2008 SYMPOSIUM REVIEW
“Whether you are Right, Left or Centre…we all
need to breathe the same air”, spoke Deputy Mayor Joe
Pantalone, stressing the non-partisan urgency of global climate
change action within his opening remarks. Such exigency was
a key theme at OSPE’s Engineering in a Climate of
Change one-day symposium, attracting engineers, academics
and more to the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto on October
16, 2008.
With additional opening remarks by Hon. Donna Cansfield,
Minister of Natural Resources and Michael Monette, MBA, EDP,
P.Eng., OSPE President and Chair, both the global implications
of our changing climate, and the immense opportunities they
present, remained a strong focus throughout. The Massachusetts
Institute of Technology’s Dr. Ronald Prinn outlined
a decidedly dark reality to the capacity crowd, exploring
the science of climate change, and its implications for economics,
technology and policy.
“Absolutely this will happen, and there’s nothing
we can do about it”, spoke Dr. Prinn, in reference to
the drastic rate of artic warming and the subsequent rise
in sea level. Despite the bleak reality, he inspired the elite
crowd by discussing potential solutions to a wide variety
of climate change induced challenges.
Attendees were invited to partake in one of three breakout
sessions during both the morning and afternoon programs, featuring
a range of topics from water management and drainage infrastructure
to financing for new engineering initiatives.
Addressing the projected impacts of climate change on global
development and poverty, the World Bank’s Paul Cadario
spoke of the devastating affects on third world nations, including
falling crop yields, species extinction, and increased storm
intensity. He stressed that climate change is not just an
environmental issue, but rather one of social and financial
impact as well. Encouraged by the opportunities for improved
infrastructure in such regions, Mr. Cadario added “engineers
bring to the climate change debate a sense of systems”.
Local efforts were highlighted in many presentations, including
David MacLeod of the Toronto Environmental Office’s
plenary address, Paul Martin’s historical drought analysis
and Ontario’s Water Quantity Risk Assessment, and in
Cameron Ells’ infrastructure vulnerability case study
of Placentia, Newfoundland.
To accommodate interested parties unable to attend in person,
the symposium’s Telus Room program was made available
via real-time webcast, which included on-screen visuals of
all slide presentations.
The global challenges of climate change present both a strong
threat and a great opportunity to today’s infrastructure
and societal standards, and Ontario’s engineers have
the potential to greatly impact the future stability of both
our province and beyond. For every problem a viable solution
exists, in the words of Dr. Prinn, “Are there environmental
impacts, and can I engineer myself out of these? In most cases,
yes you can.”
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers would like
to thank all sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and participants
that helped make Engineering in a Climate of Change
a success.
Testimonials from attendees
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