[All] Fw: Specifics on Climate change impacts in Waterloo Region

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hello


On May 5th there was a Connect the Dots event in Waterloo featuring public lectures regarding the impacts of climate change specific to what is taking place currently in Waterloo. Below are some of the quick notes I took that I took from our guest speakers that I would like to relay for your your information along with two attachments regarding the illness costs of smog impacts and a year long review of our local odd weather. 

Since this time we have lost 80% of our local apple crops, three batches of new asparagus and first crop of strawberries due to frost, we've got no plums or cherries this year, 40-50% loss in peaches due to the heat/cold snap we had in spring. The Maple Syrup ran in late January and due to warmer weather, produced far less yield than previous years and it didn't taste as good. 

Thank you. 

Louisette Lanteigne
Event Co-ordinator, Connect the Dots Waterloo
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ont.
N2V 2L2
519-885-7619

____________________________________


David Roewade: business and environmental background, community economic development, environmental resource management and climate change issues. David recently completed research on climate change in Waterloo Region and the risk management implications from future climate impacts. He currently works at the Region of Waterloo's Sustainability Office but presented his own research at our event.

	* Opened with a photo of climate change from http://www.explainthatstuff.com/globalwarmingforkids.html

	* Trees and oceans serve to remove 3 unites of carbon per year globally but we are exceeding their capacity.

	* We must observe the measured atmospheric C02.

	* Temperatures are expected to change 40-60% even if we were to stop all emissions today.

	* It can take anywhere from 50-100 year to see the full impacts. 50 year time lag from today's emissions.

	* What we do today will impact future generations

	* It takes 30 years to spot an official weather "trend". 

	* In Waterloo over the last 60 years we see that temperatures have changed.

	* 2010 was the hottest year in 19 different countries

	* 5% increase in annual precipitation 

	* 10% precipitation in spring

	* Winter and spring are both getting warmer. 

	* 2011 was the wettest spring with a 96% variance from the norm.

	* If you overlap precipitation patterns for 2008 and 2011 you will see they were the complete opposite. We had the same precipitation levels but the variability as to when it showed up. 
	* Annual predictability of weather patterns is no longer reliable.

	* 10 years we see an increase in daily extremes. 

	* Winds have increased and we need to adapt our infrastructure designs to withstand that. (Traffic lights, roofs etc.)

	* Winds at 40-50% threshold is what we are built for but when winds blow 50-60% we see increased damages of 650%. 

	* In 2005 the washout on Finch Avenue resulted in the 3rd most expensive catastrophic event in Canadian History and one of the top for municipal costs.  

	* Climate Change is reversible in the next 3 years if we change our way. 

	* With water conservation, cities can save electricity. 

	* Composting captures methane that can be reclaimed and used. If it's not used it created Green House Gas. It is better to use a green bin than to allow this waste to rot in the dumps.

	* Green bin programs now set up for school and residential use.

	* Our local landfill generates enough energy for 4,000 homes.

	* Biogas recovery is also happening at our local waste water treatment plants.

	* Buy local programs reduce transportation needs. 

	* In terms of flood management, bioswales control floods and also serves to cool areas. Concrete creates heat in urban areas. 


Wendy De Gomez has a Masters of Environmental Studies from UW, BA in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Research interests in vulnerable populations in Canada and international contexts, geo-politics, climate change adaptation and emergency management issues. Works for the social planning council of Cambridge and North Dumfries. 

	* Our study focused on exposure and sensitivities of the homeless, and it considered both future exposures and future adaptation capacity in regards to the need options of the homeless and the expected impacts they will face.

	* Homeless participants were given special training and they did interviews with other homeless people for the sake of this study and the data was used to compile 2 peer reviewed university reports.

	* Out of 48 people interviewed, 22 state that Rain is the primary weather stressor they face followed with cold in winter at 18, winter at 17, cold in summer 14, Rainstorms 8, snowstorms 8, extreme heat 7, dampness 7, snow 7, wind 5. 

