If you ask most members of the general public about this year’s record heat and drought across the Prairies, they’ll accept the idea that it’s linked to climate change. After all, that’s what the scientists, activists and media say at every opportunity. However, there are many examples of muddled thinking on the whole climate change issue.
If extreme droughts like the one experienced this year are the new norm, why are so many companies investing hundreds of millions to expand the network of grain terminals, build new canola crushing plants and establish pea protein fractionation facilities?
The moisture deficit is currently so large in many regions that 2022 is already worrisome, but these long-term investments assume Prairie grain production will continue to increase despite an occasional setback. After all, that’s the long term trend.
One gets the impression that climate change activists would love to see back-to-back droughts since it fits their narrative. Of course, they hedge their bets by saying we can expect more floods as well as droughts. In fact, any weather that deviates from the norm is proof positive.
Over the past 30 years, alarmist predictions have all missed the mark. It’s hard to have much confidence in the models trying to predict climate alterations occurring in regions around the world given the past track record.
Yes, climate is changing. It always has. Yes, the actions of earth’s 7.8 billion human inhabitants are no doubt having an impact. Reducing fossil fuel use and cutting greenhouse gas emissions is the proper direction. But let’s not pretend that what we do in Canada is going to unilaterally heal the planet.
That example of muddled thinking was on full display during the recent federal election campaign. All the major parties are guilty of perpetuating this cause and effect misnomer.
Newsflash: Canada’s GHG emissions do almost nothing to affect our climate. To use a swimming pool analogy, yes we’re peeing in the pool, but we’re only a tiny dribble compared to the large emitters. Having a no-pee zone in the pool doesn’t do much to change the composition of the water.
Of course Canada should find reasonable ways to finally meet our commitments on greenhouse gas reductions and we should urge other countries to do the same. Hopefully, we can lead by example. After that, there isn’t much we can do.
The wheels are turning on the next agriculture policy framework. While business risk management programs always receive the bulk of attention, the framework is also the mechanism for doling out research funding. When the next framework is launched in 2023 expect climate change mitigation to be a major criterion for what projects get funding.
The federal government is already proposing a 30 per cent reduction in fertilizer use, although how this would be implemented is still a mystery. This sort of policy direction may be a bigger threat to agriculture than climate change itself.
Climate change has become the new religion. If we don’t believe, we’re all going to burn in hell. Funny how some of the biggest evangelists are the ones with the most lavish lifestyles. Like ancient times, if you don’t swallow it all hook, line and sinker, best to keep your mouth shut because dissenting views are strongly discouraged.
It’s OK to invest in agricultural megaprojects predicated on abundant production in the years ahead, but don’t disavow the inconsistencies of climate change religion.
Oct
12
2021