Hard Choices: Climate Change in Canada

W.J.C. Cherwinski is a professor of history and Canadian Studies Program
supervisor at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is the co-author
of Lectures in Canadian Labour and Working-Class History.

The cover blurb by an Ontario bureaucrat claims that this book “is
written to make a difference and it will.” While such a bold assertion
about its potentially biblical impact is somewhat premature, there is no
doubt that the high-powered scholars who have contributed to it have
made a serious attempt to describe and further popularize the problem of
climate change, and how to solve it.

Part 1, “What’s [Going to] Happen,” assumes that global warming
is no longer a matter for debate, that humans are a major contributor,
and that Canada will be one of the places to experience its effects
first because of its northern location. We will feel it not only through
earlier melting of sea ice but also with more severe storms and
increased urban pollution.

In Part 2, “What Can We Do?” five articles explore the options of
increased reforestation, the increased use of carbon-free energy
technologies, greater “encouragement” to adopt emission reduction
policies by both national and regional governments, and greater
co-operation toward this end on the international level as well.

Part 3, “Hard Choices,” addresses the realities facing Canadians
intent on finding solutions. A lack of consensus on the seriousness of
the situation and how to attack it is one; the lack of interest,
particularly from the United States, is another. However, the upbeat
message is that ethics as well as self-interest should ultimately guide
Canada toward a cleaner world.