	* Wet weather is worse than winter. Greater problem.

	* During times of rain people hide under bridges, in shelters or head to second hand stores or coffee shops, the mall or library.

	* Wet clothing is often abandoned. They can't carry it around so it's left in trees in area woodlands.

	* When shoes get wet lit leads to foot diseases, hypothermia etc. 

	* Some homeless people commit crimes simply to get a warm night in jail

	* Some homeless cut themselves to find shelter in the psyche ward.

	* When it's cold they sleep on cardboard to avoid the cold pavement.

	* Some sleep in bank kiosks.

	* They are prone to hypothermia even in the summer.

	* Some homeless will ride the city's transit system for as long as they can to stay comfortable.

	* In the summer, pavement adds from 5-11 degrees Celsius in urban areas. This is the Heat Island effect. 

	* People on psychotropic medicines are very sensitive to light, temperatures and weather changes and heat. 

	* What the need are lockers, a place to dry clothing, rain gear and public water fountains to stay hydrated. 

	* We used to have a man who ran a shoe exchange program for the homeless pro bono from his home but he has since passed away. The area homeless have great need for the service he used to provide.

Alisa McClurg is an environmental planner and passionate community activist working on issues of global climate change, sustainable food systems and feminist planning. She is the co-facilitator of TransitionKW, the Transit-Town community for KW. 

	* Since 2005, world oil production has plateaud. We must craft how to adapt today.
	* The Transition movement seeks to focus on solutions, rather than problems. We seek to do this by building local community resilience.

	* Food imports have an enormous impact on Green House gasses
	* Imports of 58 commonly eaten foods travel an average of ~4,500 km to Waterloo Region (source: Food Miles Report Waterloo Region)
	* Agriculture contributes to 11% of the world's Green House Gas emissions (2004 study)
	* If we ate local for one year it would offset significant emissions
	* Went to area farmers and local food distributors to ask how climate change impacts them
	* This year the hot March followed with a sudden cold snap damaged area fruit trees.
	* During a drought last July, the peppers did not grow well.
	* The mild weather this winter resulted in beets not keeping well in cold storage
	* The warm weather may be good for some types of grapes though. This would nee to be confirmed.
	* We saw raspberry damages from hail storms in 2008. Took two years to recover.
	* Climate change has some benefits: it will extend the growing season and result in more rapid maturation rates.
	* However, this is offset by heat stress, droughts, floods, extreme storms, erosion and accompanying nutrient loss, and increased pests and weeds.
	* Fortunately, there are some ways we can adapt. i.e. Irrigate the soil, diversify crops, potentially using crops grown further south or by using heritage seeds.
	* We can also adapt to the locally changing planting and harvest dates.
	* To reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change, eat mostly plants. Once source says that eating plants as opposed to meat produces 1/7th the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
	* Buying local food is also an important step to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from food production, as it means less food miles.
	* Reducing food waste, conserving water, restoring greenspace, creatively garden (i.e. vertical gardens) and planting native plants to encourage pollination are all ways that we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from food and/or allow us to better grow food even in a changing climate.
	* There is much being done in the Region around these issues. We can be positive that things are happening and that there are ways we can get involved to help!

Life Co-op's Shane Mulligan is wind project manager who helped Life to obtain the CEPP grant. He is co-ordinating the various tasks funded by the grant to help establish green energy infrastructure in Waterloo Region.

	* At one point the City of Kitchener was home to the largest solar rooftop project generating 500kw of clean energy.

	* Herman Shere is a German man who is the father of the feed in tariff system.

	* Feed in tariff systems are now being implemented in 56 Countries around the world. 

	* Ontario is providing 3 to 8% of Ontario's energy demands.

	* Rate of guaranteed payment from the government lasts 20 years 

	* The Government pays a set amount per kw power. 

	* 70% of Spain's energy needs are met with wind power. 

