Rising for the climate
Charlottetown event one of 900 organized globally by climate action group
A group of concerned Islanders got together on Saturday as part of a global movement with a clear message for politicians and governments – commit to ending fossil fuel development and move to a 100-per-cent renewable energy system.
“To Island politicians, I would say that Islanders are ready for courageous leadership on climate change and renewable energy. And to Islanders, I would say that now is the time to push hard and directly request those specific policy changes that we want to happen,” said Anna Keenan, the fossil free community manager with the group 350.org.
The gathering at the Charlottetown Farmers Market was one of more than 900 events held in 90 countries organized by 350.org to “Rise for Climate.”
The organization 350.org was founded in the U.S. in 2008, and currently has representation in 188 countries. According to its website, the organization opposes new coal, oil and gas projects in favour of 100 per cent clean energy solutions.
Keenan further explained that
the name’s number refers to the historically safe limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (350 parts per million).
“And, currently, we’re at 410,” Keenan said.
David Woodbury, a retired psychologist and psychotherapist who organized the Charlottetown
event, noted that climate change will be at the international forefront again later this week with California Gov. Jerry Brown hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.
Woodbury said that when governments promote and invest in activities that increase climate change, they are committing “a crime against all of humanity.”
“I’m hopeful that we can introduce some changes here that will then be an example to other jurisdictions,” he said.
Keenan, a former president of the Green Party of P.E.I., is critical of how the governing Liberal Party and opposition Progressive Conservative Party are handling climate change.
“We can have a managed transition. But we need to actively start moving in that direction. I see a lot of lip service from the current government. I see fear mongering from the current Progressive Conservatives. And, I think Islanders genuinely want change and see through that,” said Keenan.
“That’s one of the reasons that we’re seeing the emergence of the Green Party here, because it’s one of the only parties here that is actually willing to do what it takes on climate science ... Within 10 and 20 years, we are going to need to transition. That’s what the climate science requires. And, we need to do our part driving that change on P.E.I.”