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The fall federal election will be pivotal in determining the future we want for our families, communities, and planet. As citizens, we must demand that all federal parties commit to immediate and ambitious climate action during this campaign, and then we must hold them to their promises after the election.
Canada’s most prominent environmental organizations, including Équiterre, have decided on 7 key environmental demands that our federal parties must commit to during this election campaign. They are rallying Canadians citizens to demand climate action through the One Earth One Vote (OEOV) campaign.
>> Send the demands to your candidates and to federal party leaders
ONE EARTH ONE VOTE - 7 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
To respond to the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis, the federal government must commit to the following actions:
- Respect and uphold the rights, treaties, and conservation priorities of Indigenous Peoples, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
- Ensure that climate and nature action are a priority through a green and just pandemic recovery;
- Recognize the right to a healthy environment and take action on environmental justice and racism while improving laws that protect people and nature from toxics and plastic pollution;
- Reverse nature loss by protecting and effectively managing at least 30% of land and freshwater and 30% of ocean by 2030, and increasing investments in nature-based climate solutions;
- Invest in Indigenous-led land-use planning, the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and their stewardship by Indigenous Guardians; Indigenous-led efforts to restore and steward species-at-risk and habitat; and recognize and respect Indigenous knowledge in all aspects of nature conservation in Canada.
- Stop expanding and subsidizing fossil fuels and nuclear energy, and reduce Canada’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2030 to do our fair share globally;
- Ensure a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, with a plan that supports workers, communities, and marginalized groups in the just and fair transition to a sustainable economy.
Now more than ever, we need to act
The climate and nature crises are here. We have witnessed a devastating heat dome shatter temperature records and wildfires tear through forests across western Canada, claiming hundreds of lives and destroying homes and wildlife habitats.
We know that, like COVID, climate change and environmental degradation will continue to disproportionately impact people of colour and low-income communities. But no one can escape. We need a government that we can trust to address the systemic inequalities that perpetuate environmental racism and harm some of Canada's most vulnerable communities.
Solutions exist and together, we can rebuild a more just society that is better for our health, the economy, and nature
We have an opportunity to invest in nature-based solutions to help our communities and ecosystems be resilient to climate change. As we recover from the pandemic, we can choose to invest in a green and just recovery. Any government that represents us must rise to the challenge of building an equitable, carbon-neutral, nature-positive future for all.
It all starts with your vote
Casting your ballot sends a clear message about the world you want, today and in the future.
Stand with us and tell our party leaders that you will vote for a government that will uphold environmental protection, social justice, and Indigenous rights.
>> Send a letter to your local candidates and to federal party leaders
How do the federal parties stack up with regards to these demands?
Équiterre and the group of Canadian environmental organizations behind this demand statement have sent a survey to the 5 main federal parties with questions on key environmental issues. Here are their official responses.
Make sure you are registered to vote and don’t miss either advance voting day on September 10-11-12-13 or election day on September 20.
