After the United States Election An Emissions Cap Has Become More Important Than Ever

Your advocacy for an emissions cap, and other climate measures, matters more than ever. We need to protect what we love now.

By Conor Curtis, Head of Communications at Sierra Club Canada

After the election of the President of the United States who has promised to do the will of oil and gas companies in return for their financial support, you, like me, are probably waking up to feelings of fear for our climate future. But this morning I am driven forward by a recent statement from the UN Environment Programme:

“Every fraction of a degree avoided counts in terms of lives saved, economies protected, damages avoided, biodiversity conserved, and the ability to rapidly bring down any temperature overshoot.”

Every single thing we can do counts in lives saved, not just for the climate but to restore nature and build movements for justice. And history will remember what we do now. If we can save even a few lives that’s worth it.

If we can save thousands in Canada by reducing air pollution then that’s worth it. 

In the days and weeks ahead I am resolved that what we do now matters most.

Climate change is going to get worse, a lot worse. For too many it has already had devastating consequences as we talked about in our podcast yesterday with climate survivors who are calling for an emissions cap on wealthy oil and gas corporations. Those on the front lines of the climate crises can not afford inaction on our part – the emissions cap is just one way we can help hold powerful interests accountable to reducing pollution.

These are the very same oil and gas corporations that have spent their time trying to destroy any policy intended to hold them even slightly accountable. They have interfered with the safety of our future, interfered with the future of generations to come, countless times. If we do not stand up to them they will not stop.

If we are to have any hope of combatting climate change, this country is now one of the most important places where we must fight to Protect What We Love. Not just because of our own emissions, but as an example to the world – for all those out there who want a better future – that they are not alone. 

I encourage you to share this message with others and to send in a message to our leaders to show your support for climate action. Stay tuned, there will be more to come in the coming days. And if you have questions please write to us at communications@sierraclub.ca

We also have a podcast club that is ongoing and a chance to connect with like-minded activists in an area of mutual support. You can join that mutual support club by emailing ontario@sierraclub.ca

There will be those south of the border who will be looking to us for aid, for solidarity, and for safety – it’s important we are there for them.

What we do now, how we set an example in a time of crisis, matters more than ever.