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Open Letter / Lettre ouverte

An Open Letter on Climate Change Science to all Canadian Elected Government Leaders

June 2008

Twenty years ago, Canada, as a leader in international environmental issues, hosted a conference in Toronto entitled "Our Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security" The participants concluded that: "Humanity is conducting an unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment, whose ultimate consequences are second only to global nuclear war."

Two years ago, climate science leaders from the academic, public and private sectors across Canada, conveyed in a letter to the Prime Minister their views on the current state of knowledge of climate change and called for national leadership in addressing the issue.

In our opinion, tackling climate change has become an even more urgent concern since that 2006 letter.

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change placed before the global community definitive scientific evidence regarding the threat of climate change.

In awarding the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to IPCC, the Nobel Committee, a committee of the Norwegian Parliament, framed climate change as an issue of global peace and security. It stated "Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man's control."

New analyses show that global greenhouse gas concentrations are increasing, sea level rising and Arctic sea ice decreasing faster than projected only a few years ago.

Water shortages are predicted in the western Prairies, the Okanagan and in the Great Lakes basin. Earlier targets to avoid human interference with the climate system are now seen to be inadequate.

Addressing greenhouse gas emissions will require a polluter-pay approach and absolute emission caps.

Adaptation to the inevitable impacts of climate change is now imperative and we need a national adaptation strategy to minimize those impacts and gain whatever benefits there may be.

We are concerned that the pace with which action is being taken in Canada does not reflect adequately the urgency of the threat. Finally, we believe that sound policy continues to require good scientific input.

There is need for further investments in research and systematic monitoring to track the rate and nature of changes, to understand what is happening now, to refine projections of future changes and to analyse the opportunities and threats presented by these changes. In less than 18 months, the global community will convene in Copenhagen to put in place a new agreement to address climate change.

We sincerely hope that, based on the compelling science at hand, our political leaders display the urgency and determination that we believe is required.

Yours sincerely:

Signed by 130 Canadian climate science leaders from the academic, public and private sectors across the country

Canadian Climate Science Leaders

Lettre ouverte concernant la science des changements climatiques à tous les dirigeants gouvernementaux élus au Canada

Juin 2008

Il y a maintenant vingt ans, le Canada, qui était alors pionnier en matière de questions environnementales internationales, a accueilli à Toronto une conférence intitulée " L'atmosphère en évolution : implications pour la sécurité du globe ". Au terme de celle-ci, les participants avaient conclu que " l'humanité mène une expérience mondiale involontaire et non contrôlée dont les conséquences finales ne seraient surpassées sur le plan de la gravité que par celles d'une guerre nucléaire planétaire ".

Puis, il y a deux ans, des sommités canadiennes en climatologie provenant du milieu universitaire et des secteurs public et privé ont adressé une lettre au premier ministre pour lui faire part de leur opinion concernant l'état des connaissances sur les changements climatiques et pour l'encourager fortement à s'attaquer au problème.

Nous croyons qu'il est maintenant encore plus urgent de s'occuper du problème des changements climatiques que cela ne l'était en 2006, lorsque cette lettre a été envoyée.

Le quatrième Rapport d'évaluation du Groupe d'experts intergouvernemental sur l'évolution du climat a présenté à la communauté internationale des preuves scientifiques irréfutables quant à la menace que posent les changements climatiques.

En accordant au Groupe le prix Nobel de la paix 2007, le Comité Nobel nommé par le parlement norvégien a confirmé que les changements climatiques constituaient un problème mondial touchant la paix et la sécurité. Il a aussi affirmé qu'il " est impératif d'agir maintenant, avant qu'il ne devienne impossible pour l'homme de maîtriser les changements climatiques ".

De nouvelles analyses montrent que les changements climatiques se produisent plus rapidement que ce qui avait été estimé il n'y a que quelques années; à preuve notamment l'augmentation de la concentration atmosphérique mondiale des gaz à effet de serre, la hausse du niveau de la mer et la fonte des glaces de l'Arctique.

Ces analyses prédisent aussi que les Prairies, l'Okanagan et le bassin des Grands Lacs connaîtront des pénuries d'eau. À la lumière de ces analyses, les anciennes cibles d'atténuation de l'influence humaine sur le climat sont maintenant considérées comme inadéquates.

