Published Jan 02, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read
Wildfire smoke rolled into Edmonton reducing visibility and had a negative impact on air quality. The Alberta legislature building is obscured by smoke from only a block away in the Violet King Henry Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Re. “We still depend on fossil fuels despite trillions for clean energy,” Opinion, Dec. 28
Three writers from the Frasier Institute believe it is unrealistic to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 despite the annual global investment in green energy having risen from $650 billion in 1995 to $1.7 trillion in 2023.
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The writers neglect several things: World population increased from 5.7 billion in 1995 to 8.1 billion in 2023; tens of trillions of public dollars are spent each year subsidizing fossil fuels, including the creation and maintenance of new roads, sprawling suburbs and car-centric shopping centres; And humanity needs to decrease the use of energy of all types by creating dense cities with smaller dwellings and in which almost all trips are made by walking, cycling, or public transit.
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Would densification mean climate chaos would be averted? No. It is already built into the near-term future. But it would make life more interesting and convivial and slow down the rise in chaos. I suppose carbon neutrality by 2050 would occur if most of us were dead by then; and with terrible wildfires, large rises in ocean levels, and increasing droughts, floods, and hurricanes, the conditions are there. Perhaps this is the authors’ “realistic” plan for achieving carbon neutrality.
Ian Kellogg, Edmonton
Woman’s brain surgeries kiboshed
My neighbour has been driving to Edmonton for the last two years to see the only doctor that can operate on her brain tumour. She is also losing her sight and has been unable to leave the house due to dizziness for over two years. Operations were finally set up for her when your new health-care system was imposed and her records were returned to her within an hour.
I believe this to be a gross oversight in that this woman’s only chance for a normal life or any life are these operations. B.C. was paying!
Sharon Leonard, Osoyoos, B.C.
Tackling two problems at once?
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In reading about the issues with Edmonton’s fleet of e-buses and the dismantling of homeless camps, I think there is an opportunity to solve both at the same time. Perhaps the city should consider moving the decommissioned buses to the sites where the camps have been removed. They can then be used as shelter for those in need.
It is a win-win. Buses are left to rust away over time and shelter is provided. The $16-million sunk costs can then have some actual value. There will, of course, be an extra cost to tow the buses to sites as most of them do not actually work.
Just another stupid idea in the City of Stupid Ideas. Hey, maybe that could be our new city slogan.
Monte Koenig, Edmonton
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