The ballot box issue that is most likely to affect the lives of young people is our success or failure in taking immediate action to address the existential threat of the climate emergency.
Seth Klein advises Canadians that in a climate emergency election, we need to find our climate justice champions. The Parliament we elect on Sept. 20 will hold our fate in its hands. Those seeking office must prove to us all that they get the emergency and are prepared to do what it takes to meet this moment with us. These are tough calls and our current electoral system doesn’t make it any easier.
First, we desperately need to hold the government to a minority. Minority governments are more accountable. They are compelled to work with others, rather than govern with impunity for four years. More importantly, a minority means the public is given ongoing openings to press for stronger and bolder policies. The Liberals’ climate record — taking modest action on climate while simultaneously subsidizing and supporting the expansion of fossil fuel production — certainly does not merit them the majority they cynically seek with this early election call. Second, we need to elect a huge contingent of true climate justice champions — people who genuinely get the emergency and will insist on bold action. With the country on fire, we need to elect political firefighters. We need to bolster the ranks of the climate squad across a number of parties. So, find your climate champion! If you don’t think you have one in your riding or, more likely, you don’t think they have a realistic chance of winning in your riding, then find one in a neighbouring winnable riding, and do everything you can to get them elected — donate, volunteer, organize, and vote.1
How do we identify those climate champions?
Some groups active on the climate emergency file include 350.org, Lead Now, and the Climate Emergency Unit. These groups will be endorsing climate champion candidates.
Environmental Defence explains, firstly, a strong climate plan should have climate targets that align with climate science.
Climate targets that align with climate science. Canada must do our fair share to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change by ensuring that global warming stays as close to 1.5°C as possible – which in Canada means reducing CO2 emissions by at least 60% below 2005 levels by 2030 across the country. Because Canada has created an outsized amount of emissions over the last century, Ottawa also must invest $5.2 billion annually in emissions reductions in developing countries.
No more new oil, gas and coal projects. Canada is still planning to produce more oil and gas than what is consistent with a climate-safe future. A credible climate plan must say NO to all new and under construction oil, gas and coal projects. It must also include a plan to wind down production of oil and gas over the next two decades.
An end to fossil fuel subsidies. Canada is still providing billions of dollars of government money to the oil and gas industry each year. A credible climate plan must include a concrete plan to end all subsidies and public financial support for oil and gas immediately.
A way to make polluters pay. Polluters must also be held accountable for their harm to the land, water and climate, especially for their disproportionate harm to Indigenous, racialized and low-income communities. They have spent years covering up the true cost of clean up, and will leave the costs to the public without strong accountability.
A ramp up of renewables and energy efficiency. We have the solutions to transition our systems away from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy. And we can do so by creating good, safe jobs across the country by investing big in electricity infrastructure, renewable energy, electric transportation, public transit and energy efficiency projects like home and business energy retrofits and more.
A commitment to ensure that the transition to a low carbon economy is just and equitable. This includes developing and implementing a transition plan to phase out fossil fuels, designed by and for workers and communities whose livelihoods will be disrupted by the transition. It also must involve those, including Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities, who have been disproportionately harmed by the fossil fuel-based economy.2
When we prepare to vote we need to consider electing climate champions in ridings that they can win
as well as denying a majority to any party in the realization that minority governments are more responsive to current needs and emergencies.
References
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