Climate Change Concerns: Our growth has limits PT 6

In a book of fundamentally sound essays entitled ‘Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril’ I recently read the following:

“Our ancestors viewed the Earth as rich and bountiful, which it is.”

“Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it.” (Essay - A Question of Our Own Survival, by the Dalai Lama)

Most North Americans know and believe the above to be true, the next statements too.

“It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past that resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information. It is essential that we reexamine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations.”

We are of the generation that has shifted from a belief in the “inexhaustibly sustainable” to “forgive destruction” to “reexamine,” are we not?


However, humankind’s actions lag far behind.

In Canada, there are many who will encourage individuals, businesses and government leaders to do better - because they can.

For example: “Canada may not be a giant in terms of (carbon) emissions - at only 2% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions - but that doesn’t mean we can’t lead the way to more inclusive, effective, truly global agreement instead of abdicating that role to our big neighbour to the south.” (K. Reid, London Free Press, Dec. 9, 2010)

Sounds impressive, but, as a country, we should also be encouraged to lead the way even if no one follows, just because it is the right thing to do, and because, per capita, we are ahead of all other countries in the world - but for 2 or 3 - in emissions.

Though our Prime Minister will say that he takes climate change seriously, there will surely be no effective Canadian action to lower emissions for years to come. The economy is king to PM Harper.


Yes, the next recession may trigger lower emissions, but the PM will not be able to take full credit for that.

According to another essay found in Moral Ground, “there are limits beyond which we cannot go without breaking the covenant... between humanity and the natural world - and those limits are close at hand.”

“We stand at the fork in the road when we must choose between sustainability and catastrophe.” (A Letter to My Boys, by H. Murray-Philipson

Do we stand at the fork alone?

More to follow.

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Please read Our growth has limits PT 1 for more context.

Please read Our growth has limits PT 2 for more context.

Please read Our growth has limits PT 3 for more context.

Please read Our growth has limits PT 4 for more context.

Please read Our growth has limits PT 5 for more context.

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