A few weeks ago, I spent a few hours knocking on doors in a Sudbury neighbourhood on a particularly warm and sunny Saturday. Many residents who took the time to chat remarked on the above-seasonal temperature; it was unusual to have such hot days so late into the fall.
The smoke was also eerie and distressing. Friends shared that this unprecedented period of poor air quality was taking a toll on their mental health. Over the past few years, the federal government has taken a number of concrete steps to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. While it is crucial that we continue to mitigate climate change — by reducing emissions through initiatives like the Net-Zero Accelerator Fund — we must also begin to adapt to an already-changing climate.
These are connected to the decisions we make as a society to combat the climate crisis in a just and equitable way.