L'adoption d'une stratégie basée sur le principe du pollueur-payeur et l'établissement de plafonds d'émission absolus sont nécessaires dans le cadre de l'effort de réduction des gaz à effet de serre.

De plus, il est maintenant impératif de s'adapter aux effets inévitables des changements climatiques; c'est pourquoi nous devons nous doter d'une stratégie nationale d'adaptation, qui nous permettra de tempérer au minimum la gravité de ces effets et d'en retirer tous les avantages possibles.

Le rythme d'action du Canada nous préoccupe, car il ne reflète pas adéquatement l'urgence de la situation. Finalement, nous sommes d'avis qu'il demeure important de s'appuyer sur de judicieuses assises scientifiques dans l'établissement de politiques rationnelles.

C'est pourquoi il est essentiel de continuer d'investir dans la recherche et la surveillance systématique, pour connaître la nature et la vitesse des changements, comprendre ce qui se produit en ce moment, préciser les prévisions relatives aux changements à venir et analyser les avantages de ces changements et les menaces qu'ils posent. Dans moins d'un an et demi, la communauté internationale se réunira à Copenhague pour convenir d'une nouvelle entente sur la gestion des changements climatiques.

Nous espérons sincèrement que, en raison des preuves scientifiques dont nous disposons, nos dirigeants feront preuve de la détermination et du sentiment d'urgence que nous croyons appropriés dans le contexte actuel.

Lettre signée par 130 sommités canadiennes du domaine de la climatologie provenant autant du milieu universitaire que des secteurs public et privé du pays.

