most affected.
Climate change poses a clear threat to human civilization. We can make the required changes to protect the world through education, creativity, and dedication to our climate commitments. These developments also present significant opportunities to modernize our infrastructure, which will result in the creation of new jobs and increased global prosperity.
This is reflected in the U. N’s Sustainable Development Goal which declares to ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.’
Affordable, scalable options, as well as a slew of policies to minimize pollution, respond to climate change, and boost resilience, are all available to help countries leapfrog to cleaner, more sustainable economies focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Humans have a responsibility to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and plan low emission development pathways. Cities consume 78 per cent of the world’s energy sources and generating more than 70 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide, largely through energy production and
transportation based on fossil fuels, but also industry, and biomass consumption.
Role of the government
Canada is determined to bring this U.N SDG closer to reality by working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and prepare Canadians to face the challenges of climate change.
Apart from this the government can play a role in:
- To achieve political, economic, environmental, and societal goals related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, develop inclusive approaches.
- Develop comprehensive low-emission development strategies, such as plans for carbon-neutral transportation systems, smart grid development, and green growth in this context.
- Measure and monitor progress and impact of community-level greenhouse gas emission inventories using the most up-to-date criteria.
- Adopt regulations regulating the design of buildings and facilities that are more resilient to climate change threats by amending building codes and zoning bylaws.
- Develop innovative financing tools to help mobilize investments to address climate risks resulting from a lack of basic infrastructure and environmental amenities for all, especially the poorest urban residents.
Multiple objectives
In order to achieve this goal, the Canadian government has a list of objectives it seeks to achieve by 2030, this includes:
- Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
- Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
- Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
- Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries
Canada’s determination to provide concrete measures to combat climate change is a testimony of its desire to meet the U. N’s agenda will ensure a better quality of life for everyone living in Canada including immigrants.