A Future We Can Win
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Dear friend,
Are you discouraged when you read the news about the climate crisis? I often am. From the worst drought Europe has seen in 500 years, to China’s record-breaking heat wave, to devastating monsoon rains that left one-third of Pakistan under water – the news is rarely good.
It's critical to "tell the truth about the severity of the crisis and the measures necessary to combat it." But part of that truth is that there have been wins in the fight against climate change, with your support, there are more wins in our future.
A JUST TRANSITION IS WINNABLE
When we're consistently up against powerful fossil fuel corporations and governments that subsidize fossil fuels and put fighting for pipelines ahead of fighting for a livable future, it's easy to lose hope that we can ever win.
But the Council of Canadians, and its members, supporters, and chapters have participated in and contributed to many important wins, including our ongoing Flood Parliament campaign, which has seen 48 MPs – and counting! - commit to speak up in favour of just transition legislation.
We're proud of the work we – and you – have done to fight for a just and sustainable future.
WIN! AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL
The fight for a Green New Deal is still ongoing federally, but at least 15 communities in Canada and beyond have tabled or implemented Green New Deals on a municipal level. These local wins are huge, especially in Canada, where municipalities have control over 44 per cent of the country’s emissions.
WIN! AT KEYSTONE XL
Despite the attempts of the Alberta government, the Keystone XL pipeline is officially dead (RIP). Although more work needs to be done to ensure that when fossil fuel projects like Keystone are crushed, workers aren’t crushed with it, the death of Keystone XL was a monumental victory.
WIN! ON MI’KMA’KI
In January 2022, BP and Equinor formally abandoned their remaining offshore exploration leases in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), leaving no active offshore oil and gas projects in the province. It was a hard-won victory after years of sustained efforts from Mi’kmaq land and water protectors, the Council of Canadians, and the Campaign to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia.
WIN! AT THE INSTITUTION
There has been a growing international movement to pressure universities, pension funds, and other institutions to divest from fossil fuels. Canadian institutions that have committed to divest from fossil fuels include, but aren’t limited to, universities, professional associations, faith-based organizations and, of course, the Council of Canadians.
What these wins have in common is that they came after many years of organizing across communities. They took sustained effort – and in many cases, they require continued efforts to uphold. Our efforts are supported by our phenomenal community of Council members and supporters. Thank you for your time, your passion, and your donations.
Sara Birrell is a Communications Officer (Research and Analysis) for the Council of Canadians. Prior to coming to the Council, they worked as a journalist and as a research assistant on just transitions.
Hope to see you there!
Sara Birrell,
Communications Officer (Research and Analysis)
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