For far too long, the oil and gas sector has operated unchecked in Canada, causing profound and sometimes irreversible harm to our health, communities, environment, biodiversity and climate. By using deceit, greenwashing and powerful lobbying, they've fooled too many people into believing their products are safe and essential and that switching to renewables would ruin the economy. These are blatant lies! We can achieve happier, healthier, more affordable and safer lives by shifting away from oil and gas.
The oil and gas industry is running roughshod over the government, doing what it pleases, lying about it and making excessive profits while everyday citizens bear the risk, costs and impacts. That needs to stop.
With a minority government in Parliament, let's send a message to all major parties that we expect them to put forward serious climate action plans that include holding the oil and gas sector responsible for its role in the climate crisis. That means:
- Putting an end to fossil fuel subsidies and financing and redirecting those funds to renewable energy and energy-efficiency initiatives.
- Limiting the amount of greenhouse gases the oil and gas sector can emit.
- Banning all fossil fuel advertising to help stop the spread of disinformation.
- Taxing the oil and gas industry's excessive profits to help fund the energy transition and respond to skyrocketing damages incurred by extreme weather events.
- Cracking down on preventable releases of a potent climate pollutant from oil and gas operations by strengthening Canada's methane regulations.
Your signature is more than just a name; it's a commitment to accountability, climate justice and a brighter future.
To whom it may concern,
We are well aware that fossil fuels are driving the climate crisis. Yet Canada's oil and gas industry is pursuing a growth trajectory that will see its emissions continue to rise. What's more, at a time when communities in Canada and around the world are increasingly burdened by the devastating costs of climate change, oil and gas companies are cashing in on rich public financing arrangements and banking exceptionally high profits.
The oil and gas sector remains Canada's largest, still-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. In your party platform, please commit to this suite of measures recommended by the David Suzuki Foundation to bring emissions from the oil and gas sector under control and hold the industry accountable:
• By the end of the year, strengthen and finalize the oil and gas greenhouse gas pollution cap regulation.
• End all public financing and subsidies for fossil fuels.
• Tax the oil and gas industry's excess profits to help fund the energy transition, climate disaster response and adaptation.
• Ban fossil fuel advertising to help stop the spread of disinformation.
International Energy Agency analysis determined that it is still possible to drive emissions from the world's energy sector to net zero, as required to limit global warming to 1.5 C, if policy-makers deliver stronger ambition and implementation within this decade. The IEA's 2023 "Net Zero Roadmap" shows 25 per cent lower fossil fuel demand by 2030, while clean energy capacity ramps up. The analysis also shows that delaying this transition will lead to costlier and less certain outcomes.
I expect Canada to do its part to drive fossil fuel emissions down in the remaining years of this critical decade for climate action.
Sincerely,
