The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
C.c. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P
Minister of Natural Resources
Dear Minister Guilbeault,
As a member of a faith community deeply committed to the stewardship of our planet, I am writing with a sense of urgency regarding the escalating climate crisis. The alarming fact that global warming reached an average of 1.48°C in 2023 is a stark reminder that we are perilously close to surpassing the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees.[1] This critical juncture calls for bold, urgent, and transformative climate action in Canada and globally.
I recognize the progress made by this government in addressing the climate crisis, reflecting a growing awareness and commitment among people in Canada to confront global heating and extreme weather events. However, the scale and urgency of the climate crisis demand far more comprehensive measures to avert the impending ecological catastrophe. To this end, I join others of faith and conscience in asking that Canada:
- Meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2025 and increase this target to 60% by 2030.
- Commit $1.8 billion annually to gender-responsive, community-led, and grant-based funding for global mitigation and adaptation efforts, aligning Canada's climate action with its fair share of global climate finance contributions.[2] Additionally, enhance Canada’s inadequate financial pledge to the Global Loss and Damage Fund to support the most impacted communities in the Global South.[3]
- End all fossil fuel subsidies and invest in a just transition to establish a fair, inclusive, low-carbon economy that supports workers and communities, addresses current and historical inequities, and prioritizes social protection. This includes allocating the $2 billion promised for the 'Futures Fund' program to assist workers in fossil fuel-dependent provinces in transitioning to sustainable, innovative, and equitable industries.[4]
In our shared journey toward a sustainable future, it is crucial to uphold the rights, knowledge, sovereignty, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples. This is a key defense against the intensifying ecological emergency and aligns with Canada's obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Implementing the principles outlined in UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action is imperative to ensure that our climate solutions are grounded in justice, equity, and sustainability.
The urgency of the climate crisis demands decisive and immediate action. As signatories of this letter, we commit to joining in this critical mission, pledging to significantly reduce our personal and household GHG emissions. We hope that your leadership will guide Canada towards a path that acknowledges the gravity of this situation and fulfills our collective aspiration for a habitable planet for all creation.
In solidarity,
[Your name]
P.S.: Give it up for the Earth! is a Lenten environmental campaign led by Citizens for Public Justice and supported by For the Love of Creation.
[1] Copernicus Climate Change Service. "Copernicus: 2023 is the hottest year on record, with global temperatures close to the 1.5°C limit." January 9, 2024. https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2023-hottest-year-record.
[2] AidWatch Canada. "Corrected December 2019 Climate Report." December 2019. PDF file. https://aidwatchcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Corrected-December-2019-Climate-Report.pdf.
[3] Rana, Uday. "Canada’s $16M COP28 climate aid may last ‘less than an hour’ in a crisis: experts." Global News, 1 December 2023, https://globalnews.ca/news/10142353/canada-cop28-climate-aid-damage-fund/.
[4] Liberal Party of Canada. "Ensuring Workers and Communities Prosper as We Move to Net-Zero." Accessed [2024-01-21]. https://liberal.ca/our-platform/ensuring-workers-and-communities-prosper-as-we-move-to-net-zero/.