The Ontario Broker - June 2019 - 25

6 REASONS

TO BE OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

W

ith the increased frequency of catastrophic
weather events and everyone sounding the
alarm on climate change, it can be difficult to
remain hopeful. But in the past few years we've
made a number of steps in the right direction that give us reason
to believe we can course correct and avoid the worst of predicted
outcomes.

so much it now costs less than half as much. As the price of solar
continues to become more attractive, it won't be long before those
committed to coal start looking to trade it in for a renewable model.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE CATCHING ON

With a 72% increase in sales from 2017 to 2018, it's predicted that
by 2025 electric vehicles will make up 12-25% of all new vehicle
registrations. In Norway (the current world leader), 49% of all new
cars sold in 2018 were electric - a notable accomplishment for a
country whose previous claim to fame was "no, you're thinking of
Sweden."

THE PARIS AGREEMENT

Every country in the world signed on to the Paris Agreement,
and although the US has since backed out, 186 of the 197 parties
representing 87% of current global greenhouse gas emissions have
ratified it. This is an unprecedented global effort to work towards a
shared goal. The next closest example is all those movies where we
band together to fight alien invasions.

WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY WE EAT

Agriculture is one of the top three contributors to the release
of greenhouse gasses and livestock are the most significant
contributors. But vegetarianism is on the rise globally and
approaching 10% of Canada's population, and there are more
plant-based meat options available than ever before. Bonus: as
vegetarians become more common, maybe they won't have to talk
about it as much.

INCREASED ADOPTION OF GREEN ENERGY

Hydroelectricity generates about 16% of the world's energy, but
in the past 20 years wind and solar have gone from negligible
contributions to generating 7% and 2% of the world's energy
respectively. The graphs look like hockey sticks. And if this trend
continues, in 50 years we might have enough ice to still be able to
play hockey.

PUBLIC OPINION IS SHIFTING

According to public opinion polls, people are becoming
increasingly concerned about climate change. The degree of
change varies from country to country, but as it becomes a more
prominent issue in people's minds, it will begin to guide their
behavior, including the transportation they choose, the way they
consume goods and the way they vote. In order to change the
planet, we have to start by changing minds.

SOLAR IS NOW CHEAPER TO PRODUCE THAN
FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY

The cost of production of large-scale solar energy has decreased
86% in the past 10 years. As of 2013, solar was on par with coal
for cost of production per megawatt hour, and has since dropped

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The Ontario Broker - June 2019

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