Support a fair Canadian response to climate change

As Christians, we care about climate change because we love people, and we love God’s good creation. We join in God’s mission to make all things new – envisioning communities worldwide in right relationship with God, one another, and creation (Col. 1:20; Rev. 21:5). Climate change makes this harder, by increasing inequality and hurting people who are already facing great difficulties and injustices. But it also presents an opportunity to work for justice and peace by responding in a fair way that helps everyone.

Climate change is causing worse natural disasters, fewer harvests, stress on water resources, reduced income, food insecurity, and an increased need to migrate. These changes affect families and communities around the world, especially the most vulnerable, including women and girls.

Climate affects everyone globally and requires action from all countries. For Canada, our role in responding to the impacts of climate change extends beyond our borders. We have a responsibility to lower our own impact on the environment, and to support people in countries that are facing higher impacts of climate change.

Canada has promised to do this, in global agreements like the Paris Agreement. In these agreements, countries have acknowledged that everyone needs to work together to tackle climate change, but the level responsibility isn’t the same for everyone. Countries that have produced more greenhouse gases need to take greater responsibility for their role in causing climate change. For example, Canada’s emissions are 15.4 tons per person, while Zimbabwe’s are only 0.8 tons per person.

To meet our commitments and contribute our fair share of global climate action, we believe that Canada should:  

1. Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 60% below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050, in a fair way that supports workers and communities.¹
2. Support communities around the world adjust and adapt to the impacts of climate change now by investing at least 50% of climate finance in adaptation.²
3. Meet our financial commitments. Based on Canada’s emissions and wealth relative to other donor countries, Canada should increase its climate finance to USD$4 billion annually.³

Join us in encouraging our government to take climate action! With your help, Canada can be a better climate neighbour, and a leader in working towards a just and peaceful future for all.