Climate Action Network responds to the consultation on environment and climate change organized by the Young Diplomats of Canada who are responsible for the 2018 Young 7 Summit in Ottawa, Canada

 Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA] – March 21, 2018 –

Questions from the Young Diplomats of Canada:

• What areas can Canada be a leader in climate change policies at the international level?
• What are the important things to focus on in the education system to ensure that the next generation of youth is aware of climate change?
• What do you see as the biggest challenges to implementing climate change policies at the local level?

 These responses are provided by:

ENvironnement JEUnesse
Members of the Canadian Youth Delegation to COP22 and COP23
CAN-Rac staff members

What areas can Canada be a leader in climate change policies at the international level?

 RESPONSE – Jennifer Deol, Canadian Youth Delegation to COP 22 & 23, CAN-Rac staff member: One of the main priorities for Canada is to honor its commitment to decarbonize its economy and to work with other countries to limit warming to 1.5^oC degrees and recognize it will impact first and worst developing nations and small island nation states.

Minister McKenna and Canada made a commitment to this when signing onto the Paris Agreement. We look to Canada to be an international champion on matters such as Loss and Damage. We look to Canada to demonstrate progress on the USD 100BN and to scale up adaptation finance. Canada as the President of the G7 should encourage G7 members to enhance their NDCs and raise the ambition of their climate action in 2018.

To keep up the momentum of the global transition towards a clean economy, discussions about growth must include a just transition for workers, their families, local communities and young people. With the launch of its Just Transition Task Force, we call on Canada to consider including just transition as a part of its NDC enhancement package. As one of the pillars of its G7 agenda is preparing jobs for the future, Canada has a powerful opportunity to pull together the threads of just transition and mounting climate action in 2018. Workers whose jobs would be lost without proper training for transferable skills, and people whose livelihoods are compromised, should be supported by compensation, job opportunities, and other supports. It is essential that workers be involved in decisions that affect their livelihoods.

Following its commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, we hope Canada encourages the G7 to present a detailed roadmap on how G7 members intend to meet this commitment and accelerate phase-out timelines. As G7 President, it is incumbent upon Canada to lead by example and agree to a peer review of its fossil fuel subsidies under the G20 process.

Stepping up Climate ambition: countries must step up, enhance their NDCs and raise the ambition of their climate action in 2018. That means accelerating the decarbonization of the global economy in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement currently cover only one-third of what is needed to stay well below the 2°C limit. The G7 economies should lead the way in securing global commitments to increase ambition by 2020, sending an important signal to the ambition-raising Talanoa Dialogue that will take place at COP24 in Katowice.

What are the important things to focus on in the education system to ensure that the next generation of youth is aware of climate change?

 RESPONSE – Catherine Gauthier, ENvironnement JEUnesse : L’éducation relative à l’environnement peut passer par l’éducation formelle – éducation organisée et structurée, comme on l’observe à l’école, par exemple – et par l’éducation informelle – activités en dehors du cadre scolaire, liées au travail, à la famille ou aux loisirs, par exemple. De l’expérience d’ENvironnement JEUnesse, on constate que l’éducation relative à l’environnement repose majoritairement sur des organismes communautaires dans un cadre d’éducation informelle.

L’éducation informelle connaît toutefois des limites financières notables. Le gouvernement du Canada pourrait encourager une éducation relative aux changements climatiques en soutenant financièrement des organisations qui s’y consacrent. La logique de financement octroyé en fonction d’indicateurs chiffrés et mesures pose aussi des limites. Il est aisé de comptabiliser le nombre de personnes rejointes par un activité de sensibilisation, mais comment mesurer le changement de comportement réel ?

ENvironnement JEUnesse cible une clientèle jeunesse, car la transmission de connaissances et l’incitation à adopter des comportements plus sobres en carbone à un jeune âge est crucial. Adopter un mode de transport actif (vélo par exemple) ou collectif entre l’âge de 14 et 16 ans, au moment où l’on réfléchit à avoir ou non une voiture, est un gain à long terme.

En matière d’éducation relative aux changements climatiques, il faut aller au-delà des simples activités de formation ; il faut des projets concrets, étalés sur plusieurs mois, afin de générer des changements de comportements durables. Pour ce faire, il faut cibler des secteurs prioritaires (transport, alimentation, consommation, par exemple) et soutenir des projets structurants (programme, projet concret, etc.) plutôt que des événements ponctuels (événement, conférence, etc.)

Si on souhaite que tous les jeunes soient sensibilisés aux enjeux climatiques et aux comportements à adopter, l’intégration de connaissances et de compétences dans les systèmes d’éducation formel est essentielle. Or, l’éducation formelle relative à l’environnement ou aux changements climatiques relève d’une compétence provinciale et nous n’irons pas plus loin ici.

What do you see as the biggest challenges to implementing climate change policies at the local level?

RESPONSE – Jennifer Deol, Canadian Youth Delegation to COP 22 & 23 and CAN-Rac staff members:

There is a disconnect between Canada’s international targets and Canada’s national commitments. Canada claims to be a climate leader and on track to meet its 2030 NDC and overall Paris Promise to keep warming below a ceiling of 2 degrees. Yet they contradict themselves with their national climate policies by approving large GHG emitting projects such as pipeline expansions (greenlighted Kinder Morgan, Enbridge’s Line 3, and open to Keystone XL) and other mega-dam projects such as the Site C Dam in BC.

It’s important for Canada to include all federal, provincial, municipal and territorial actors in the discussion about enhancing climate ambition. Canada as the President of the G7 should keep the momentum for all government and non-government organizations to participate in the Talanoa Dialogue. Canada should encourage the G7 economies to lead the way in securing global commitments to increase ambition by 2020, sending an important signal to the ambition-raising Talanoa Dialogue that will take place at COP24 in Katowice.