Post-Durban: a Canadian Perspective

Canadian climate change activists are disappointed, although hardly surprised, by the negative position taken by the Canadian government at the Durban meetings in December 2011, reports Lynn McDonald.

This government had been just as hostile to addressing climate change seriously at the Copenhagen meetings. The situation worsened soon after Durban, however, with the government announcing its intention of withdrawing from the minimal commitments made to GHG emission reductions through the Kyoto Protocol. (Canada committed to Kyoto under an earlier Liberal government, which, however, failed to bring in measures to reduce GHG emissions. The current Conservative government now has a majority of seats, although it won only 39.6% of the popular vote. Most Canadians want more action on climate change.)

In the run up to Durban, Canadian inter-faith leaders issued a statement in support of strong action, including a binding agreement based on the Kyoto Protocol, carbon emission targets, a sustainable national energy policy and support for a Green Climate Fund under the UN (see A Canadian Interfaith Call to action on Climate Justice). This inter-faith document nicely raises issues of vision, values, justice and scriptures. It was released at an ecumenical event in Ottawa to which Parliamentarians were invited. Representatives of 25 faith communities signed. The major Protestant denominations were represented (United Church, Presbyterian, Lutheran), with many Orthodox groups, Ba’hai, some Hindu and Muslim groups, and several ecumenical groups - but not, sadly, the Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

A petition supporting this inter-faith statement was circulated for presentation to Parliament. Anglican climate change activists took it to the November Toronto diocesan synod for signing, and did quite well. Advocacy on climate change is now official policy within the Anglican Church of Canada, thanks to a resolution adopted at the last general synod of the national church.

The interfaith statement also addressed the proposed Keystone Pipeline, for which approval has been held up by President Obama, to take tar sands bitumen to U.S. markets (climate expert James Hansen advises against any expansion of the tar sands). Indigenous leaders in British Columbia are at the forefront of opposition to the Northern Gateway Pipeline, to be built to take tar sands products to the Pacific Ocean for export to China. Christian climate activists are urging support for their strong message. Indigenous peoples have a commitment to conservation of land and water in their traditions that we as Christians have largely forgotten, and are only, with difficulty, trying to revive.

Christian climate change activists, in short, are discouraged at the present time. Some are looking at an “electoral alliance” as a means of resolving the impasse of a majority of citizens wanting change and a national government committed to increased emissions. Anglican activists are conducting workshops on incorporating the care of creation in liturgies, taking the opportunity to open up the related issues of environment and the climate crisis.

Dr Lynn McDonald is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, Guelph University, a Director of Climate Action Network in Canada and a co-founder of Just Earth. She is also a member of Operation Noah’s theology think tank and spoke at our 2011 supporters’ meeting.