Elizabeth May on climate inequality

The Green Party leader has been working on the climate change agenda since 1986, but she’s still hopeful.

By: /
19 November, 2015
By:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P0Yxvz7opk

In the latest in the University of British Columbia’s inequality series, put on by the Liu Institute for Global Issues, Green Party leader Elizabeth May issued a call to action for the new Liberal government ahead of the Paris Climate Change Conference at the end of the month.

“The status quo has the benefit of inertia,” May told the audience, “and change takes courage. The negotiations that will open November 30 in my view are really [the] last chance to have a treaty that avoids levels of climate crises that are so severe that I don’t know how we can look our children in the face.”

May recounted her long involvement in Canada’s history of action – and inaction – on combating climate change, start with her time working with the government of Brian Mulroney.

She explained that we are facing two equality issues when it comes to the environment. The first, and most profound, is intergenerational inequality – tackling the fact “our society is very poor at thinking forward…thinking beyond the next election…beyond the next quarterly report.” The most important part of the discussion should be asking what our generation owes to future generations.

The second equality issue, says May, is that the climate crisis has been created by the industrialized world, “full stop.” Industrialized nations must take the reigns and help to create a treaty that would take into account that the poorest nations need help countering the effects of severe weather, rising sea levels, etc.

The Green Party leader is encouraged by many of the moves that Justin Trudeau and his cabinet are making, but thinks they need to hear from every Canadians that it is not enough to “have better words” and to say the days of the Harper government are over.

“If we want to strike a blow for global equality, and if we want to do something for intergenerational equity, then you’ve got 20 days. We’ve got 20 days to convince our new government to go to the climate negations and make a real difference, not just to be better than we once were, but to be the best we can be, to show up with meaningful commitments for climate action, meaningful commitments for global equality, meaningful commitments for intergenerational equity.”

Before you click away, we’d like to ask you for a favour … 

 

Open Canada is published by the Canadian International Council, but that’s only the beginning of what the CIC does. Through its research and live events hosted by its 18 branches across the country, the CIC is dedicated to engaging Canadians from all walks of life in an ongoing conversation about Canada’s place in the world.

By becoming a member, you’ll be joining a community of Canadians who seek to shape Canada’s role in the world, and you’ll help Open Canada continue to publish thoughtful and provocative reporting and analysis.

Join us

Also in the series

Chris Hedges on inequality in the United States

Chris Hedges on inequality in the United States

By:

 Journalist, author & activist Chris Hedges spoke at the Munk School of Global Affairs on October 20.

A Conversation with Joseph Stiglitz and Dean Robert Helsley

A Conversation with Joseph Stiglitz and Dean Robert Helsley

By:

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz discusses the issue of inequality with the head of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

The Great Divide – Joseph Stiglitz on inequality

The Great Divide – Joseph Stiglitz on inequality

By:

The Nobel Laureate discusses the causes and consequences of inequality and what we can do about it.

A Movement Rises

A Movement Rises

By:

How did inequality within indigenous communities — the most serious, current consequence being the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women — creep from out of mind to front of news coverage? It involved much determination, passion, and love.  Journalist Angela Sterritt brings to life six stories from a movement finally resonating in Canada. 

Bailout byproduct: A less equal Greek society

Bailout byproduct: A less equal Greek society

By:

The agreement of
a third bailout takes the edge off the financial crisis, but widens the gap in
Greece between those at the bottom and those who have the means to weather the
storm.   

A discussion with Jeffrey Sachs

A discussion with Jeffrey Sachs

By:

The American economist gave a presentation at the University of British Columbia as part of the Liu Institute for Global Issues’ Lind Initiative.

Inequality: a fact, an interpretation, and a policy recommendation

Inequality: a fact, an interpretation, and a policy recommendation

By:

Tackling
inequality and poverty aren’t mutually exclusive; rather, efforts devoted to
fighting the former contribute to solving the latter. 

Jill Abramson on gender inequality

Jill Abramson on gender inequality

By:

In this candid interview, Abramson sits down with the CBC’s Anna Maria Tremonti as part of the Lind Initiative with UBC’s Liu Institute for Global Issues.

What the world can learn from Latin America’s gay rights movement

What the world can learn from Latin America’s gay rights movement

By:

The region has a ways to go for same-sex equality but specific cases show how coalitions, institutions and the strategic framing of demands can help create policy change.

Video Killed a Star Charity: The downfall of Invisible Children

Video Killed a Star Charity: The downfall of Invisible Children

By:

Was one high-profile advocacy video the undoing of Invisible Children, or was it the final straw for an NGO whose work was built on misplaced intentions? Andrew Green visits northern Uganda to find out.

Q&A: Economic growth — magic or model?

Q&A: Economic growth — magic or model?

By:

An interview with economist Dambisa Moyo on the state of inequality and the solutions in our midst.

The forgotten corners of environmental inequality

The forgotten corners of environmental inequality

By:

As air pollution, lead poisoning and other environmental impacts affect the marginalized more acutely, hopes of sustainability and equality begin to sprout in gardens around the globe.

What’s left out of the ‘gender in the workplace’ debate: the race factor

What’s left out of the ‘gender in the workplace’ debate: the race factor

By:

Advice for women of colour to ‘lean in’ falls flat when being strong and black is still viewed as a threat.

A marriage to celebrate: that of gender equality and economic development

A marriage to celebrate: that of gender equality and economic development

By:

In Bangladesh, home to the world’s worst record on child marriage, women’s rights are slowly making gains.

What Canada’s election campaign has missed: The inequality debate

What Canada’s election campaign has missed: The inequality debate

By:

With real problems plaguing lower income Canadians, why has this election campaign focused so much on the middle class?