VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Green Party of Canada is asking politicians of all parties to join them in calling for an immediate shift to drastically reducing GHG emissions and phasing out fossil fuels.
“The climate catastrophe in Pakistan requires more than just humanitarian relief, the people of Pakistan need Canada and the rest of the global north to take greater accountability for the climate destruction that is disproportionately impacting the global south.” said Dr. Farrukh Chishtie, an atmospheric, climate and earth observation scientist and the Green Party of Canada’s Environment and Climate Change co-critic.
“The amount of suffering of people and the loss biodiversity from these cascading climate disasters is staggering. As an immigrant from Pakistan, I am absolutely devastated. I am heartbroken.”
Over the last 22 years, Canada’s GHG emissions have increased dramatically and today we have one of the highest per capita emissions of the G8 and many others, including the US.
“It’s good to see Prime Minister Trudeau recognize the devastation in Pakistan by sending aid, but this is little more than a band-aid.” said Dr. Devyani Singh, an immigrant from India which itself has recently shared in the devastation of cascading climate destruction, and the Green Party of Canada’s Environment and Climate Change co-critic.
“Instead of solving the root cause of these disasters, we paralyze ourselves by increasing investment in fossil fuel production. Those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis are paying the price of our carbon addiction, they will need more financial, technological, and humanitarian aid as the crises worsens.
“To date we have seen only superficial action to significantly reduce the impact that Canada’s economic greed has had on the global south. Our government continues to give billions in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, ensuring that climate destruction will continue for generations.” said Dr. Amita Kuttner, interim Leader of the Green Party of Canada.
“So-called net-zero by 2050 is not enough, we need to be net-negative as early as possible and reduce our emissions 60 percent by 2030. This can only be achieved through a rapid draw-down of fossil fuel production.”
The Green Party of Canada proposes a just transition plan including:
- an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies and greater investment in renewable energy
- support for fossil fuel industry workers to retrain and support for their families as they transition to more sustainable industries
- immediately cancelling all new fossil fuel projects such as the Transmountain Expansion and Bay du Nord projects
- Development of an immigration strategy to accommodate millions of climate refugees
Dr. Farrukh Chishtie, Environment and Climate Change Co-Critic
Dr. Devyani Singh, Environment and Climate Change Co-Critic
Dr. Amita Kuttner, interim Leader
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For more information or to request an interview:
Crystal Rosas
media@amitakuttner.com
(613) 614-4916