The terrifying deadlines approached by climate change tempt us to despair. But the face of the movement stirs us to courage.
Two certainties existed entering the Paris climate talks. They hold as true coming out. The first was that the world’s heads of state were not prepared to act as is necessary. The second is that it was never going to be up to them anyway.
The headlines from the Paris climate talks tell an inspiring story. Agence France-Pressereported an outbreak of “euphoria” as the international climate accord was sealed. Reutershailed a global “turn from fossil fuels.” The Guardian headlined “a major leap for mankind.”
The COP21 Paris Climate Conference has, as expected, led to an agreement. It will come into effect from 2020 if it is ratified by 55 of the countries which are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and these 55 countries account for at least 55% of global emissions of greenhouse gases. In the light of the positions taken in Paris, this dual condition should not raise any difficulty (although the non-ratification of Kyoto by the United States shows that surprises are always possible).
Globally influential climate activist Yeb Saño has just returned home to the Philippines disappointed, having recently trekked 1,500km from Rome to Paris only to see the COP21 climate change summit reach a spectacularly bad result last weekend, he says.
Saño and those in his multi-faith and environmental entourage —called the “People’s Pilgrimage" — had marched for two months across Europe, praying for a miracle.
Lake Poopó becomes a desert while in Paris, governments conclude an agreement they call “historic” to address climate change. Will the Paris Agreement save over 125,000 lakes that are in danger of disappearing in the world due to climate change?
Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) Regional Chief Ghislain Picard Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, llb, ba (Hons) Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC
December 17, 2015
OPEN LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU
Re: Fixing the Broken Review Process for Tar Sands Pipelines
Last weekend, Canada signed onto a global climate agreement that ushered in a new chapter for this global movement. We are at a potential turning point away from fossil fuels -- but only if Canada keeps its promises, increases ambition, and comes up with a plan to keep fossil fuels, starting with the tar sands, in the ground.
