Editor:
Expansion of Sechelt airport makes perfect sense – in the old paradigm – before the climate change crisis. In the context of sustainable economic development, it makes little or no sense at all. Certainly not as a priority – other than ensuring the safety of the existing airport.
Air travel is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This is acknowledged by two Swedish women who have signed a pledge not to fly in 2019, and the campaign is taking off internationally. As their social media site explains, air travel is the fastest-growing contributor to climate change, and it is expanding like a mushroom cloud.
Admittedly, local air travel is on a different scale from international, but it is part of our carbon footprint that is within our control. And to dip into the gas tax reserve to the extent of $346,865 as Sechelt is doing, money we hoped would be dedicated to sustainable projects, such as climate change mitigation, makes even less sense.
As we have recently learned, global warming is affecting Canada more rapidly than any other country. A CBC poll found that more than 80 per cent of Canadians think that global warming is important; however, half of those polled said they were unwilling to fork over even $100 a year more in taxes to do something about it, and sacrifice even minor inconveniences. We hope and believe that British Columbians are among the willing.
Combatting climate change should be a top priority, embraced by all levels of government, and promoting more air travel does nothing to meet the challenge.
Michael Siddall and Fern Walker, Sechelt
