"New Brunswick's Climate Emissions Are Climbing — And It's On Us to Push Back." By Keith Dennis Brewer

 

When I stand overlooking the woods of New Brunswick with a camera in my hands, I am not just looking at scenery. I am looking at life. I am looking at places wildlife depend on to survive. I am looking at the beauty that makes this province special.

Over the years, photography has brought me deep into nature — from remote backroads and woods to wetlands, rivers, and coastlines. Through my lens, I have watched the quiet moments most people never see: birds feeding their young, animals moving through untouched wilderness, sunlight breaking across endless trees. Those moments remind me why protecting nature matters so much.

That is why hearing that New Brunswick’s climate emissions are climbing again in 2024 is deeply concerning to me.

Instead of moving toward a cleaner and healthier future, we are moving backward. Even more troubling is the possibility of new high-polluting projects being introduced across the province. Projects like these may bring short-term gains, but the long-term cost to our environment, wildlife, and future generations could be enormous.

Nature always tells a story if we are willing to pay attention.

As someone who spends countless hours outdoors, I have noticed changes over the years. Weather patterns feel less predictable. Some seasons seem shorter, harsher, or delayed. Areas that once felt untouched now show signs of human pressure. Wildlife habitats continue shrinking as development spreads further into natural spaces.

The woods of New Brunswick are more than just trees. They are homes. They protect biodiversity, clean our air, and help regulate our climate. When emissions rise, the impacts spread far beyond numbers on a report. Wildlife suffers. Ecosystems weaken. Communities feel the effects through stronger storms, warmer temperatures, flooding, and environmental damage.

A lot of people think one person cannot make a difference. I do not believe that.

Real change begins when ordinary people start caring about the world around them. We all have a role to play, no matter how small it may seem.

Doing our part can mean:

• Spending more time respecting and appreciating nature
• Reducing waste and pollution
• Supporting cleaner energy and sustainable practices
• Protecting woods, rivers, and wildlife habitats
• Teaching younger generations why conservation matters
• Speaking up when environmental issues are ignored

As a wildlife photographer and advocate, I feel a responsibility not only to capture nature, but to speak for it as well. Photography is powerful because it freezes moments in time — moments that could disappear if we stop caring about the environment around us.

The landscape in this photograph represents what is at stake. These woods, these rolling hills, this wilderness — they deserve protection. Future generations deserve the chance to experience the same beauty we see today.

New Brunswick still has an opportunity to move in a better direction, but it will take awareness, responsibility, and action from all of us. Governments, industries, communities, and individuals all share that responsibility.

At the end of the day, nature gives us everything — clean air, clean water, peace, beauty, and life itself.

Now it is our turn to give something back.

— Keith Dennis Brewer
Wildlife Photographer & Advocate
(KeithDBPhotos)