B.C. heat wave, wildfires top of mind as leaders convene for UN Climate Conference
CTV
On the eve of COP26, the United Nations Climate Change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, observers in British Columbia point to local heat-fuelled catastrophes that claimed lives in the province this summer as proof the world needs to act now to slow the human-made climate crisis.
On the eve of COP26, the United Nations Climate Change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, observers in British Columbia point to local heat-fuelled catastrophes that claimed lives in the province this summer as proof the world needs to act now to slow the human-made climate crisis.
A late June heat wave that saw temperatures soar close to 50 C in parts of the province is blamed for hundreds of deaths.
One day after the town of Lytton set an all-time Canadian temperature record of 49.6 C, a fast moving wildfire roared through town, levelling everything in its path and claiming two lives.
The Lytton Creek Wildfire, as it was eventually named, burned for months and consumed 837 square kilometres.
"I think more and more people here in British Columbia are realizing that, and seeing that, and obviously being effected by that,” said Esmé Decker with Climate Justice UBC.
“And it's really important that we don't forget what has happened this (past) summer and is going to continue to happen."
More than 25,000 delegates from 200 countries will attend the 26th annual conference in Glasgow.
