Mr.
Speaker, this is Environment
Week. As mentioned yesterday, it’s a time to acknowledge that each of us can and must do something to improve the environment.
There are many small ways that we can go about helping to save our environment — in our homes, in our workplaces, in our schools and in our communities.
We can lead the way through our actions and by encouraging others to help save the environment: to walk instead of drive, to use a cloth shopping bag instead of a plastic one, to shut off the computer when you are away from it instead of leaving it on, to turn off the lights when leaving a room.
It cannot be denied that our world is getting warmer, Mr. Speaker, Canada’s North especially. As a result of human activity we produce greenhouse gases that ultimately heat up our atmosphere, and it’s no secret, Mr. Speaker, that greenhouse gas emissions are a major factor affecting climate change. As a result, the average temperature in some regions could rise as much as seven degrees.
Wednesday, June 4, tomorrow, is Clean Air Day, a day to recognize how pollutants contribute to climate change and a day to start changing our behaviour.
The North is very lucky to have some of the cleanest air in the world, but that can easily change. As humans we put huge amounts of pollutants into the environment all day, every day, through heating our homes, generating electricity, driving our vehicles.
Tomorrow take action for clean air and climate change and leave your vehicle at home. Walk or
bike wherever you need to go — they are, after all, healthy, active alternatives to the car — or accept the offer of free transit from the City of Yellowknife and ride the bus. Whatever you do tomorrow, before you do it, think about the pollutants you will create and act to preserve our clean northern air.