	* 80% growth of Green Energy since feed in tariff programs began.

	* Uganda has the best feed in tariff program around the world.

	* The more people sign on the cheaper the infrastructure. 

	* As infrastructure costs go down, the payment by government is reduced but the set up is cheaper so it is still worth doing.

	* 46% of Ontario's energy expenses comes from the nuclear power sector to maintain or repair units. 

	* Nuclear is 3 to 4 times the price of wind power. 

	* Currently the government has had a 2 year review of the feed in tariff program underway. (Results were to be published on May 7th)

	* Criticism of the program came from municipalities who stated they have no say. Consumers felt it was too expensive and that the energy was unreliable.

	* The fact is, peak oil is happening and we have no other options but to start dealing with it.

	* We're investing in infrastructure via the Life Co-op programs. 

	* When a system is paid off the remaining funds are dividends. 

	* With Life Co-op 10% of the return goes back into the community.

	* There is high ownership of Wind power from Farmers and Co-ops in Denmark where they outnumber the units owned by corporations.

	* In Germany 1/2 of the wind projects are owned by community. 

	* In St. Agatha, 500 homes per year could be provided with energy from one wind mill. 

	* It would only cost residents $4000 per home to be off grid for their energy needs. 

	* Payments are guaranteed for 20 years. Great investment to make for the community.

	* Current proposed plan gives extra "points" for projects with municipal support, aboriginal support and community support. 

	* If folks in your community have an interest in setting up a green energy project collaboratively, get intouch!

Carol Moogk Soulis professional training was in Occupational therapy at McGill University and she branched off into pediatrics which led her to study the impacts of heat islands on children. She led a program at Mary Johnston Public School to naturalize the playground area with more than 1500 trees and shrubs and was nominated for the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Queen Jubilee Medal for her efforts. The project was later destroyed by way of perceived threats and needs. Today she is pursuing scientific research to provide hard evidence to support the need to provide natural spaces for children with shade trees to help maintain public health. 
	* Heat was observed using thermal satellite images. 

	*  "When air temperature had reached just past 25 degrees Celsius, average surface temperatures on schoolyards of as high as 100 degrees Celsius were measured."

	* They stood out on the satellite photos. 

	* 800 Fields were studied. 

	* In the heat kids are not active and they are exposed to High UV radiation.

	* Shade trees should be provided so that there is enough shade for all the students to be able to stand under it. 

	* Currently 1 in 4 kids is obese but 1 in 7 will get skin cancer.

	* Shade trees are a good cost effective investment in prevention.

	* Trees benefit people psychologically, biochemically and give shade while providing carbon storage while creating habitat for birds.

	* The three hottest surface types are asphalt, tar and chip and mowed turf (as seen on sports fields.)

	* Although it would not be reasonable to put trees on a sports field, we could create "shaded oasis" along the side of the fields to allow players and observers to stay cool. RIM park is a place that could benefit from this.

	* The trees along the Waterloo Square have such fine leaves they don't give much shade. What shade they do give, only falls upon the roadways. This area needs more shade trees.

	* During the Jazz festival it's too hot for people to stand in the parking lot. It generates stress and is harder to breath. Buildings block the flow of wind so the air stays hot. It does not circulate.

	* Gatherings such as the Jazz festival could be located in areas like Waterloo Park with more grass and trees to help keep people cool.

	* Young children often ask to be lifted when it's hot because the temperatures in the arms of adults is up to 10 degrees cooler than along the pavement where they stand.

	* Pets are vulnerable to the heat and they need to stay hydrated.

	* Paws on hot pavement should be avoided. Dog booties can help.

	* The elderly are particularly vulnerable to the heat. They move slower, they walk more and if they live in urban centers, they are exposed to higher temperatures. 

	* If we remove our shoes and the pavement is too hot to walk on the temperature of that pavement is 60 degrees or over. 

	* Trees survive better in groups so if you want to plant one, go for more. 
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