Julia Baird, Assistant Professor; Jessica Blythe, Assistant Professor; Darby McGrath, Adjunct Professor; and Ryan Plummer, Professor, at Brock University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, had a piece published in The Conversation on Nov. 14 about three ways cities can prepare for climate emergencies.

They write:

“Cities are on the front line of climate change. While their footprints cover a mere two per cent of the Earth’s surface, they consume 78 per cent of global energy and account for over 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

More than 80 per cent of Canadians reside in urban areas and this trend is accelerating. Critically, a recent study found that most Canadian cities are ill-prepared to manage the impacts of climate change.

Canadians are increasingly standing up against the devastating impacts of climate change. In June 2019, the House of Commons declared a national climate emergency. In September, more than six million people around the world joined Greta Thunberg to stage a global strike for climate. And during this fall’s federal election, voters across the country made every party realize that climate policy is an urgent issue for people of all ages.”

Continue reading the full article here.