Over 120 citizens from Guelph, Elora, and Eden Mills gathered in downtown Guelph on Sunday Nov. 29, 2015, to demand both local and international action on climate change. The event was one of over 1,700 such rallies held around the world on Sunday, as part of the 2015 Global Climate March organized by climate action group 350.org. Organizers estimated that over 600,000 people marched in over 175 countries around the world.
The rally coincided with the beginning of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference officially began on Nov. 30, 2015, and will continue until Dec. 11, 2015. World leaders from 150 countries are at the event to work on a legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the 21st UN Conference of the Parties, also known as COP21.
“A lot of the things you have to do to stop climate change make people mad,” said Guelph-Wellington MPP Liz Sandals, speaking to the audience in St. George’s Square, on Nov. 29. “So what I’m asking for is your support not just for the concept, but for all the hard choices we need to make to actually change the way we do things. Because they’re not easy.”
The Nov. 29 event opened with performances from local musicians James Gordon and the Funky Mamas, both of whom sang to encourage community involvement and sustainability. Community activists from the Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL), Guelph Citizen Action, the Council of Canadians, Wellington Water Watchers, and the Guelph Muslim Society all attended the event. Local politicians present at the event included newly elected federal MP Lloyd Longfield, provincial MPP Liz Sandals, provincial Green party candidate Mike Schreiner, and a representative for Mayor Cam Guthrie.
“At least we’re not being ignored,” said Steve Dyck of the CCL, in an interview with The Ontarion. “The politicians were here, supporting [the event], they want to engage in this, and that’s really important.”
Dyck also touched on the need for bipartisan action from all sides of the political spectrum.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to deal with the carbon problem without all the drama?” mused Dyck, during his Nov. 29 address to the crowd.
Dyck says that the political left generally understands the need for progress on climate, but the political right is often hung up on the cost to individuals and the economy.
“[CCL] policy is what I call politically inclusive, because it doesn’t raise taxes,” said Dyck, to The Ontarion. “There’s a zillion solutions to lowering carbon emissions, but nobody’s moving because there’s no business case for it.”
The above statement is why Dyck is an advocate of a climate solution that has economic incentives for everyone.
“One of my concerns is that when you put a price on carbon, low-income people can pay disproportionately more.” said Dyck.
CCL wants to see a gradually rising fee on fossil fuels that returns the revenue equally to Canadians.
Rachel Derbyshire, a recent University of Guelph graduate with a Master’s degree in Ecology, was volunteering at the event.
“Climate change is the biggest crisis that faces the world right now,” said Derbyshire, in an interview with The Ontarion. “We need to send a very strong message to our government, especially coming up to the Paris Climate conference, that we need hard targets that are legally binding. The more people that get out and come to these events, the better our government understands this is something that needs to happen right away.”
There was an odd and noticeable lack of student presence at the event, perhaps due to the proximity of the rally to the end of the semester and finals. Recently, students and youth have been very effective on local climate initiatives, including successfully pressuring the City of Guelph to sign the Blue Dot Declaration to prioritize the right to clean water, air, and soils.