Rural Areas Hit Harder by Climate Change
Around 20% of Canadians live in rural areas and according to a report by the federal government, these Canadians are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. “It’s not easy for someone living in rural Canada”, said Mike Hole, resident of Boissevain, Manitoba, while discussing the fight against climate change. Not only is it difficult because of the negative effects of climate change but also because of the challenge of implementing solutions or remedies in rural areas.
The first challenge is transportation. Electric vehicles are commonly recognized as a relatively easy method to save money and fight against climate change; however, this is not the case in rural areas. In the city they work great, but the combination of minimal charging stations and frigid winters does not bode well. This problem can be combatted through rebates and improved charging infrastructure. "There's absolutely an important role for governments to really show up and [help] the people who would love to get behind the wheel of an EV but are just finding a few challenges to doing so", said Rachel Doran, vice-president of policy and strategy for Clean Energy Canada.
Another challenge is heating. The cost of energy in rural areas is often higher and includes fixed charges because it is more expensive to bring energy to remote areas. The most affordable option is often to throw a few more logs on the fire, even at the expense of the environment. It is suggested that people in rural areas make their homes as energy efficient as possible, adding electrical power from solar panels and wind turbines, or even implementing a home energy storage system to store electricity for later use.
These changes might not be easy and affordable for all, but one option is for a community to pool their resources, some of these opportunities become a lot more practical. "I think it just takes co-ordinating so that you create a larger scale opportunity, and that's all to the better because it means that more people are getting these solutions, not simply one house", said Brendan Haley at Efficiency Canada.
Borrum Energy Solutions designs microgeneration wind turbines and towers that can withstand 189 km/h winds and -50C temperatures, providing a realistic solution for saving money, decreasing dependence on the electrical grid, and reducing climate change impacts for those rural dwellings.