“We are here because people we work with in the South told us climate change is affecting them. I’m not here speaking on behalf of people in the Global South, but with them.”
— Geneviève Talbot
Geneviève Talbot is a research and advocacy officer at Development and Peace, the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. She was joined by Steven Guilbeault, co-founder and senior director of Équiterre, in Ottawa on April 5 to discuss next steps for Canadians on climate change. The event was co-sponsored by Development and Peace, the Canadian Religious Conference, Citizens for Public Justice, and Équiterre.
Talbot and Guilbeault each opened with an outline of their organizations’ current work. As part of their education and action campaign “Create a Climate of Change,” Development and Peace has circulated thousands of postcards directed to the Prime Minister asking for climate action. Équiterre, in turn, continues to engage Canadians in advocacy for laws, regulations, policies, and practices that support sustainable development and social justice in Canada.
The international stage is set
Both speakers attended international climate negotiations (COP21) in Paris last December. They share mixed feelings of dissatisfaction and hope about the Paris Agreement drafted there. Talbot is concerned that it perpetuates a utilitarian view of land that continues to enshrine capitalism as the solution to climate change. She concluded that “we need to question our model of economic development,” because its dependence on growth is one of the root causes of climate change.
The Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming below 2°C, and recognizes that this limit really needs to be 1.5°C in order to protect coastal and island nations. Guilbeault said that new pledges made at COP21 have increased ambition enough to prevent about 1°C of warming. But even with these new pledges, we’re still on track for nearly 3°C of warming. Now these pledges need to be turned into committed action, and ambition needs to continue to be ratcheted up over time.
The big issue on the international stage is the moral obligation of developed countries to the Global South, “because we created climate change, not them.” But we need to give more than just moral support to developing countries. We need to make sure that we are providing resources to invest in a future of responsible and just development, Guilbeault emphasized.
It’s time for Canadians to act
“Climate change is a huge challenge, but we have the solutions. All that’s missing is political will.”
—Steven Guilbeault
Guilbeault believes that “we have to mobilize” in order to hold governments accountable to the commitments they have made—and must continue to make—on climate change. He pointed to the Blue Green Alliance an example of how even labour groups are mobilizing in support of a planned transition towards a green economy. He suggested that we can each support climate action and advocacy efforts being coordinated by groups like Ecology Ottawa. “We need to change the way we do things, and we need to encourage our leaders to do the same.”
The federal government is currently working to develop a pan-Canadian framework on climate change and will be consulting Canadians on climate change over the next six months. Talbot highlighted that “these consultations are a place to make sure what the Canadian government promised is turned into action.”
Now is a critical time for Canadian citizens to flex their democratic muscles. By participating in these climate consultations, Canadians have the opportunity to shape strong climate policy that creates a legacy of hope for generations to come.
We are not alone! Together we act, advocate, and live into a climate of change.
