As I sit at my brothers house for the 6th day in a row, I wonder how well humanity is actually dealing with climate change. We’ve been evacuated from our home in West Kelowna, and the wildfires are still raging through the city.
I’m not referring to the long-term mitigation efforts – those big 2030 or 2050 carbon emissions goals. I’m wondering what we’re doing to change lifestyles, supply chains, city planning, and building methods to be less vulnerable to changing climates.
Don’t get me wrong. We should continue to reduce our impact and emissions, but it seems quite clear that the effects have caught up with us. Maybe it’s time we start having serious conversations about adaptation.
We should be analyzing and understanding the threats to our communities as the climate changes, because it is changing. Let’s create plans for how societies will adapt, change how we live, where we live, and what we’re able to eat and consume.
I understand that for most people a mild smoke irritation in the city is all they experience, but for others, homes and businesses are destroyed.
This picture is not a sunset. It was the ominous glow of fire behind our house shortly before we left town. Our stomachs were in knots as we drove away, unsure if anything would be left standing.
Yes, we must do all that we can to reduce the human impact on climate change, but we must also do what we can to reduce the impact climate change has on our daily lives.
From what I can gather from the news, pictures and the maps, my home is still okay. Perhaps layered with ash, but it’s still okay. We will continue waiting to return home until it’s safe, and thank god for the hundreds of firefighters and professionals that are ensuring we are all safe.
Don’t wait until it’s on your doorstep too. Get involved to start conversations and drive action.
