British Columbia’s emissions from forest fires are likely to eclipse Alberta’s oil sands emissions in 2021.
Data from the Global Fire Emissions Index show that in 2018 B.C. released 48.9 megatons of CO2 into the atmosphere. In 2021, that number could double after all the carnage is accounted for.
By July 7th, total land area burned had already reached 300% above the average year. That was before the fires even peaked.
The fallout from the ongoing forestry disaster in British Columbia has entered its third week, gripping southern Alberta in a suffocating cloud of smoke.
It has left many wondering why these record levels of pollution are being ignored by a federal government hell-bent on taxing emissions.
This week, smoke has gotten so bad as a result of the B.C. government’s botched wildfire response that the Air Quality Health Index is forecasting a Level 10 reading, which is considered high risk, rivaling Beijing for air quality.
“Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk,” claims a Government of Canada weather alert.
The smoke is not only contributing to serious health issues in high-risk populations but it is also impacting Alberta’s economy as the province completes its re-opening.
According to meteorologist Sara Hoffman, Albertans could potentially have to “anticipate wildfires to pick up in intensity and frequency” for the foreseeable future and deal with the eventual smoke fallout.
It doesn’t end there though, the B.C. NDP’s mismanagement of its wildfire response has also impacted local First Nations communities.
Recently, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth admitted that its response to the fire which wiped out the town of Lytton and parts of the surrounding First Nations community was “sickening.”
Despite being Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s favourite example of a so-called successful climate response, the B.C. NDP government has failed to even budge its provincial carbon pollution levels.
Although B.C. was one of the earliest provincial governments to adopt a carbon pricing scheme, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to trend upwards over the years.
Official government data shows that from 2015 to 2019 B.C. emissions increased by 11%.
It’s time for BC Premier John Horgan to personally apologize to Canadians for his province’s disastrous climate policies.
