Tag Climate Action

We are, without a doubt, at a point at which hope, without action, is meaningless to our children. We need action. That includes the kinds that are easy (like remembering to bring a grocery bag.) However, it also includes significant steps that will not be convenient or easy. It requires radical changes to our lives – not just once, but every year, for the foreseeable future. It requires changes to how we eat, how we live, how we get around and who we elect to government.

There are various numbers being put out – and I’m not going to focus on all of the specifics here, just the overview.

The Green Party believes Canada should commit to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 2005 levels by 2025. Our long-term target should be to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with further cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of at least 80% to 90%, compared to 1990

https://www.greenparty.ca/en/backgrounder/2015-06-14/green-party%E2%80%99s-climate-change-plan (from 2015)

The plan targets 60 per cent GHG reductions against 2005 levels by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050. (Green Party, Canada, 2019)

https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2019-05-16/elizabeth-may-unveils-mission-possible-%E2%80%93-green-climate-action-plan (2019)

This is a call that we must take seriously. A reduction of over 50% in only a few years is what we are being asked to do. Thinking about that practically that means:

• radically overhauling transportation and other sectors
• electing governments with exceptionally strong climate action plans (Greens, in Canada – in my opinion)
• changing our own personal choices
  • If our house is 50% bigger than it needs to be, for example, downsizing is a way to reduce our emissions – a smaller, equally efficient house is less space to heat and cool.
  • Making a variety of changes to how we eat (plant-based, local, organic as much as possible.)
  • Transitioning away from gas-powered items as quickly as possible (vehicles, lawn mowers etc).
• Realizing that we don’t have the luxury to pick and choose anymore. We all have to do our best, in every sector, knowing that some changes will be easier, and others will be harder. Some we might be able to make a lot of progress on right away and others might take a bit more planning, but we can get there, and we need to try.

I believe that we can do this – if we genuinely work together to make the changes that are needed. Let’s do this together! 🙂

Sometimes, in conversations around making the changes that are necessary for a cleaner, better environment, I hear people talk about any given change and, referring either to themselves or society generally, say “Well, maybe people could make that change, but it would take decades. Nobody can make that change fast, like the science is asking us to do.”

Here is my response: We have all had decades – starting back before I was born, and decades before my kids were born. Like a student who procrastinates all term and then has to do all of their work in the last week of the term, the opportunity to do things more gradually was there, and it wasn’t taken. Now, we have decades of work to do and we have to get it done. There are no extensions available.

It’s time to act – removing fossil fuel subsidies, adding major subsidies to renewables to speed the transition, switching to a local and heavily plant-based diet, living in smaller and more energy efficient homes, getting gas guzzling vehicles off the roads, flying less, reducing emissions in all areas, electing leaders (like Elizabeth May and the Green Party) who will put climate action at the top of the agenda, knowing that some changes will be relatively easy and some will be harder. We need to meet (and exceed) the major climate agreement targets – and we need to do it fast. I believe that it can be done – all it requires is the will to step out of our comfort zone, make the changes and do the right thing.

Toronto Star: Elizabeth May: We have had decades to stop the climate crisis. The era of procrastination must end.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/09/03/elizabeth-may-we-have-had-decades-to-stop-the-climate-crisis-the-era-of-procrastination-must-end.html