Dear Mr. Prime Minister and all those it may concern,
Humans like to race. European countries raced each other to colonize the world. The US and Russia raced each other into space. We complete for who can come up with the best technologies the fastest. We’re all trying to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine. We race for everything.
…And then there’s climate change… No one is rushing to be the world’s climate leader. No one is racing to net zero. No one is competing for the best climate technology. Instead people are passing blame around like a hot potato. Why? Well, it doesn’t really matter why. It only matters when we get our head screwed on right and start fighting.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Just Recovery*. It’s a set of principles to guide our economic recovery from the pandemic. It’s important to remember our world wasn’t perfect before this virus. Going back to normal isn’t the key. We need to build a better world from the ashes. A better world that includes a world that is less dependent on coal and other harmful things. I want Canada to lead in green energy, to lead in the Just Recovery.
We need to start doing this because the future of the world may depends on it, and millions of lives certainly do. Climate change goes nowhere when we play hot potato. Climate change stops being an issue when we step up.
If this isn’t enough to convince you, remember that leaders leave legacies. Right now Justin Trudeau’s legacy looks like this: Bought a pipeline, didn’t fulfill many election promises, provided solide leadership in the pandemic, had multiple ethics scandals. Wouldn’t it be nice to add Climate Leader to that? People will look back at this time; back when stopping the worst effects of climate change was possible. I hope they see a world of people racing to fix things for them.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Amelia Penney-Crocker
*If you want to learn more about the Just Recovery, check out the links bellow