By David Suzuki

Traditionally, we害羞草研究所檝e labelled events over which we have no influence or control 害羞草研究所渁cts of God害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渘atural disasters.害羞草研究所� But what害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渘atural害羞草研究所� about climate-induced disasters today? Scientists call the interval since the Industrial Revolution the 害羞草研究所淎nthropocene,害羞草研究所� a period when our species has become the major factor altering the biological, physical and chemical properties of the planet on a geological scale. Empowered by fossil fuel害羞草研究所揹riven technologies, a rapidly growing human population and an insatiable demand for constant growth in consumption and the global economy, our species is responsible for the calamitous consequences.

We now know that the weight of water behind large dams and injecting pressurized water into the earth for fracking induce earthquakes. Clearing large swathes of forests, draining wetlands, depleting water for industrial agriculture, polluting marine and freshwater ecosystems with nitrogen, plastics and pesticides from farmland and cities, expanding urban areas and employing ecologically destructive fishing practices such as drift nets and trawling all combine to produce species extinction on a scale not seen since the mega-extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

But we use language to deflect blame from ourselves. Not long ago, wolves, seals and basking sharks were called 害羞草研究所減ests害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渧ermin,害羞草研究所� regarded as nuisances to be killed for bounties. Insects are the most numerous, diverse and important group of animals in ecosystems, yet all are affected by insecticides applied to eliminate the handful that attack commercial crops. One egregious class of pesticide is neonicotinoids, nerve toxins to which bees 害羞草研究所� important pollinators 害羞草研究所� are especially sensitive. Ancient forests are called 害羞草研究所渨ild害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渄ecadent害羞草研究所� while plantations that replace them after clear cutting are termed 害羞草研究所渘ormal.害羞草研究所�

One of the rarest ecosystems on Earth is the temperate rainforest stretching between Alaska and northern California, pinched between the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains. The huge trees there have been decimated in the U.S. Fewer than 10 per cent remain. Yet environmentalists who called for the entire remnant to be protected from logging were branded as 害羞草研究所済reedy.害羞草研究所�

Former B.C. Premier Glen Clark famously labelled environmentalists like me 害羞草研究所渆nemies of B.C.害羞草研究所� Former federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver called us 害羞草研究所渇oreign-funded radicals害羞草研究所� while others said we were 害羞草研究所渆co-terrorists.害羞草研究所� The real enemies, radicals and eco-terrorists are those who rush to destroy forests, watersheds or the atmosphere without regard to ecological consequences.

Recently defeated B.C. Premier Christy Clark called opponents of pipelines or LNG plants 害羞草研究所渇orces of no.害羞草研究所� We who want to protect what we all need to survive would more accurately be called 害羞草研究所渇orces of know害羞草研究所� who say 害羞草研究所測es害羞草研究所� to a future of clean, renewable energy and a rich environment.

We seem to have forgotten that the word economy, like ecology, is based on the Greek oikos, meaning 害羞草研究所渄omain害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渉ousehold.害羞草研究所� Because of our ability to find ways to exploit our surroundings, humans are not confined to a specific habitat or ecosystem. We害羞草研究所檝e found ways to live almost everywhere 害羞草研究所� in deserts, the Arctic, jungles, wetlands and mountains. Ecologists seek the principles, rules and laws that enable species to flourish sustainably. Economists are charged with 害羞草研究所渕anaging害羞草研究所� our activity within the biosphere, our domain.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper decreed it was impossible to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate change because it would destroy the economy. To people like him, the economy is more important than the air that provides weather and climate and enables us to live. At the same time, many 害羞草研究所渇iscal conservatives害羞草研究所� rail against an effective market solution to climate change 害羞草研究所� carbon pricing 害羞草研究所� ignoring the example of Sweden, which imposed a carbon tax of about $35 a tonne in 1991, grew its economy by 60 per cent by 2012 while reducing emissions by 25 per cent, then raised the tax to more than $160 in 2014.

We know climate change is caused primarily by human use of fossil fuels. It害羞草研究所檚 influencing the frequency and intensity of such events as monstrous wildfires (Kelowna, Fort McMurray), floods (Calgary, Toronto), hurricanes (Katrina, Sandy), drought (California, Alberta), and loss of glaciers and ice sheets. There害羞草研究所檚 no longer anything 害羞草研究所渘atural害羞草研究所� about them. We must acknowledge the human imprint. If we害羞草研究所檙e the cause of the problems, then we must stop blaming 害羞草研究所渘ature害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所淕od.害羞草研究所� We have to take responsibility and tackle them with the urgency they require.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation.

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