Just Transition Consultation

Submission to Natural Resources Canada

Our Earth is suffering. Natural systems are shifting, plant species are vulnerable, too many animals are at risk of extinction, and humans (especially in Northern communities and the Global South) are losing their lives and livelihoods to environmental degradation and disasters. Entire ecosystems, communities, and nations are struggling to survive.

The global climate crisis is rooted in the same colonial systems and structures of exploitation and racism that shaped Canada’s history and continue to harm Indigenous Peoples today. The scientific requirement of transformational climate action repeatedly signaled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) echoes Indigenous voices and affirms the knowledge and experience of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have cared for, and defended the lands, waters, and ecosystems across Turtle Island for generations. To move forward in a good way, we must prioritize Indigenous autonomy, transform our economic and social structures so they benefit all people living in Canada, and create space for the voices of those who have been traditionally marginalized and are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.