Ireland's on the right side of history. What about Canada?

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

Dear friends,

I’m writing this with a Guinness clutched in one hand, because this week the government of Ireland gave us a big reason to celebrate: it became the first nation on earth to commit to fully divesting from fossil fuel companies. Once the bill is rubber-stamped by the Senate, Ireland's €8bn sovereign fund will start to ditch all its oil, coal and gas assets. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need in the midst of a climate crisis.

But unfortunately, by buying out a dying pipeline project, your Prime Minister and self-styled climate champion, Justin Trudeau has cemented a place for himself on the wrong side of history. That’s why it’s more important than ever to speak up on Trudeau’s buy out of the Trans Mountain pipeline... before the deal is finalized on July 22nd. Find a town hall on the pipeline buyout today -- or sign up to host one in your community.

We’re winning more and more in this fight. The year began with New York City divesting—but it’s continued with huge wins at universities and in cities around the globe. Just yesterday Queens College Cambridge divested. A few days earlier it was the entire Church of England threatening to divest from fossil fuel companies, if they don’t align with the Paris Agreement by 2023: we know already they won’t.

Irish activists have done amazing work to make this week's victory happen — I’ve watched with awe as activists from environmental groups and the Catholic social justice movement have transformed the debate in the country. But every one of you can take a little credit. Thanks to the movement you and I have built together, governments around the world are finally catching on that the fossil fuel industry is the leading culprit behind the climate change crisis.

As the rest of the world embraces a fossil free future, it’s shameful for the Canadian Prime Minister to pursue a multi-billion dollar deal to buy out a tar sands pipeline. If you agree, join the People’s Town Halls on Trudeau's piplein buy out taking place from coast to coast to coast all across Canada.

I know that it’s a lousy moment right now—Trudeau is breaking all of the promises he made on climate change and Indigenous rights. That’s why we need to celebrate big wins when we get them. We’re fighting for the zeitgeist—for the vision of the future. And some days we’re winning.

Bill McKibben, for 350.org

P.S. - Any deal with a fossil fuel company is a bad one. Earlier in the week, our friends at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued a detailed report that’s a godsend for everyone still working a Fossil Free future — it shows that oil companies are a bad investment.

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