Fall 2009: Your Connection to Wildlife

September 21, 2009

Photo: Tobi Ann Baumgartner

I’m good with change — always have been. But I know this isn’t the case for everyone. In nature, a certain amount of change is inevitable; wildlife is always adapting. Today, due largely to global warming, changes are coming fast and furious. Wildlife and habitat can’t keep up and must look to us to intervene on its behalf. But even if we stopped all greenhouse gas emissions today, wildlife and its habitat would still be faced with the impacts of a changing climate for decades to come. They can’t wait until emissions are substantially reduced; they need our help now.

Cap and Trade 101 In a cap and trade system, the government sets a limit — a cap — on total industrial emissions of greenhouse gases, usually measured in terms of carbon dioxide. These allowable emissions are then divvied up and allocated (either through auction, donation or purchase) to industrial emitters. The units (tonnes of carbon) that they are allowed to emit are called credits. If a company goes over their limit, they must purchase credits elsewhere or invest the monetary equivalent in technologies or other activities that will reduce their emissions. If a company significantly reduces their emissions, they’ll have unused credits which they can sell on the market. Each year, the government would set a lower cap, thereby lowering emissions over time.

Like it or not, governments across the globe are considering and/or imposing carbon market mechanisms, like cap and trade, as a flexible way for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CWF does not hold a position on these carbon markets — that’s not our job — our expertise is wildlife conservation. But I believe we are obligated to do all that we can to clean up the mess we have created. CWF is urging government to give a percentage of the revenue raised through carbon trading mechanisms towards helping wildlife adapt to climate change. This revenue would help restore degraded habitats, conserve existing natural areas and reduce other threats to ecosystems — such as pollution and habitat fragmentation.

Because groups can’t work in isolation and wildlife knows no borders, we’re optimistic about what we can achieve together. We have an opportunity to plan for climate change, which will change the face of conservation funding forever. Our wild spaces and species will thank us for it.

Sincerely,

Wade Luzny
CWF Executive Vice-President