Climate goals missing in campaign
Bold commitments made by provincial leaders should be followed by swift action
During this provincial election campaign, many issues have been raised. However, most of the parties have not shared much about their plan to tackle the climate crisis.
Is it because the public is apathetic to this concern, the most important issue of our time? It is described by David Attenborough as “our greatest threat in thousands of years.” You would think it is worthy of attention.
Let’s look at how Ontario has done so far. Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government did what most governments — including our Liberal federal government — must begin to do and invested in cleaning our grid. Coal plants were shut down, wind turbines were erected and planned, and Ontario’s grid became one of the
eanest in the world.
Days after Doug Ford became our premier, our climate progress came to a grinding halt and turned around. Current projections say our grid is to become four times dirtier in the coming years, as no plans have been made to replace nuclear power plants slated to be shut down with renewables.
Thus, Ford will continue to move away from renewable energy and expand our dependance on natural gas for electricity. Even if people shift to electric vehicles, they’ll be charging increasingly with natural gas (a fossil fuel).
Provincial leaders don’t need to look far to come up with viable steps to reduce carbon emissions. They could look to our municipal partners and see folks in communities taking bold and courageous steps toward a healthier planet.
Quebec and Vancouver banned natural gas expansions; Kingston, Toronto and Brampton all urged their pension fund (OMERS) to meet city targets and stop investing in fossil fuels. The message is clear: stop the expansion of oil and gas infrastructure and shift to renewables — as quickly as possible. Our carbon budget is being spent too quickly, and we are already in debt to our planet.
Each investment our leaders make (recent ones are the Bay du Nord offshore oil project and loans to Trans Mountain pipeline) means decades of increased emissions and money spent on building a disastrous future, and not investing in proven solutions. These investments are financially and economically risky, unethical and unsupported by scientists or economists when factoring in climate change.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said it best when he declared, “To waste this opportunity would be to compromise our last best chance to stop runaway climate change. It would not only be immoral, it would be suicidal.”
Our provincial leaders must look to the cities, experts and economists to see how many are speaking out to reduce garbage, shift investments, prioritize ecosystems and encourage passive homes.
Let’s not allow the provincial leaders, mayors and the prime minister to continue to make false promises. Let’s demand that they not only make bold commitments, but follow with swift action. We do not have more time.
We cannot afford more of Ford’s poor climate decisions. We must make our voice heard on Thursday. Let’s not let our divided opinions about the economy and the pandemic overshadow this existential threat. We must look up and steer toward a healthy future for our children.
My hope is that the provincial party leaders will convince us they are planning, not just for tomorrow, but for our children and grandchildren tomorrow.
If we choose short-sighted leaders, we will end up with short-term solutions and compromise our future.