The dramatic findings of the latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change make one thing very clear: sooner or later, Alberta is in for a reckoning.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls the report a “code red for humanity.” So much evidence has piled up that it is now undeniable that greenhouse gas emissions, “unequivocally caused by human activities,” are not only the cause of global warming, but that thanks to two decades of dithering and failing to get our collective act together, 1.1C of that global warming is now already locked-in.

1.5C of global warming is projected to be enough to cause major social upheaval as people flee droughts, famines, and unlivable conditions. 2.7C would be hotter than the world has been in millions of years and lead to an absolutely staggering loss of human life worldwide—and 2.7C is the projection for the end of the century at the rate we’re going.

Canada is the ninth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and has the worst record of any of the G7 countries in terms of meeting emissions targets. And that’s just the sum total. There may be more pollution coming out of China or India in total, but per capita (that is, per person) Canadians are among the worst polluters on Earth, only bested by Americans, Australians, and Saudis. And among Canadians, the worst polluters are by far us Albertans, thanks to the huge amounts of greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuel production—especially in the oil sands.

Alberta leads the country in greenhouse gas pollution by a large margin. 
National Inventory Report 1990-2019: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

As residents of this world we have a responsibility to fight for the planet, now, before it’s too late. Over 1C of climate damages are locked in now and if we are going to avoid an unprecedented global disaster we can’t let that number get much higher. As Albertans specifically, we need to admit the simple fact that we won’t keep getting away with dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere much longer. Sooner or later, the rest of the world is going to force us to stop, and no war rooms, inquiries or truck convoys are going to prevent that. This latest IPCC report isn’t just code red for humanity—it’s a warning to Albertans that things are going to change, whether we’re ready or not.

Sundries

• Today the United Nurses of Alberta will be holding information pickets at hospitals across the province. Most of these pickets are happening around noon. Take a look at the UNA announcement to see if there’s a picket in your area, and if you can make it, drop by to show your support.
  
  
• The federal government has rejected the application for the Grassy Mountain coal project, closing the book on this thing for good after the Alberta Energy Regulator denied a provincial license earlier this year.
  
  
• MLA Jason Stephan down in Red Deer is taking a firm stance against protestors writing things in chalk on the sidewalk outside his office.
  
  
• Where did a CTV story attacking Dr. Joe Vipond over his political donations come from? From the Premier’s office, apparently, though the CTV didn’t note that they were fed this story by one of Kenney’s ‘issues managers’ until they were bombarded with a mass of complaints.
  
  
• The monument to Nazi collaborator Roman Shukhevych outside the Ukrainian Youth Complex in Edmonton has been vandalized, again. This time another monument to Nazis in Edmonton—one memorializing the 14th Waffen SS division—got a coat of paint as well. It seems like a simple solution would be to not have statues to Nazis here?
  

This is the online version of the Progress Report email newsletter. Don't depend on some social media or search engine algorithm to find this content in the future. Sign up to get updates on the most important local political issues in your inbox every week.