Whats happening in BC is utterly spooky

Details: Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00; Written by editor

Paov,

It is mid-October, and here in BC, where I live, we are still fighting wildfires. Extreme drought conditions have extended the wildfire season, which is nearly five times higher than the average for this time of year.1 The Sunshine Coast has declared a state of emergency as they run out of water, with other parts of BC considering the same.2

These climate disasters are fuelled by Big Oil and our government is letting them get away with it. Instead of getting serious about winding down fossil fuel production in Canada, they’re planning to let these companies extract even more oil and gas, which will only make climate impacts worse. We need our elected leaders to make polluters pay their fair share as we race to prevent climate breakdown. That’s why we’re ramping up pressure on Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to tax Big Oil’s excess profits.

Paov, over 5,000 people across the country have already added their voices. Can you take one minute to sign the petition too and help us send the strongest possible message?

Seeing smoke-filled and red skies in parts of BC in the... middle of October is utterly spooky. It was just one year ago that a climate-fuelled atmospheric river hit BC and dumped so much rain it washed away major highway routes and flooded entire cities. This season, those same communities are running out of water and choking on wildfire smoke.

While we reel from worsening climate impacts and struggle with rising inflation, fossil fuel companies are making record profits off our backs. In 2022 alone, the global fossil fuel industry will make US$ 4 trillion.3 Countries around the world have already made the wise decision to pass an oil and gas Windfall Profits Tax, including the European Union last month. 4 We need our government to follow their lead.

It’s time for Canada to make Big Oil pay for the damage they are causing to our communities. Take one minute to demand Justin Trudeau and Steven Guilbeault tax the excess profits of fossil fuel companies to pay for loss and damage, and fund a just transition that puts our communities first.

In solidarity,

Jennifer

PS: Our friends on the 350 Latin America team are currently pushing the Argentinian government to end all fossil fuel subsidies and invest the money in a just transition. I hope you’ll take a moment to show your solidarity with Argentinians by signing the international petition.

This is part of an ongoing, grassroots-led campaign against fracking in the Vaca Muerta region. Oil and gas companies from Canada, the US and the EU all have their fingers in the pie, continuing the legacy of colonialism and showing no respect for life or the people living in the global south. Let’s show them that Canadians stand in solidarity against Big Oil’s human rights abuses and environmental destruction.

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