This month the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth assessment on climate change — and the results are frightening.
In a nutshell, the report confirms what we already know: we are in the midst of a climate emergency and if those in power fail to take immediate action to correct course, we are headed straight for climate catastrophe.
High-level takeaways
A few of the important takeaways to understand from the report are:
- We are closer than ever to irreversible climate tipping points that will accelerate and amplify harm to people and the natural world
- We are bound for 1.5°C warming in all scenarios, but every fraction of warming averted can save lives
- To stabilize warming at 1.5°C, governments must take immediate action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050
Turn to action
While this new report is frightening, the antidote to climate anxiety is action.
The IPCC report makes clear: decisive action by governments and political leaders can chart a path out of the climate emergency. Now our job is to hold them to account.
This month the @IPCC_CH released its report on climate change — and the results are frightening. Here are ways we can channel climate grief into climate accountability and create real change now.
Here are some ways to show up:
- Learn about the links between colonialism and the climate crisis — start by engaging with groups like Indigenous Climate Action, Nahanee Creative, Future Ancestors, and Youth Climate Lab
- Support Indigenous land and water defenders by financially contributing to their work and following through on their calls to action. Research the issues local to your area.
- Demand an end to thermal coal exports in Canada by writing your elected officials
- Make sure you are registered to vote and cast your ballot in upcoming federal, provincial, and municipal elections.
- Attend the upcoming Fridays for Future global climate strike on September 24
Hope is resistance
The information detailed in the IPCC report can be overwhelming. Climate grief and anxiety are very real.
It’s important to hold space for these feelings, while also understanding a climate safe future is possible and worth fighting for.
When faced with climate doomism, it’s easy to lose hope in the fight for climate justice. But don’t forget: your efforts advocating for environmental justice are powerful. A climate safe future is possible and worth fighting for.
Remember to rest and — when you’re ready — use hope as a motivator for action.
One way the Ecojustice team stays motivated is by reflecting on the climate victories we’ve helped secure and the inspiring clients and partners we’ve worked with in recent months. Here are some of the reasons we remain as hopeful as ever:
Supreme Court of Canada upholds carbon pricing
Last year, Ecojustice lawyers appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada to argue on behalf of upholding federally-mandated carbon pricing and unified climate action in Canada.
The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that national, coordinated action to price carbon is constitutionally-sound and essential in the fight against the climate emergency.
This precedent-setting win is key in curbing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Prospective thermal coal mine projects get tossed
Over the past several months, Ecojustice’s long-running legal advocacy campaigns have helped keep the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel in the ground after the federal government announced a policy that bans new thermal coal mines.
Halting new thermal coal projects is critical to addressing the climate crisis: burning thermal coal for energy generates half of the world’s carbon emissions.
Now, Ecojustice is turning our efforts to calling for the end of existing mining and export of thermal coal overseas.
New climate law charts path to net-zero by 2050
Thanks to joint efforts by Ecojustice, our partners, and advocates like you, political leaders in Ottawa tabled, improved, and passed the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
This key piece of legislation holds the Canadian government accountable to meeting its long-term target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 by setting milestone targets, mandating progress reporting, legislating a body of diverse stakeholders, and the list goes on.
Youth-led climate lawsuit challenges the status quo
Earlier this year, a court denied the Ontario government’s second attempt to shut down Mathur et. al. v. Her Majesty in Right of Ontario, the landmark youth-led climate case backed by Ecojustice.
The lawsuit will now proceed to a full hearing — making it the furthest a youth climate case has ever progressed in the Canadian courts.
Our seven youth clients are suing the Government of Ontario for weakening its climate targets, violating Ontarians’ Charter-protected rights to life, liberty, and security of the person.
Momentum is on our side
Change is on the way. So, let’s keep going.
The IPCC report is a warning, and a call to action. Global leaders: get your acts together, for the safety of our communities and future generations.
And don’t forget: your efforts advocating for environmental justice are powerful. Working together, we can ensure government and industry continue to be held to account in the courts, at the ballot box, and within our communities. Thank you for standing with us.