From open burning to open dialogue, these actions can mitigate the climate crisis, scientists say

Modern technology, age-old practices and greater connectivity and communication offer hope

CBC
August 23, 2021
By Bridgette Watson

The writing is on the wall that climate change is already taking its toll on British Columbians.

Rising sea levels, raging fires and crop-crippling drought have, or will, affect livelihoods and alter the beautiful landscapes that provide recreation and respite to so many.

Yet as the coast erodes, the province burns and people choke on smoke, climate experts say there are some actions that have been taken — and some that still could be — to help combat the problems we are seeing now and whatever damage is yet to come.

“We have to find hope,” says Alan Shapiro, a B.C.-based ocean scientist and environmental consultant.

Fortunately, he has.

Solutions at sea

Shapiro says in the last year, he has seen an emergence of businesses and solutions that are “genuinely trying to engage” with climate change challenges.

He says one of the best homegrown solutions-based ideas he has seen so far is in Victoria, where a company has developed unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that can remain at sea for months and collect data.

Open Ocean Robotics, founded by former National Geographic explorers Julie and Colin Angus, is using the data collected to help plot fuel-efficient shipping routes, learn more about rising sea levels and temperatures, monitor for oil spills and track illegal fishing and dumping… READ MORE HERE.