VANCOUVER — Today’s motion in Parliament to declare a national emergency for human-caused climate change responds to the growing number of Canadians being hit by more frequent and severe floods, wildfires and record heat. Research shows that Canada is overheating at twice the global rate. With devastating spring floods this year in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario, and early wildfires in B.C., climate change impacts are being felt across the country.
“Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis is an important step,” David Suzuki Foundation science and policy director Ian Bruce said. “Responding by prioritizing cleaner energy and cutting carbon pollution through national action really matters. We are calling on all of Canada’s political parties to reflect this urgency in the climate laws and regulations they support.”
Today’s climate emergency motion spoke to the need to re-commit to the Paris Agreement targets to limit human-caused global warming below 2 C and strive to keep within 1.5 C.
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal also spoke to the climate emergency in its recent finding that the federal government has the power to take national action to tackle the crisis. The court agreed that “climate change is doubtless an emergency in the sense that it presents a genuine threat to Canada.”
“Supporting climate emergency declarations sends an important signal to Canadians,” Bruce said. “Now all governments must back up their commitments with bold climate and clean-energy solutions.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Theresa Beer: tbeer@davidsuzuki.org, 778-874-3396