Climate change is what we expect, weather is what we get — Mark Twain
These are not words spoken by a present-day climatologist or environmentalist. In fact, they were uttered in the 1800s by one of America’s most inspiring writers, Samuel Clements (alias Mark Twain).
The present-day truth of his words would have him bemused. This planet that we call home has undergone changes since its beginning. Variations in orbit, atmosphere, and tectonic drift are all natural transitions. Man-made influences are not testing Mother Earth’s sustenance. It’s time to make amends or learn how to adapt to climate change.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that maintains the earth’s temperature at an average 15 degrees Celsius. Yet now, human industrial activities emit greater levels of carbon dioxide, among other things, into our atmosphere resulting in an enhanced greenhouse effect and subsequently warmer temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledges that climate change is most certainly a human-induced occurrence.
Rising sea levels
Nova Scotia’s coastline is a source of inspiration to artists, writers, and beach roamers alike. We have both a personal and economic affinity to the coast. Our fisheries, transportation, and tourism rely heavily on our coastal regions for economic development. With over 7000 kilometres of coastline, it follows that we would be vulnerable to enhanced sea-level rise (approximately 80 percent of our coast). Most of us are within 65 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean.
But why the rise in sea level?
Simply put, glaciers and ice sheets are melting because of the warmer temperatures, creating thermal expansion in our ocean. Thermal expansion refers to water molecules that, when heated, expand. Because of this expansion a warming ocean requires room to grow, pushing waters up along the coastline.
Subsiding landmass
Coupled with this fact, Nova Scotia’s landmass is subsiding, sinking as it rebounds from the weight of the last ice age at the rate of 15 centimetres per century. This would lead to erosion, flooding, loss of wetlands, and damage to coastal properties and infrastructure, as well as increased storm surge and bigger storms. This requires coastal zone management.
The Municipal Government Act could use land-use planning to prevent, or at least minimize the impacts of climate change on coastal regions through the implementation and development of controlled and managed land-use studies.
How can Nova Scotians take action?
As landowners and residents, Nova Scotians need to get involved with their municipalities in an effort to ensure a sustainable and thriving coastline. We can assist by understanding our coastline, securing the existing natural buffer zones from development and respecting and asking for stronger coastal zoning. Moreover, we must recognize that climate change is the new reality and is changing our world quickly. We must protect our coastlines.
We can learn to adapt to climate change by learning, sharing knowledge, removing barriers to action, and, most importantly, leading by example. It is time for action rather than reaction and preparedness is essential.
Paul Polman, businessman and author, emphasizes that “climate change is sometimes misunderstood as being about changes in the weather. In reality, it is about changes in our very way of life.”