Today is Earth Day. Let me start with a confession. I drive an SUV.
One of our researchers, Tara Gault, gives me a hard time about it. She probably should. I do actually use it for hauling and towing and chose the most fuel efficient version I could find at the time, but it is definitely oversized for the part of my life that is taken up with commuting to Halifax.
That being said there many efforts I've been personally moving forward with to reduce my environmental footprint.
As much as possible my constituency office is paperless. I've been increasing insulation in my home, converted toilets to low flow models, changed light fixtures, and removed grass from my property where it would only grow with lots of water and chemicals. I am currently putting in a system to collect rainwater and have been exploring solar water heating for my home.
I've been surprised by the cost savings. My oil bill has dropped by a third since I added insulation and my water bill has dropped even in the face of increased rates. Much of the work has paid for itself already.
My own experience has made me directly realize two important things. First, even if you are one of the rapidly shrinking group of people who do not believe in climate change, environmental improvements in your own life can save money.
The second, and an equally important one in my view, is that many people cannot afford even basic efficiency upgrades. This must change. Many of the programs which exist or are proposed such as rebates for new washers, are accessible to those who have the money to make change without rebates.
We should see this as one plank in a larger effort to reduce poverty. If we can work to reduce the daily expenses for low income families, what little they have will go further. Its a step. But its a step most cannot take without a helping hand.
Before getting into politics I spent time working in some of the poorest places in the world. Places where poverty is often getting worse often as a result of environmental change.
On this Earth Day let's celebrate that people now think of the environment as an important issue. But let's not celebrate too much. In forty years we haven't come nearly as far as we should have. Every step matters, but let's also make sure we don't leave the most vulnerable in Nova Scotia - and the world - behind.
