In Canada, we are running against time to limit the damages caused by natural disasters.
Sizzling temperatures during the past Summer and flash floods this Autumn resulted in casualties and many damages here in Canada. Over 600 people died from the heat last Summer and resulted in the outbreak of hundreds of fires fuelled by the serious consequent drought.
Canada has recently declared a national climate emergency: the motion presented to the House of Commons by our Minister of the Environment and Climate Change has recently asked the Canadian government to do all that which is possible to achieve the objectives to save the environment and reverse climate change.
The motion was approved since statistics have shown that Canada is warming up at twice the rate of the global average and that we must do everything to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and it is for these reasons that Canada is already taking action.
Canada also hosted the World Environment Day back in 2017 which was intended to address people, promoting the awareness that any daily gesture was important in order to protect the environment.
With regard to the fight against climate change, for example, with the ratification of the Paris Agreement, Canada has undertaken to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
The Canadian government describes climate change as a real and urgent crisis, driven by human activity, affecting the environment, biodiversity, health and the economy of Canada and many documentaries are shown on public channels or during the news these days to bring awareness to the population.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and both leaders of Canada's two largest parties, the Conservative and the New Democratic Party, signed the motion.
The position of our charismatic premier is causing particular debate overseas as Trudeau's support for environmentalist and ecological policies is growing in the last years of his mandate and initiatives in support of the environment are multiplying under the pressure of public opinion.
Nevertheless, it seems that the Canadian premier is unwilling to contain the use of fossil fuels since, not long ago, Trudeau gave his final authorization for the construction of a multi-billion-Canadian dollar gas pipeline that will transport oil from Alberta to British Columbia.
The pipeline will cross over 500 miles of forests and mountains and its construction has been strongly opposed by environmental associations and the Green Party here in Canada.
Plastic has also been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
The Canadian ministers have moved on with the proposal to ban disposable single-use plastic items such as cups, shoppers, straws and cutlery but they have received a strong opposition by the plastics industry.
The government chose to publicly declare that plastic items have harmed the environment and the government is not willing to give in to any external pressure.
This is a fundamental step towards protecting the environment: it is a key that will now unlock the possibilities to help the government tackle plastic pollution.
There was a lot of evidence directly stating that plastic directly damages the environment, wildlife and marine life. Therefore, any plastic that poses a threat to the ecosystem, human health or biodiversity can be considered toxic.
I have watched on TV that in Canada each year only 10% of plastic is recycled.
The remaining 90% of the plastic ends up in landfills, incineration sites or it is dumped in contaminated lakes and rivers which causes terrible pollution for the environment.
Ministers have proposed to implement a total ban on disposable plastic items to be implement by 2022 and there have been supporters for a further complete ban, including items commonly found in the outdoor environment such as bottles, containers, plastic cigarette filters, wrappers, etc.
Nowadays, we seem to be surrounded by plastic, as we can literally find plastic in our daily activities, such as in the food we consume, in the air we breathe, and in the water we drink.
I think the federal government's decision to declare plastic toxic was much needed and I believe that governments should stop funding completely the plastics industry.
