CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: “If communities are to adapt, and be quick about it, we must move beyond ‘shock and yawn’,” wrote Bob McDonald in a co-authored opinion piece published by the Vancouver Sun (November 2017)

NOTE TO READER:

On November 4, 2017 the Vancouver Sun newspaper published an opinion piece co-authored by Kim Stephens, Michael Blackstock, Bob McDonald and Eric Bonham. The article foreshadowed aspects of what would be addressed at the Blue Ecology Workshop on November 28, 2017.

Kim Stephens is the executive-director of Partnership for Water Sustainability in B.C.; Bob McDonald is the national science commentator for CBC Television; Michael Blackstock is an independent scholar of European and Gitxsan descent; Eric Bonham is a former director in two B.C. ministries, environment and municipal affairs.

Public must be engaged in water protection

“No longer is climate change a future scenario. It has happened more quickly than predicted. The real story is the accelerating rate of change, especially since extreme events create their own weather,” stated the co-authors in their opening paragraph.

“Flood, drought, fire, wind and cold – consider the extremes that British Columbia has experienced in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Instabilities in the water cycle are increasingly apparent. Droughts and wildfires will shape our future.

“The message is clear – for British Columbians to adapt to a changing and unstable climate, a new culture of water is necessary. This is a challenge of our time. The process for adapting starts with an attitude change. It costs nothing to change your attitude!”

TO LEARN MORE:

To read the entire Op-Ed, click on  Opinion: We really must move beyond ‘shock and yawn’ to download a PDF copy of the online version.

For British Columbians to adapt to a changing and unstable climate, a new culture of water is necessary. (photo credit: Vancouver Sun)