Minds On

Addressing environmental issues

Explore the following descriptions and images:

  • What are some ways Canada is participating in addressing environmental concerns?
  • Why would some of these environmental issues require global participation?

Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Action

Canada and the environment

One of the focuses of the Canadian government is environmental awareness and protection. Keeping the environment clean and putting policies in place to keep the environment healthy is important to Canada.

For many years, taking care of the Earth for future generations was not a priority in Canada. Increased pressures on the environment, pollution, and environmental destruction, to name a few, hurt the environment and the land we all live on.

Indigenous peoples have been living on the lands in what is now known as Canada since time immemorial, or as long as can be remembered. With each generation, they have learned from their environment about how best to take care of it in a sustainable way. This is called traditional ecological knowledge. Traditional ecological knowledge refers to the environmental knowledge and sustainable practices that Indigenous peoples have developed over centuries. This knowledge comes from the observations of generations of Indigenous peoples living on the land, each successively learning about specific plants, environments, and the ecological factors that exist in a given area. Even as time goes on, this knowledge adapts to the ever-changing environmental circumstances. Each nation has its own beliefs, laws, and teachings regarding how to care for and sustain the Earth.

In the following video, you will examine some of the impacts of climate change, which are being noticed by Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario. The video is an interview which asks Cree Elders from Omushkego First Nation about their perspectives on how the environment in their region is changing.

Consider the following questions as you explore the video. Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

  • Describe some of the changes the Cree Elders from Omushkego First Nation have noticed in nature due to climate change.
  • What are some of the suggestions these Elders have for scientists who study climate change?
  • What unique perspectives do these Elders have when it comes to understanding how their local environment is changing? Why might it be important to include their perspective within the present research? Why might it be important to listen to Indigenous peoples and their perspectives when it comes to taking care of the environment now and for future generations?

Climate change journey

The Government of Canada has become more involved with environmental protection and is working with other regions of the world to take action and support environmental sustainability.

Explore the following infographic, or research different statistics and facts about Canada’s climate journey. Consider how Canada is working with other countries to reduce carbon emissions and pollution.

As you explore, consider the following question:

  • Why are some environmental issues of international importance, and how is Canada involved?
Infographic of Canada's climate change journey.

This infographic creates a pathway of dates showing Canada’s involvement in climate change during 2015-2016. A series of dated icons are spaced out along a roadway/path from the top of the infographic to its bottom. It includes information regarding:

  • First Ministers Science Briefing in Ottawa (November 23, 2015)
  • Paris Climate Conference (November 30–December 12, 2015)
  • Environment Ministers Meeting (January 23-29, 2016)
  • First Ministers Meeting (March 3, 2016)
  • Prime Minister and US President Discuss Climate Change (March 10, 2016)
  • Budget 2016 Tabled (March 22, 2016)
  • Launched Climate Change website (April 21, 2016)
  • Carbon Price Announced (October 3, 2016)
  • Parliament Voted to Ratify Paris Agreement (October 5, 2016)
  • Canada ratified the Paris Agreement (October 5, 2016)
  • Global Deal reached to phased down HFC pollution (October 15, 2016)
  • Announced accelerated phase out of coal fired electricity (November 21, 2016)
  • Launched the new Pan-Canadian framework on clear growth and climate change (December 9, 2016)

Once you have examined the “Our Climate Change Journey” infographic or explored your own statistics and facts, explore the following true or false questions. If the answers are false, consider the reason why.

Select the correct answer.

Press ‘Corrections’ to reveal why some statements were false.

  • Multiple Choice #1: The Canadian government voted to ratify the Paris Agreement in December of 2016.

This is a false statement. The ratification took place in October 2016.

  • Multiple Choice #5: A Climate Change website was launched in February to inform Canadians about climate change in Canada.

This is a false statement. The Climate Change website was launched in April 2016.

Press the following tabs to access more information about the environment, trade, and the relations between them.

It is important to work as a global community to address environmental concerns. Many environmental concerns might not be able to be addressed by only one nation, country, or community, and require national and international support. Additionally, some environmental concerns are global in nature, such as air pollution, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, and ocean pollution, and therefore require international support and efforts.

Canada, along with other nations worldwide, is striving to take action to try to address and reduce the impact of climate change, as this is a focus of international importance. In order to effectively reduce the impacts of climate change, it will take international support, communication, and collaboration.

As trade between nations expands, there are many positives associated with such relationships. This might include supporting economic growth and development and can contribute to a greater capacity to manage the environment more effectively due to the need to support continued interactions. Additionally, increased trade relationships may help to improve access to new technologies, which may help local production processes and make them more efficient by reducing the use of energy, water, and other environmentally unfriendly substances.

However, there are also environmental concerns that need to be considered. This might include increased pollution due to transport, reduced natural resources, or the increase of a new species to an ecosystem which may not be able to support it.

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

Consider what other impacts trade might have on the environment. How does this relate to various environmental concerns of international importance? If possible, share your thoughts with a partner. Record your thoughts using a method of your choice.

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Consolidation

Supporting the environment

A way in which Canada is connected to the global community is through their environmental considerations. Some environmental concerns are of international importance and could require the participation of other regions of the world, along with Canada, if they are to be effectively addressed. Why would this be the case?

Your task is to identify an environmental issue that could be of international importance and requires other regions to get involved. Discuss what the issue is and how regions of the world, along with Canada, are working to effectively address the issue.

For example, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has developed strategies to prevent overfishing, ensure healthy oceans, and enhance commercial fisheries.

Other topics to explore and research may include:

  • supporting the Great Lakes and concerns over invasive species
  • climate change support programs and efforts
  • limiting CO2 and/or SO2 emissions
  • tree-planting campaigns of the United Nations Environment Program
  • correct disposal of technology
  • wildlife habitat protection

Use the following checklist to help guide your understanding:

Complete the Environmental Issues of International Importance activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Environmental Issues of International Importance. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Think about what you have learned

Respond to the following questions by recording your ideas using a method of your choice:

  • Why do some issues require action at the international level?
  • What are some ways Canada is striving to address environmental issues?

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

The video you explored in the Action section provides a Cree perspective on climate change in their local community. Explore an Inuit, Métis, and another First Nations community perspective on climate change.

  • What are some similarities in what these communities have noted about climate change in their local area?
  • What are some of the different perspectives and/or knowledges shared by these distinct communities about the Earth and environment?

Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

There are alternatives for you

As an alternative, explore the following two articles and discover what is being done to promote environmental sustainability through Indigenous knowledge.

Consider what can be learned from these experiences and how it helps the environment.

Article#1

An adult standing and in the background, there are people who seem to be planting a field.

Press tvo today to access "How One Man is Planting Seeds for Indigenous Knowledge."

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Article#2

This is an image of a shovel in the soil.

Press tvo today to access "How Indigenous Land-based Learning Can Help Fight Climate Change."

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