The impact of climate change will affect all of us. The planet is in grave danger due to the continual rise in the earth’s average temperature. Currently the biggest impacts have been felt in drastic weather events in some of the world’s poorest countries. Combatting climate change is an issue for all workers and something to which we all need to commit. CUPE National, along with the National Environment Committee has developed a new tool called Starting to Talk: CUPE Climate Change Conversation to help members understand climate change and take action on the political front.
Canada needs to reverse the course that it is on. The Conservative record on climate change is dismal. Canada is the only country to pull out of the Kyoto Accord, our environmental assessment process has been gutted and we have not invested in renewable energy under the Conservative government. Electing an NDP government will help to establish Canada as leader in battling climate change and protecting the environment. And we must be vigilant in advocating for what we want. Recently CUPE signed on to the Leap Manifesto. This manifesto is a call for Canada based on caring for the earth and one another. It starts from the premise that Canada is facing the deepest crisis in recent memory. And in the midst of this crisis there is the promise of opportunity to make the political and economic system fairer.
Combatting climate change will take nothing less than transforming our economy away from reliance on fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, increased public transit, public water and other public services. A ‘green economy” will be a more equitable economy. Find the Leap Manifesto at leapmanifesto.org.
By acting in our workplaces and at the ballot box CUPE members can do their part to fight climate change.