The Canadian government, as one of the most developed countries in the world, must be more willing to make changes to reduce climate change says the vice-chair of the Council of Canadians Thursday in Charlottetown.
Leo Broderick made the comment during a people’s assembly on climate justice at the Murphy’s Community Centre, which was one of many assemblies held across Canada while UN climate negotiations are ongoing in Cancun, Mexico.
The assemblies are intended to give people an opportunity to discuss the causes, effects and possible solutions for climate change and justice from a local to global scale.
With predictions the negotiations are unlikely to result in any real solution to the crisis and the recent rejection of the Climate Change Accountability Act by the Canadian senate, the council feels actions on a local scale, like the assemblies, have become increasingly important to finding a solution.
Broderick said he believes the message that emerges from these assemblies will be quite clear.
“What will emerge is that the Canadian government, on behalf of Canadians, must address the issue of global warming and climate change,” Broderick said.
“(The government) has been ignoring the issue. They’re continuing to insist that we must have more fossil fuel development in the tar sands, they’re not prepared to deal with the developing countries who have not caused this problem and they’re not prepared to pay.”
As one of the more industrialized and wealthier countries in the world, Canada has an obligation to help the less developed countries, who have not caused the issue and are feeling the effects, find a solution, Broderick said.
“There is a debt owed to these people who have not caused it and we must work together with them to reduce the impact of global warming because clearly global warming is here and if we continue to live on fossil fuels and we continue with our addiction, this is not going to be resolved.
“There must be justice and it is a justice issue.”
Carolyn Brown, director of environmental studies at UPEI, made a presentation during the assembly aimed at educating people on what climate change is, its effects and causes and what can be done to combat the issue.
Part of the presentation looked at the effects on the Island and showed how rising water levels and subsequent erosion from the effects of climate change are likely to have a negative impact locally.
“On a global scale, the carbon footprint of P.E.I. is not that large but it will feel the effects,” Brown said.
“There’s going to be more just unpredictable weather and winds on P.E.I.”
Brown’s presentation also centred around the fact there must be a sense of urgency and society must act immediately to reduce the impacts of climate change and avoid those that have not happened yet.
“If we act now we will have more options open to us.”
Environmental activist Adam MacIsaac of St. Peter’s Bay also made a presentation and spoke about his understanding of the climate crisis and the need for climate justice.
Agreed. Leo's so far to the left that even left-wingers cringe at the mention of his name. If Robert Ghiz wants to drum up support for his new maritime electric mortgage on young Islanders, he should send Leo out to protest it. Whatever position Leo takes automatically loses credibility. Also, this so-called Council of Canadians is neither a legitimate council nor is it virtuously Canadian.