Sommités canadiennes du domaine de la climatologie


Canadian Climate Science Leaders/ Leaders canadiens de la science du climat Dr. Jonathan Abbatt Professor Department of Chemistry University of Toronto Dr. Jean Andrey Associate Professor Department of Geography Associate Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies University of Waterloo Dr. Philip H. Austin Associate Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Programme University of British Columbia Dr. David Barber Canada Research Chair in Arctic System Science University of Manitoba. Dr. Danny Blair Professor Department of Geography University of Winnipeg Dr. Jean-Pierre Blanchet Professeur au Département des sciences de la Terre et de l’atmosphère, Institut des sciences de l’environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal Dr. Mike Brklacich Professor & Chair Department of Geography & Environmental Studies Carleton University Dr. James Bruce, OC, FRSC Canadian Policy Representative Soil and Water Conservation Society Dr. Christopher Bryant Professor Université de Montréal Dr. William Mark Buhay Assistant Professor Department of Geography Center for Forest Interdisciplinary Research University of Winnipeg Dr. Ian Burton, FRSC Professor Emeritus University of Toronto. Dr. Andrew B.G. Bush Professor Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. James M. Byrne Associate Professor Geography, Water and Environmental Science University of Lethbridge Dr. Stephen Calvert, FRSC Professor Emeritus Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of British Columbia Dr. Eddy Carmack Senior Research Scientist Institute of Ocean Sciences Dr. John M. Casselman Adjunct Professor Department of Biology Queen's University Dr. Quentin Chiotti Senior Scientist Pollution Probe Toronto Dr. Grace Chiu Assistant Professor Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science University of Waterloo Dr. R Allyn Clarke Scientist Emeritus, Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dr. Garry K.C. Clarke, FRSC Emeritus Professor of Geophysics, Earth & Ocean Sciences University of British Columbia Dr. David A. Clausi, Associate Professor Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo Dr. Irena Creed Associate Professor Department of Biology Cross- appointed to the Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario Dr. John J. Cullen Killam Chair of Ocean Studies Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Dr. Evan Davies Post-Doctoral Fellow Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Western Ontario Dr. Jacques Derome, FRSC Professor Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences McGill University Dr. Andrew E. Derocher Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Chair, IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group Dr. Stephen Dery Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Northern Hydrometeorology, Environmental Science and Engineering Program University of Northern British Columbia Dr. William F. Donahue Consultant Edmonton Dr. Marianne Douglas Director, Canadian Circumpolar Institute and Professor Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. James R. Drummond, FRSC Professor Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science Dalhousie University Dr. Claude R. Duguay Professor & Director Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) University of Waterloo Dr. Thomas W D Edwards Professor, Isotope Hydrology and Geochemistry Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Waterloo Dr. John England Professor & NSERC Northern Chair Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Lawrence B. Flanagan Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge Dr. Ian Folkins Associate Professor Dept of Physics & Atmospheric Science Dalhousie University Dr. Michael G. G. Foreman Senior Research Scientist Institute of Ocean Sciences Dr. Louis Fortier, OC Canada Research Chair on the response of marine arctic ecosystem to climate change Scientific Director of ArcticNet Université Laval Dr. Howard J. Freeland Senior Scientist, Institute of Ocean Sciences Dr. Chris Furgal Assistant Professor Indigenous Environmental Studies Program Trent University Dr. Konrad Gajewski Professor Laboratory for Paleoclimatology and Climatology Department of Geography University of Ottawa Dr. John Gosse Canada Research Chair Earth Systems Evolution Department of Earth Sciences Dalhousie University Dr. Robert Grant Professor Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Dr. Richard J. Greatbatch, Professor Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Dr. Roland Hall Associate Professor Associate Dean of Science for Graduate Studies Department of Biology University of Waterloo Dr. Danny Harvey Professor Dept of Geography University of Toronto. Dr. John Hanesiak Associate Professor in Atmospheric Sciences Department of Environment and Geography University of Manitoba Dr. David Hik Professor and Canada Research Chair in Northern Ecology Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Claude Hillaire-Marcel, MSRC UNESCO Chair for global change study, Université du Québec à Montréal Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon Professor Department of Political Science University of Toronto Dr. William Hsieh Professor, Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences Chair, Atmospheric Science Programme University of British Columbia Dr. Peter L. Jackson Professor Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute Environmental Science and Engineering Programs University of Northern British Columbia Dr. Dan L. Johnson Professor of Environmental Science Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Grassland Ecosystems Department of Geography University of Lethbridge Dr. Dylan Jones Assistant Professor Canada Research Chair Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. Jeffrey L. Kavanaugh Assistant Professor Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Markus Kienast Assistant Professor Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Dr. Richard Kelly Department of Geography University of Waterloo Paul Kovacs Executive Director Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Dr. Paul Kushner Associate Professor Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. Catherine La Farge Cryptogamic Herbarium (ALTA) Curator & Director Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Claude Labine Campbell Scientific (Canada) Corp. Dr. Kevin Lamb Professor and Chair Department of Applied Mathematics University of Waterloo Dr. René Laprise Professor Université du Québec à Montréal Director, Centre ESCER (Étude et Simulation du Climat à l'Échelle Régionale) Dr. David B Layzell, FRSC Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE), University of Calgary, Dr. Paul LeBlond, FRSC Professor Emeritus Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia and Chairman, Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council Dr. Ellsworth F. LeDrew Professor Department of Geography, University Research Chair University of Waterloo Dr. Glen Lesins Associate Professor (Research) Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science Dalhousie