This campaign was created for a number of reasons.
The Climate Catastrophe is Out of Control
Canada, despite its vast natural beauty and resources, is not immune to the devastating impacts of the climate catastrophe. From coast to coast, Canadians are experiencing the alarming consequences of a warming planet:
- Extreme Weather Events: Canada is witnessing an increase in extreme weather events, including heatwaves, atmospheric rivers, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and monster storms. These events not only endanger lives and property but also strain emergency response systems and infrastructure.
- Existential Threat to Biodiversity: The changing climate poses significant risks to Canada’s diverse ecosystems and biodiversity. Species are facing habitat loss, altered migration patterns, and increased vulnerability to invasive species and diseases.
- Impact on Indigenous Communities: Indigenous peoples, who have lived in harmony with the land for millennia, are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. They face disruptions to traditional lifestyles, loss of cultural heritage, and challenges to food security and sovereignty.
Canada is Failing Miserably to Reach Its Climate Targets
Despite international commitments and pledges to combat climate change, Canada’s track record in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions leaves much to be desired:
- Rising Emissions Levels: Canada’s total GHG emissions have been steadily increasing since 1990 (first IPCC report), reaching 724 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. This trend is in direct contradiction to global efforts to limit temperature rise.
- Failure to Meet Targets: Canada has repeatedly failed to meet its emission reduction targets under international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The latest data shows that Canada is not on track to achieve its Paris Agreement target of reducing emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.
- Ineffective legislation: A report from Environment and Climate Change Canada has revealed that the legislation to reduce emissions is not going to achieve its goals.
The Government Is Not Doing Its Job
Despite mounting evidence of the urgent need for climate action, politicians in Canada have been slow to implement meaningful policies and initiatives to address the climate crisis:
- Lobby dominance: The fossil fuel industry wields significant influence over government decision-making through extensive lobbying efforts and campaign contributions. This influence has resulted in policies that prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term environmental sustainability.
- Subsidies: Despite plans to phase out “inefficient” subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, Canada continues fund them. This is happening while the fossil fuel industry is announcing record-high profit. These subsidies distort market incentives, perpetuate carbon-intensive practices, and hinder the growth of renewable energy alternatives. This is not even mentioning the pipelines our Federal government helps to build.
- Expansion of Fossil Fuels: Canada’s economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuel extraction and exports, particularly from the Alberta oil sands. The continued expansion of oil and gas infrastructure undermines efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy and perpetuates Canada’s status as one of the world’s highest per capita emitters.
In summary, the Climate Catastrophe poses grave threats to Canada’s environment, economy, and social fabric. Despite the urgency of the situation, Canada’s inadequate response to reducing emissions and addressing the root causes of the Climate Catastrophe underscores the need for grassroots activism and political accountability to drive meaningful change.