Posted: Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Just in time for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, last week Parliament passed the Climate Change Accountability Act. The law requires Canada to meet science-based targets for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions with targets for 2020 and 2050!

But there is still work to do. Canada’s new law is a commitment to an emission reduction target, but can’t get us there without government support. Canada desperately needs political leadership to develop a plan to take action on climate change.

The Canadian Labour Congress has deep concerns about the lack of federal government action on climate change and the current state of our environment. Our climate is changing, resulting in extreme weather conditions while the planet is suffering from toxic chemicals that take workers lives. These problems urgently demand us to act - but it is a time not to be sombre but to celebrate what we can do.

Until we have a strong national plan, don’t forget your three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. After 40 years, this is still the best way to take action for our environment. In addition to reduce, reuse and recycle, in the next 40 years, we need to take action on the other 3 Rs to resist, redesign and rebuild as we look forward to all we can do for our environment. We can:

Resist – stop the shift to a disposable world with producers in the south and consumers in the north. We need quality products made close to home.

Redesign – let’s not buy things that are designed to soon be thrown away. We can have products, homes and lifestyles so they are sustainable, toxic-free and built to last.

Rebuild – the green economy of the future through public transit, inter-urban rail, energy efficient homes, public services and workplaces all with expanded renewable energy to create hundreds of thousands of family-supporting jobs.

After 40 years, more than ever we know that our actions – big or small – do make a difference. From the new Climate Change Accountability Act, to collective bargaining language on greenhouse gas emission reductions, pushing for new green jobs, substituting toxic chemicals with safer alternatives, making our homes and workplaces more energy efficient – unions are making a difference.

While there’s still work to be done, let’s use the 40th anniversary of Earth Day to celebrate all that we can do to make a difference and renew our commitment to the environment. A healthy environment with a stable climate means healthy people, good jobs, vibrant communities and a stronger, more productive Canada for future generations.