University Dr. Maurice Levasseur Chaire de Recherche du Canada sur les interactions plancton-climat Université Laval Dr. Marlon R. Lewis Professor Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Dr. E.J. (Ted) Llewellyn FRSC, P.Eng., Professor University of Saskatchewan Dr. David A. Lobb Professor Landscape Dynamics Laboratories Department of Soil Science University of Manitoba Dr. Brian H. Luckman, Professor, Department of Geography The University of Western Ontario Dr. Jennifer V. Lukovich Research Associate Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources University of Manitoba Dr. Scott Mabury Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Chair Department of Chemistry University of Toronto Dr. Robie W. Macdonald, FRSC Senior Research Scientist Institute of Ocean Sciences Professor Alan Manson, Ph.D., Chair, "Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies" (ISAS), Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Hank Margolis Professor Université Laval Dr. Shawn Marshall Canada Research Chair in Climate Change W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Department of Geography University of Calgary Dr. Randall Martin Associate Professor Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science Dalhousie University Dr. J. C. McConnell, FRSC Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering York University Dr. Gordon McBean, FRSC Professor Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction University of Western Ontario Dr. J. Harry McCaughey Professor Department of Geography Queen's University Dr. Norman McFarlane Director, SPARC International Project Office Adjunct Professor Department of Physics, University of Toronto Senior Scientist Emeritus Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment Canada Dr. Katrin J. Meissner Assistant Professor School of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of Victoria Dr. Humfrey Melling Research Scientist Institute of Ocean Sciences Dr. Adam Monahan Associate Professor School of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of Victoria Dr. Katrina Moser Associate Professor Dept. of Geography University of Western Ontario Dr. Lawrence A. Mysak, CM, FRSC Canada Steamship Lines Professor Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences McGill University Dr. Paul Myers Associate Professor Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Mark Nuttall Professor, Henry Marshall Tory Chair University of Alberta Dr. Desmond O’Neill Consultant Halifax Dr. Tim Papakyriakou Centre for Earth Observation Science Department of Environment & Geography University of Manitoba Dr. Thomas F. Pedersen, FRSC Professor School of Earth and Ocean Sciences And Dean of Science University of Victoria Dr. W.R. Peltier, FRSC Director, Centre for Global Change Science University Professor and Professor of Physics Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. John Pomeroy, FRGS Professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change Director, Centre for Hydrology Dept of Geography University of Saskatchewan Dr. Francis Poulin University of Waterloo Dr. Simon Prinsenberg Arctic Scientist Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dr. Alain Royer Professor Directeur du Centre d'Applications et de Recherches en Télédétection (CARTEL) Université de Sherbrooke Dr. Nigel T. Roulet James McGill Professor Department of Geography McGill School of Environment McGill University Dr. André G. Roy Professeur titulaire Chaire de recherche du Canada en dynamique fluviale Département de géographie Université de Montréal Dr. David J. Sauchyn Research Professor Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative University of Regina Dr. D. W. Schindler, OC, FRSC, FRS. Killam Memorial Chair and Professor of Ecology University of Alberta Dr. David B. Scott Killam Professor and Chair Director Centre for Environmental and Marine Geology Department of Earth Sciences Dalhousie University Dr. Martin Sharp Professor Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Theodore G. Shepherd, FRSC Professor Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. Slobodan Simonovic Professor Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Western Ontario Dr. James Sloan, Professor Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Director Waterloo Centre for Atmospheric Sciences University of Waterloo Dr. John P. Smol, FRSC Professor Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab, Dept. of Biology Queen's University Dr. Kenneth Snelgrove Associate Professor Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Memorial University of Newfoundland Dr. Marek Stastna Assistant Professor Department of Applied Mathematics University of Waterloo Dr. Ronald Stewart Professor and Head Dept. of Environment and Geography University of Manitoba Dr. Douw G. Steyn Professor Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences The University of British Columbia Dr. Vincent L. St.Louis Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Dr. John M R Stone, Adjunct Research Professor Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Carleton University and Vice-Chairman, IPCC Working Group II Dr. G. S. Strong Adjunct Professor University of Alberta Dr. Kimberly Strong, Professor Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. Gordon E. Swaters Professor Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences University of Alberta Dr. Peter A. Taylor Professor Department of Atmospheric Science York University Dr. Helmuth Thomas Canada Research Chair in Marine Biogeochemistry Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Dr. Charles Trick Beryl Ivey Chair for Ecosystem Health McConnell Family Professor in Ecosystem Health Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Western Ontario Dr. Peter Victor Professor Faculty of Environmental Studies York University Dr. Warwick F. Vincent, FRSC Professeur & Chaire de Recherche du Canada Dépt de Biologie & Director, Centre d'études nordiques Université Laval, Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle Professor Dept. Land Resource Science University of Guelph Dr. Kaley A. Walker Assistant Professor Department of Physics University of Toronto Dr. William Ward Professor, Department of Physics, University of New Brunswick Dr. Andrew J. Weaver, FRSC Professor and Canada Research Chair School of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of Victoria Dr. Elaine Wheaton Climate Scientist Adjunct Professor Department of Geography University of Saskatchewan Dr. Michael Whiticar Professor, Biogeochemistry School of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of Victoria Dr. John D. Wilson Professor Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Dr. John Yackel Associate Professor Department of Geography University of Calgary Dr. Steven B. Young Associate Professor Director, Centre for Environment and Business Faculty of Environment University of Waterloo

June 1, 2006 Toronto ON: Congress Statement on Climate Change. HTML version.

1 juin 2006 Toronto ON: L’énoncé du Congrès sur les changements climatiques

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Open Letter / Lettre ouverte