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Published on Tuesday, 12 January 2016 14:45
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Written by editor
The Canadian Youth Climate
Coalition
We are 11 days in to 2016
and already momentum is building. As we begin to look forward into
this new year, I find myself remembering the lessons from COP21 and
reflecting on the year we've just left.
The road to Paris was
long and hard. Years of work from countless individuals and
organizations helped to shape our work, the outcomes of the federal
election, and the eventual Paris Agreement. It's not possible to wrap
up 2015 neatly. The implications of the new Liberal government and the
Paris agreement can't yet be fully understood.
One thing is
sure though - our work is not finished.
Paris was not, and
could never be, the answer for which we have been searching. COP21
showed us that it is not enough to elect new leaders and sign new
agreements. If we want to see real bold action on climate change, we
need to get involved, get motivated, get educated and get organized.
It will be up to us to educate our government on what they need to do,
and how they need to do it. We need to demand change, to demand
action, to demand justice. We are on the brink of a giant shift in
Canada, which is why in the spring of 2016, we are hosting PowerShift
in Alberta.
Ours is a movement for justice - racial justice, migrant justice,
environmental justice, justice for the people, and justice for the
land. The Paris Agreement, while an important step in a new direction,
is not built upon the principles of justice for those first and worst
affected by the climate crisis. Our new government is a refreshing new
player in our political landscape, but we know all too well that we
cannot expect what we do not demand.
Now is not the time to
sit back and wait. Now is the time for justice.
Now is the time
to educate each other on how the movement for climate justice can grow
stronger. Together we must deepen our understanding, broaden our reach
and pull new people into our shared understanding and collective
action for a better future. Together it is possible to be stronger, to
be bolder and to create transformative change. Join us at PowerShift
Alberta to teach, learn and grow together.
Kiki Wood
http://www.ourclimate.ca/
Missed our coverage of COP21? Wondering what to think of the
Paris Agreement?
Check
out our website to browse our Daily COP21 updates.
The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition ยท Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 2B6, Canada
You can also keep up with Kiki Wood
on Twitter.