From open burning to open dialogue, these actions can mitigate the climate crisis, scientists say

Beaches and Mountainsis an audio series exclusive toCBC Listen's On Demandstreaming platform hosted by scientistJohanna Wagstaffeand storytellerRohit Joseph.

It explores the many connections between our favourite natural spaces to be in, why they matter to us as humans, and how we have to fight to preserve themin the face of climate change.

The writing is on the wall that climate change isalready taking its toll onBritish Columbians.

Rising sea levels, raging fires and crop-damagingdrought have, or will, affect livelihoodsand alterthe beautiful landscapesthat provide recreation and respite to so many.

Yet as the coast erodes, the province burns and people choke on smoke, climate experts saythere are some actions that have been taken and some that still could be to help combat the problems we are seeing nowand whatever damage is yet tocome.

"We have to find hope," says Alan Shapiro, a B.C.-based ocean scientist and environmental consultant.

Fortunately, he has.

Solutions at sea

Shapiro says in the last year, he has seen anemergence of businesses and solutions that are "genuinely trying to engage" with climate change challenges.

He saysone of the best homegrownsolutions-based ideas he has seen so far is in Victoria, where a company has developedunmanned surface vehicles(USVs) that can remain at sea for months and collect data.

Open Ocean Robotics, founded by former National Geographic explorersJulie and Colin Angus, is usingthe data collected tohelpplot fuel-efficient shipping routes, learn more about rising sea levels and temperatures, monitor for oil spills and track illegal fishing and dumping.

The information is also critical for scientists.

"Just even understanding climate impacts on oceans, we need more data," says Shapiro."They're helping us by mapping the oceans,especially in this time of climate change."

Fightfire with fire

While robots monitor sea levels which areexpected to rise half a metre by 2050 many British Columbians are, right now, more worried about firethan water.

Thousands of people have fled or are on edge as wildfires rip through the Interior, and while it is starting to feel like aseasonal normality, experts say it doesn't have to be.

For generations, Indigenous people usedcontrolled burning to get rid of underbrush and other excess fire fuel that could enable a wildfire to grow out of control.

FormerYuneit'in government chief Russell Myers Ross, who leads his community'sfire management program,told CBC in Julythose burns are also a way for Indigenous people to regain knowledge lost to colonialism.

"This issomething that has been done by our ancestors for hundreds of years, if not longer," he said. "It's a real chance for us to regain that practice."

Fire ecologist Robert Graysays it's time the province works with Indigenous people toput that knowledge into action. He says it is a long-term solution that can work.

"Historically, average fire size was less than 50 hectares and we can actually get back to that," said Gray.

As of Sunday, more than 8,600 square kilometres of B.C. hasburned since April 1.

Spread the word

While it may sound like a small contribution, talking to other peopleabout the climate dilemma is important, Shapiro says. He says research showsmost denierswho change their minds,or people who startto engage more with the topic,do so because of human interaction.

"Helping people convert climate into concrete instead of this abstract climate change crisis that we're not engaged with,I think that's the biggest thing that we can do as individuals," says Shapiro.

A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is how itcreated a shared experience people all over the world can speak to each other about, he said. It also brought international leaders and policy makers together to tackle something that put everyone on the planet in jeopardy.

This increased connectivity and communication could come in handy, says Shapiro.

"That shared experience, I think, is such a great jumping-off point for the kinds of collaborations we need for climate work," he said.