Fact #1: Climate change is taking place.

This is now a well proven and undeniable fact. The Earth is globally getting warmer and changing local climates, causing dangerous weather systems, droughts, unseasonable warm and cold periods and is extending the ranges of many animals. Scientific Studies have shown that Canada has seen a rise in average temperature of about one degrees centigrade since 1950, with six of the warmest years on record in Canada occurring during the last decade.

Even without Scientific Studies, there are clear environmental events that can only be attributed to increasing temperature, A dramatic example being the loss if the Ayles Ice Shelf, breaking off Canada's Ellesmere Island in the Arctic on August 13, 2005. This represents roughly 2 million cubic metres of ice lost.

Fact #2: Canada is one of the worlds worst polluters

In 2004 Canada produced over 758 million tons of greenhouse gasses and that level is rising every year. That is up 27% above 1990's levels, from 599 million tons.

This increase in emissions grew faster then population growth, meaning that the average Canadian produces 10% more emissions now then in 1990, to about 24 tons per person a year.

Although Canadians make up only 0.5% of the global population, Canada's share of global greenhouse gas emissions is approximately 2%. of global emissions

We, as Canadians, are one of the top three most polluting countries, per capita, in the world.

Fact #3: There is no one solution that will solve the climate change problem

There is no magic cure, simple anser, or piece of technology that will solve the climate change issue. that is an unpopular fact that we must face. We must not only change our relationship to energy fundamentally, but change our daily use of energy practically. Only by changing on both levels will we have a chance to change humanity’s course.

Fact #4: The best way is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses you emit

This is not sarcasm, but the best way to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is to simply not put them there in the first place. The reduction of the amount of greenhouse gases we produce in our dally lives should be our first priority in the effort to combat climate change. This represents the practical change we need to preform.

fact #5: Offsetting works when reduction is not yet possible.

Reduction of greenhouse emissions is not always possible. Most of us can only use electricity produced by coal fired plants, or drive petroleum powered cars. This is the place for carbon offsets. By buying carbon offsets for the greenhouse gasses you can not reduce, you are financing the construction of alternatives to these dirty technologies. This represents the fundamental change that needs to take place