the other press Op-Ed January 15, 2003 Science Matters Climate science shows need for Kyoto WUC ESUZUKI With all the discussion in the media about the minutia of the Kyoto Protocol, it’s easy to forget why we're taking steps to slow climate change in the first place. In recent F weeks, as politicians have debated the Protocol in } Parliament, several new studies have been published that are poignant reminders of why we have to start tackling this problem now. First, a study of snowfall on Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan, has greatly extended our understanding of temperature changes in the atmosphere. One of the longstanding complaints of climate change skeptics has been that our atmospheric data only goes back some 60 years - a very short length of time in terms of tracking climate trends. But a new report published in the science journal Nature provides data dating back more than http://otherpress.douglas.bc.ca three centuries. At the Mount Logan site, increased atmospheric tem- peratures correlate with higher snowfall levels. So researchers took ice core samples deep enough to provide 300 years of snowfall data. They found that between 1700 and 1850 there was little change in snowfall pat- terns. Then, around 1850, snowfalls began to increase - signaling elevated atmospheric temperatures. By 2000, snowfall levels were 15 times greater - providing strong evidence that atmospheric temperatures are on the rise, just like ground-level temperatures. Another study, one with disturbing implications for Canada, was conducted by NASA and published in the Geophysical Research Letters. It reported that the “per- manent” ice cap covering the Arctic Ocean in the Far North is disappearing faster than expected. In fact, an area the size of Alberta is melting every decade. Researchers say that at this rate, it will be gone by the end of the century, if not sooner. Temperatures are still increasing and, as the ice melts, the snow that reflects sunlight back into space is replaced by dark water, which absorbs yet more heat and further increases the warming trend. The loss of ice means less habitat for many ani- mals. Some, like the polar bear, could disappear altogeth- er. A final study, also in Nature, looked not at how the cli- mate is changing, but at what this change will mean to our forests. Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it as wood. For this reason, forests have been dubbed carbon “sinks.” Some have argued that Canada The Other Press’ Opinion Poll Okay so I slept on it and decided that I’m basically a lazy cow and would be quite happy to drop this whole poll deal and wouldn't you know it—a whole wack of os responded. Thanks for the head games. Here’s what I asked you: What would you rather ke for Christmas: WORLD FRACE or THE GIFT OF pie ties Dare Is say it, but I think a few oho even put a lee thought into this and what a motley crew you are. At the end of it all there were left standing: 10 peaceniks, 3 selfish bastards and 2 indifferent kiddies with oer own agendas. Colour me impressed. - In your own words: [ll go for world peace since I already have the gift of immortality... and thanks for asking. —kK World peace, because without it the “gift” of immortal- ity would be a curse. —D-L Immortality is achievable. The Raelian movement is about more than ufos and hot sex with freaky hippy types. Check it out http://www.rael.org/ —J.A.L. Can I choose C: Ultimate mind control and x-ray vision? Oh, and death to my enemies. —Trebler I'd have to choose immortality, because if I obtained immortality I'd be able to bring about world peace, and I'd be able to write accurate historical accounts. As well, after a few hundread years I'd own a few countries, and after millennia I’d be owning the world. And as well, I _ could have the most extensive collection of videogames ever. —Nick Duh, that’s an obvious one. Immortality. As much as people want “World Peace” they know as much as every other person that that will never happen. Immortality has a stand-up chance. Besides, I think it would be cool to live forever. —KK3 World peace I guess. What is immortality if you live in a —K.E. World peace, of ¢ ever if the world y would want to liye cial. ; —Beverly World peace might: : ; heart set on the Rag my letter to Santa an way too much red taj : —AKA Whoever said immortality rather have world peace. —Alex Give me world peace. I'd really prefer immortality, but should simply be allowed to grow more trees as a way to slow global warming and meet the Kyoto Protocol. But the new four-year study by 50 international scientists led by Natural Resources Canada shows that pollutants released by power plants and vehicles don’t just cause cli- mate change - they also stunt tree growth. The researchers pumped two common gases created when fossil fuels are burned - carbon dioxide and ozone - over stands of aspen trees at a huge outdoor facility in Wisconsin. As expected, increased carbon dioxide led to increased tree growth. However, when ozone was added to the mixture, the opposite occurred. The ozone caused stress to the trees, making them more vulnerable to pests and pathogens. These pests included the poplar leaf rust - which increased three fold in a carbon dioxide and ozone-enriched atmosphere, tent caterpillars - which increased by up to 31 per cent, and aphids - whose infes- tations became more severe in enhanced atmospheres. Considering the damage that pests are already doing to areas like the interior forests of British Columbia, the thought of enhanced pestilence is especially disturbing. It also means we can’t count on trees to soak up all that carbon we're spewing out through the tailpipes of our cars, the chimneys of our homes and the smoke stacks of power plants. We can’t count on any carbon sinks to behave consistently when the rest of the world is chang- ing. The only reliable way to slow global warming is by reducing emissions and Kyoto is a good way to start. To discuss this topic with others, visit the discussion forum at www.davidsuzuki.org. before I decide to live somewhere forever I want to be sure it'll be reasonably live-in-able. =F World Peace. Metaphysically speaking and as a Buddhist, we have immortality. Moreover, who wants to live in this realm of eat, sleep, crap, and clean forever? —L.M Immortality? Why? So I can watch everybody I love die? [ll take the world peace, so I don't have to bury every- one I know and go on forever watching human beings make the same mistakes and hurt each other over and yer rin the same ways. ilive forever, but less kids will die on landmines, _ because their country spends income on defense and learn at ing of the words: “friendly fire Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie is why I’m a writer. to exist. tombstone ...” Rest in Peace.” a my lord, kumbahya; oh lo-ord, kumbahya. for world peace. for immortality has been known to be under- hose suffering from megalomania. —SB page 7 ©