OP-ED ARTICLE: The Moment of Truth for a Changing Climate (published in the Vancouver Sun in January 2017)

Note to Reader:

On January 23, 2017 the Vancouver Sun newspaper published an opinion piece co-authored by Kim Stephens, Michael Blackstock and Bob Sandford. The topic was Blue Ecology – interweaving the best threads of Indigenous and Western Science to make water-first decisions.

Opinion: Indigenous and Western science work together to make water-first decisions

“Our climate is indeed changing. Flood, drought, fire, wind and cold – extreme events are becoming the norm. From a water-first perspective, we are at a moment of truth,” stated the co-authors in their opening paragraph.

“To make the right choices moving forward, we must understand how and where the rhythms of water are changing. Then we can apply ecosystem-based understanding to adapt our practices to suit a changing climate.”

“Adapting to changes in the water cycle requires that British Columbians re-think our relationship with nature. Over the generations, we have lost our way. The path to a water-resilient future starts with Western science acknowledging water for its central functional and spiritual roles in our world.”

To Learn More:

To read the entire Op-Ed, click on Opinion: Indigenous and Western science work together to make water-first decisions to download a PDF copy of the online version.

This depiction of an atmospheric river, interacting with West Coast mountains and a mid-latitude cyclone over the northeast Pacific on Feb. 5, 2015, provides an example of approximate locations of associated tropical moisture exports and a warm conveyor belt (WCB). NOAA/ESRL PHYSICAL SCIENCES DIVISION / PNG