on thin ice: ontario’s polar bears the carbon consequences
TRANSCRIPT
On Thin Ice: Ontario’s Polar Bears The Carbon Consequences
Support CPAWS Wildlands League’s Polar Bear Swim, December 14, 2008
Thank you for taking the time to consider your participation in the Polar Bear Swim. Please note that you can participate in a number of ways:
• Sponsor a swimmer • Participate in the swim • Come and cheer the swimmers on! • Volunteer to assist with this event. Call 416-971-9453 ext 46 or email
[email protected].• Tell a friend about the plight of Ontario’s polar bears• Purchase a Plush Polar Bear and support our work to protect their habitat! Visit www.wildlandsleague.org
or call 416-971-9453 ext 41 for more info.
In addition to this cover sheet, this package contains:• Background information on WHY we are raising awareness for the plight of Ontario’s Polar Bears• Pledge Form for your swim sponsors. Bring completed form and pledges to registration on the morning of
the swim.• Swim safety sheet and information on hypothermia – please read and contact us if you have any questions.• Wildlands League waiver – must be signed and submitted at registration• Toronto Port Authority waiver – must be signed and submitted at registration.
Important notes:• To register for the swim please be onsite NO LATER THAN 9:45am on Sunday, December 14.• Washrooms at the Sunnyside Pavillion Café are not open during this time.• Toronto EMS will be onsite to respond to any medical emergencies• Swimmers must bring their own warm up gear – clothes, towel, blankets.• In the event of extreme weather conditions this event will be postponed or cancelled.• Receipts will be issued for donations over $20.00. Donations will be accepted by cash or cheque. To make
a donation via credit card please visit our website for more information.
Questions? Please contact our office at 416-971-9453 extension 46 or via email to: [email protected].
at Sunnyside Beach1775 Lakeshore Blvd West, Toronto
Sunday, December 14, 20089:30am – registration
10:00am – SWIM!
On Thin Ice: Ontario’s Polar Bears The Carbon Consequences
Background Information:
Ontario is a pivotal player in the global struggle to stabilize our climate and conserve biodiversity. We have the world’s most southern population of polar bears – the “poster beast”1 for climate change issues- and one of the richest natural carbon reserves in the world. Carbon is the building block for greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide - CO2, methane - CH4, etc... Pressure to extract resources threatens to release this carbon and accelerate climate change.
Most people know that polar bears are acutely threatened by global warming and the melting of sea ice. Polar bears are both perfectly adapted to ice and cold and inseparably dependent on it. Ice is the platform from which they must hunt for seals and the stage on which they play out their life dramas of wandering courtships and coupling. Their Latin name is Ursus maritimus, the Sea Bear. A better name might be Ursus glacialis, Ice Bear, to reflect their dependence on the frozen Arctic. As such, they are an early warning system for climate change.
We are also keenly aware that increases in greenhouse gases from human combustion of fossil fuels are mainly responsible for climate change. So we are rightly advised to reduce our energy consumption and shift to renewable sources of energy. What is less well known is that the other significant contributor to global warming is conversion of carbon rich ecosystems from industrial development such as forestry, mining and hydro development.
Ice bears, climate change and carbon choices collide dramatically in Ontario. Our far north has both polar bears and globally significant carbon reserves. Recent research indicates that the carbon stored in peat bogs alone is equivalent to up to 65 years' worth of the world's current carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning. Clumsy, and ill thought development of these ecosystems will release huge amounts of greenhouse gases and compromise their ability to store carbon in the future. Tremendous effort is being expended by industry to explore and develop forests and peatlands for resource extraction. Ontario’s first diamond mine, Debeer’s Victor project began construction in 2006. More mines are slated to follow. The good news is that Ontario’s far north is still largely undisturbed. Further, Premier Dalton McGuinty has promised to preserve more than half of this area and its carbon storehouse capacity and plan for sustainable development on the rest.
This is an unprecedented promise and one we need to keep.
Our climate is at a tipping point. Releasing vast boreal carbon stores through irresponsible development will be like adding kerosene to the wildfire of climate change. Conserving carbon within intact ecosystems is vital for climate stability. Polar bears will be among the first casualties if we fail to act.
1 Terry O’Reilly, CBC Radio’s Age of Persuasion, Six Remarkable Brands Episode.