Where I live in Ottawa, Ontario, one has seen an increase in severe storms like never before, causing much damage ranging from flooding to large trees, structures and electrical poles being toppled by wind gusts. Indeed, the Weather Network has recently reported that Ontarians are feeling the hottest temperatures recorded in the last 90 years. Temperatures felt like the low 40s across Ontario as the heat and humidity continued to ramp up. As was the case not that long ago, what could compound the heat issues was once again wildfire smoke that reached parts of the province from neighbouring Quebec, lowering localized air quality and causing respiratory problems.
While tornadoes and flash floods are eye-catching disasters, extreme heat silently claims more lives than most other severe weather events combined. One glaring example of this was the historic Chicago heat wave of 1995, where feels-like values rose into the 40s for days on end. The heat claimed more than 500 lives, affecting most residents who lived in neighbourhoods lacking reliable access to air conditioning. Another event was British Columbia ’s heat dome in June 2021 which claimed a similarly high toll, with nearly 600 people dying in the province as a result of the historic streak of high temperatures. Most recently, data shows that Europe recorded over 10,000 excess deaths during a late-June heat wave. Scientists have concluded that this heat wave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change, making heat waves more frequent and intense.
However, despite the fact that the U.S. produces around 40% of global greenhouse emissions, the current federal administration is cutting programs aimed at reducing man-made emissions, including initiatives promoting the development of green energy in favour of fossil fuels. President Trump announced in February 2026 that he was erasing the scientific finding that climate change endangers human health and the environment, ending the federal government’s legal authority to control the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet. The action is considered a key step in removing limits on carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases that scientists say are supercharging heat waves, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather.
In Canada, Prime Minister Carney is also pushing for more large energy projects involving the production and transportation of fossil fuels, particularly out of Alberta. However, the federal and provincial governments are at least continuing to develop more electricity production sources involving green energy, such as in the nuclear sector. However, previous Canadian targets for greenhouse emissions reduction have been put off until much later dates due to economic considerations.
There is little doubt that extreme heat events will become more common in the years to come. It’s more important than ever to recognize the dire and silent toll that extreme heat can exact upon vulnerable populations, and work to mitigate the dangers posed by prolonged hot temperatures in communities that don’t have adequate access to ways to cool off. In addition, communities will have to improve their infrastructure capabilities to better cope with extreme events ranging from flooding, wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes. Currently, it has become increasingly obvious that the existing infrastructure and prevention programs are inadequate to ensure our safety during such events. Following the aftermath of such events, the monetary costs alone are enormous for victims, insurance companies and governments at all levels.
The time for governments to act is right now. One must act against those who claim climate change as a “hoax”. In order to encourage our two countries to transition away from fossil fuels and toward solar, wind and other nonpolluting energy, we must counteract groups of conservative activists as well as oil, gas and coal interests. Otherwise, as eluded to by the American Environmental Defense Fund, one can expect that greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 10 percent over the next 30 years. Moreover, environmental concerns do not stop at our borders.
FROLITICKS 