Call for an Emergency Debate in the House of Commons on Canada’s Road Map to Limit Climate Change to 1.5°C.

Dear friend,

To be honest, today I’m terrified. The world’s most authoritative voice on climate science, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), just released their report on what it will take to limit global climate change to 1.5°C. The bottomline: any hope for a safe climate hinges on ceasing fossil fuel expansion, immediately.

In the face of such clear scientific consensus, Canada is rapidly headed in the wrong direction with rampant government support for tar sands expansion in Alberta, fracking in BC, and offshore drilling off Nova Scotia’s coast. With Justin Trudeau championing tar sands expansion in Alberta, fracking in BC, and offshore drilling off Nova Scotia’s coast, it seems clear that this government isn't listening. That’s why I’m inviting you today to join me and call for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on Canada’s road map to limit climate change to 1.5°C.

Back in 2015, I was there when Pacific Islanders flooded the halls of the Paris climate conference demanding that world leaders commit to fighting for their survival. Today, I can hear their chants ringing in my ears once again “1.5 to survive." By the end of that conference, the newly elected Trudeau government heeded this call and fought for the Paris Climate Accord to include language around limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Now, that promise like so many others seems to have been long forgotten. Let’s make our leaders answer to that. Call on all federal party leaders to hold an emergency debate on Canada’s commitment to 1.5°C.  

If Canada and the world stay their course, we can expect even stronger storms devastating coastal communities, rising seas swallowing small Island nations, fires blazing through the forests of Western Canada, heatwaves making cities unbearable, and much more destruction far beyond what we can even imagine. And we know that when these disasters come, Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable communities in the Global South will be hit the hardest.

Scientists could not be clearer about the urgency of the climate crisis. That means time has run out for Canada. We need urgent action and we need it now. Let's make sure federal leaders know this too. 

In respect and peace,

Clayton