Turning anger into action

I can’t stand air conditioning. I don’t like artificial cooling and I detest how bad these units are for the environment. However, the heat this past summer in many parts of Canada was intolerable. In the summer of 2024, we turned the air conditioning on at least three times as often as in previous summers to function and keep my young child safe. For the first time in my life, the air conditioning in our home kicked on in September as the temperatures soared 10 degrees above the highest average temperatures for this month.

The level of heat that we have been experiencing is not safe. Many places around the world had record-breaking days of heat throughout the summer, with the hottest day ever recorded this July. This heat is contributing to hundreds of deaths in Canada alone. This heat affects all lives:  Birds and monkeys have fallen dead from trees due to the extreme heat. 

These numbers will only increase. Experts determined that 2023 was the hottest year on record and 2024 will surpass this. Heat waves are estimated to be four times more frequent now that the earth’s temperature has risen by 1.5°C .

These rapid and catastrophic increases in heat have been induced by human action. Human-caused climate change is largely caused by fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. As these fuels are burned, they become trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, then trapping the heat of the sun. 

Fossil fuel companies have known about the negative impact of fossil fuels since the 1970s, some even earlier. However, this information was difficult to find. 

Despite the availability of jobs and growth potential in sustainable energy, fossil fuel companies, and others who benefit from their monetary wealth, continue to argue that fossil fuels are necessary for the economic well-being of this nation. 

The six largest fossil fuel companies in Canada have all proclaimed that they have a net-zero emissions target by 2050. However, they continue to actively advocate against adequate climate policy. 

There are no jobs on a dead planet. The economic argument made by fossil fuel companies also neglects the financial costs of the climate crisis. It is estimated that the cost of heat-related deaths and reduced quality of life in Canada may be up to $3 to $3.9 billion annually by 2050. Fossil fuel companies are making record profits, while deadly emissions rise and people suffer. 

 All of this can feel heavy and daunting. Yet the time for action is now.

So, what can we do? 

First of all, get angry. We are too often told to suppress this emotion. Anger, like all emotions, is a messenger, and anger is a powerful motivator for change. So, let yourself feel angry. 

We have all been sold a lie and our lives are at risk because of it. Use your anger to speak up. Speak to your Member of Parliament (M.P.) or municipal representative and tell them that you want a ban on fossil fuel ads and an emissions cap on the oil and gas sector. Urge your M. P. to support Bill C-372, which would ban the promotion and advertising of fossil fuels, just like tobacco advertising is banned.

Secondly, look into alternative options, truly sustainable options. Consider redefining what progress means to you. Is progress really owning a car, purchasing numerous items that need to be flown to you, and flying somewhere for vacation? 

Or could progress mean investing in a sustainable present and future? How can you invest in a sustainable life in your local community? 

From community gardens to carbon-zero cities, it is inspiring to see how people are pushing back against despair and carving new, creative solutions. Cities around Canada are developing healthy and livable spaces. 

What is your municipality doing? 

Yes, I will need to continue to turn on the air conditioning to maintain safety in the extreme heat. However, I will also let myself feel anger. And I will guide this anger into creating a sustainable world for my children and for all children. 

Will you join me? 

Lorin Young (she/elle, settler) is a psychiatrist who works in Ottawa and is a member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. She specializes in treating trauma and in mindfulness practices.