Liberals are running out of time to prevent a climate disaster: NDP

NDP critic for the environment and climate change, Laurel Collins, and the critic for natural resources, Charlie Angus, made the following statement:

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report released today is yet another dire warning that all levels of government have only a narrow window to implement key climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to secure a liveable future.

People are already living with the results of the climate crisis. From historic heatwaves and flooding in British Columbia, to droughts in the prairies and flooding in Atlantic Canada, the climate emergency is affecting the way we live and work. Despite years of warnings from experts, Justin Trudeau is not showing the climate leadership that people in Canada are looking for. This report is a call to stop making empty promises – we must take urgent action now. But instead of acting to protect the environment, the Liberals continue to subsidize the largest polluters in the oil and gas industry, have purchased a pipeline, and are delaying climate goals at the peril of Canadians and their communities.

New Democrats have been calling for the Liberals to stop handing out money to the oil and gas sector and start investing in funds that support energy workers with good, family sustaining jobs in renewable energy. In addition, we have been working to introduce legislation that would refocus the Canada Infrastructure Bank to help communities adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Finally, we are calling for a National Freshwater Strategy, urging the government to retrofit all buildings in Canada by 2050, and modernize and expand public transit and zero-emissions vehicles in Canada.

There is no time to delay. New Democrats will continue to push for urgent and effective climate action to protect Canadians now and for generations to come.”