Opinion
How much nature can address climate change depends on us
By Marina Melanidis January 4, 2021
Canada cannot just plant our way out of this. We must also prioritize conservation that upholds Indigenous rights, while rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Planting new trees is undoubtably an important piece of the climate puzzle, but it’s not a silver bullet, nor should it be the first nature-based climate solution we turn to, writes Marina Melanidis. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
On Dec. 11, the Government of Canada released its renewed climate plan. As a young person who has been working in national and international climate action and conservation for the past four years, I was excited to see nature—more specifically, “nature-based climate solutions”—recognized as a necessary part of climate action. But the plan has some critical shortcomings in recognizing nature that must be addressed if we are to advert global climate crisis.
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