Study links rise in extreme wildfires to emissions from oil companies | 24CA News
As fires blaze in Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C., new analysis has drawn a direct and measurable hyperlink between carbon emissions traced again to the world’s main fossil gasoline producers and the rise in excessive wildfires throughout western Canada and the United States.
The peer-reviewed examine, revealed final week within the journal Environmental Research Letters, discovered that 37 per cent of the entire burned forest space in Western Canada and the United States between 1986-2021 could be traced again to 88 main fossil gasoline producers and cement producers.
“What we found is that the emissions from these companies have dramatically increased wildfire activity,” mentioned Carly Phillips, co-author on the examine and a researcher on the Science Hub for Climate Litigation on the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Using modelling knowledge, researchers have been in a position to decide that emissions traced again to these 88 firms resulted in an extra 80,000 kilometres squared being burned. That’s an space bigger than the dimensions of Ireland.
Energy business responds to analysis
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) responded to the examine in an electronic mail to 24CA News.
“While our view may differ from the group who produced the study, what we can agree on is the need for continued work towards driving down greenhouse gas emissions,” mentioned CAPP spokesperson Jay Averill.
“Canada’s oil and natural gas industry is one of the largest investors in emissions reduction innovation in the country,” Averill mentioned, citing carbon seize and electrification packages.
Canadian firms have a task to play in lowering international carbon emissions by exporting extra pure fuel to nations who’re counting on coal to energy their economies, Averill added.
Jatan Buch, a analysis scientist on the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, mentioned in an electronic mail the analysis offers “strong evidence” of the influence of emissions traced again to particular fossil gasoline firms.
Buch, who was not concerned within the examine, added that whereas analysis reveals VPD is a number one driver in how far a wildfire spreads, different elements are additionally at play, together with the precipitation and snowpack situations early within the season, and the practices of prescribed burning and fireplace suppression.
John Vaillant has spent years investigating wildfires and the explanations at present’s fires are extra harmful. He makes use of pictures and movies to indicate CBC’s chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault what’s been occurring.
Growing discipline of examine
The analysis is a part of a rising discipline of examine generally known as attribution science, which makes an attempt to measure how local weather change straight affected latest excessive climate occasions.
Jennifer Baltzer, an affiliate professor within the division of biology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, mentioned it is turning into extra frequent to see scientists make these connections.
“Last year, there were a number of studies that directly attributed the increase in emissions and associated climate warming with the massive heat waves that hit Europe,” mentioned Baltzer, the Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change.
“I think we’re increasingly seeing scientists make stronger statements, which we need to be doing —- stronger statements about the fact that, yes, these changes in climate are human-caused and they are driving these massive catastrophes that we’re seeing around the world.”
Baltzer, who was additionally not concerned within the examine, mentioned the findings aren’t shocking, given earlier analysis.
But she mentioned the knowledge helps draw hyperlinks between earlier analysis and the emissions from the world’s largest fossil gasoline firms. “It’s really important to demonstrate those links.”
‘The accountability piece’
Phillips mentioned drawing these hyperlinks was a part of her motivation, particularly on condition that latest analysis and investigations have discovered oil firms knew about the specter of local weather change a long time in the past however downplayed the risks.
“Part of what this study does is show the linkages between these companies, their emissions and climate impacts, which will hopefully allow them to be held accountable for their fair share of the costs associated with wildfire,” she mentioned.
“I think the accountability piece for fossil fuel companies is really important and part of what makes this research unique. We know that historically industries have been held accountable for the risks of their products, whether it be tobacco or asbestos. And a big part of holding those companies accountable was research showing the linkages between their product and the impact.”
Christina Noel, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute, mentioned in an announcement: “The clear agenda of this group aside, America’s oil and natural gas industry is focused on delivering affordable, reliable energy while reducing emissions.”
