By David Suzuki

Traditionally, we91裸聊视频檝e labelled events over which we have no influence or control 91裸聊视频渁cts of God91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渘atural disasters.91裸聊视频� But what91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渘atural91裸聊视频� about climate-induced disasters today? Scientists call the interval since the Industrial Revolution the 91裸聊视频淎nthropocene,91裸聊视频� a period when our species has become the major factor altering the biological, physical and chemical properties of the planet on a geological scale. Empowered by fossil fuel91裸聊视频揹riven technologies, a rapidly growing human population and an insatiable demand for constant growth in consumption and the global economy, our species is responsible for the calamitous consequences.

We now know that the weight of water behind large dams and injecting pressurized water into the earth for fracking induce earthquakes. Clearing large swathes of forests, draining wetlands, depleting water for industrial agriculture, polluting marine and freshwater ecosystems with nitrogen, plastics and pesticides from farmland and cities, expanding urban areas and employing ecologically destructive fishing practices such as drift nets and trawling all combine to produce species extinction on a scale not seen since the mega-extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

But we use language to deflect blame from ourselves. Not long ago, wolves, seals and basking sharks were called 91裸聊视频減ests91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渧ermin,91裸聊视频� regarded as nuisances to be killed for bounties. Insects are the most numerous, diverse and important group of animals in ecosystems, yet all are affected by insecticides applied to eliminate the handful that attack commercial crops. One egregious class of pesticide is neonicotinoids, nerve toxins to which bees 91裸聊视频� important pollinators 91裸聊视频� are especially sensitive. Ancient forests are called 91裸聊视频渨ild91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渄ecadent91裸聊视频� while plantations that replace them after clear cutting are termed 91裸聊视频渘ormal.91裸聊视频�

One of the rarest ecosystems on Earth is the temperate rainforest stretching between Alaska and northern California, pinched between the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains. The huge trees there have been decimated in the U.S. Fewer than 10 per cent remain. Yet environmentalists who called for the entire remnant to be protected from logging were branded as 91裸聊视频済reedy.91裸聊视频�

Former B.C. Premier Glen Clark famously labelled environmentalists like me 91裸聊视频渆nemies of B.C.91裸聊视频� Former federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver called us 91裸聊视频渇oreign-funded radicals91裸聊视频� while others said we were 91裸聊视频渆co-terrorists.91裸聊视频� The real enemies, radicals and eco-terrorists are those who rush to destroy forests, watersheds or the atmosphere without regard to ecological consequences.

Recently defeated B.C. Premier Christy Clark called opponents of pipelines or LNG plants 91裸聊视频渇orces of no.91裸聊视频� We who want to protect what we all need to survive would more accurately be called 91裸聊视频渇orces of know91裸聊视频� who say 91裸聊视频測es91裸聊视频� to a future of clean, renewable energy and a rich environment.

We seem to have forgotten that the word economy, like ecology, is based on the Greek oikos, meaning 91裸聊视频渄omain91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渉ousehold.91裸聊视频� Because of our ability to find ways to exploit our surroundings, humans are not confined to a specific habitat or ecosystem. We91裸聊视频檝e found ways to live almost everywhere 91裸聊视频� in deserts, the Arctic, jungles, wetlands and mountains. Ecologists seek the principles, rules and laws that enable species to flourish sustainably. Economists are charged with 91裸聊视频渕anaging91裸聊视频� our activity within the biosphere, our domain.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper decreed it was impossible to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate change because it would destroy the economy. To people like him, the economy is more important than the air that provides weather and climate and enables us to live. At the same time, many 91裸聊视频渇iscal conservatives91裸聊视频� rail against an effective market solution to climate change 91裸聊视频� carbon pricing 91裸聊视频� ignoring the example of Sweden, which imposed a carbon tax of about $35 a tonne in 1991, grew its economy by 60 per cent by 2012 while reducing emissions by 25 per cent, then raised the tax to more than $160 in 2014.

We know climate change is caused primarily by human use of fossil fuels. It91裸聊视频檚 influencing the frequency and intensity of such events as monstrous wildfires (Kelowna, Fort McMurray), floods (Calgary, Toronto), hurricanes (Katrina, Sandy), drought (California, Alberta), and loss of glaciers and ice sheets. There91裸聊视频檚 no longer anything 91裸聊视频渘atural91裸聊视频� about them. We must acknowledge the human imprint. If we91裸聊视频檙e the cause of the problems, then we must stop blaming 91裸聊视频渘ature91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频淕od.91裸聊视频� We have to take responsibility and tackle them with the urgency they require.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation.

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