Respond urgently to climate change by setting a renewable energy target of 100% by 2050

The Issue

Climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. It threatens the health of our planet and people; especially the poorest and most vulnerable. It threatens our children’s future and everything we hold dear. It is time for all of us to wake up and take action together — in our local communities, nationally and globally, as well as in our daily lives.

As citizens motivated by faith and other moral traditions, we recognize that there is a grave obligation to act on climate change. 

We call on you as leaders to respond urgently to the threats of climate change and set a renewable energy target of 100% by 2050. We need bold action like this to keep global temperature rise below the unacceptably dangerous tipping point of two degrees, to phase out carbon pollution to zero, and to invest resources in sustainable development pathways to build a more flourishing, inclusive and balanced world.

While the provinces are free to set their own renewable energy goals, climate change knows no boundaries. Currently, there is no national renewable energy target in Canada. That’s unacceptable. We should be more ambitious in our approach to global climate change. Canada can demonstrate true national and international leadership before world leaders sign a new climate change treaty in Paris this November.

Canada’s political parties need to address this key issue before the October election. When Canadians vote, they need to know where the party leaders stand. If elected Prime Minister, will they commit to working closely with provinces on an integrated strategy - including setting national renewable energy targets?

We pledge to do our own part by embracing the moral responsibility to care for our world and for each other and by seeking to live better and more sustainable lives in greater joy and harmony.

Let us act now, boldly and together, to build a better life for all!

This petition had 332,378 supporters

The Issue

Climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. It threatens the health of our planet and people; especially the poorest and most vulnerable. It threatens our children’s future and everything we hold dear. It is time for all of us to wake up and take action together — in our local communities, nationally and globally, as well as in our daily lives.

As citizens motivated by faith and other moral traditions, we recognize that there is a grave obligation to act on climate change. 

We call on you as leaders to respond urgently to the threats of climate change and set a renewable energy target of 100% by 2050. We need bold action like this to keep global temperature rise below the unacceptably dangerous tipping point of two degrees, to phase out carbon pollution to zero, and to invest resources in sustainable development pathways to build a more flourishing, inclusive and balanced world.

While the provinces are free to set their own renewable energy goals, climate change knows no boundaries. Currently, there is no national renewable energy target in Canada. That’s unacceptable. We should be more ambitious in our approach to global climate change. Canada can demonstrate true national and international leadership before world leaders sign a new climate change treaty in Paris this November.

Canada’s political parties need to address this key issue before the October election. When Canadians vote, they need to know where the party leaders stand. If elected Prime Minister, will they commit to working closely with provinces on an integrated strategy - including setting national renewable energy targets?

We pledge to do our own part by embracing the moral responsibility to care for our world and for each other and by seeking to live better and more sustainable lives in greater joy and harmony.

Let us act now, boldly and together, to build a better life for all!

The Decision Makers

Elizabeth May
Leader, Green Party of Canada / Chef, Parti Vert du Canada
Responded
I strongly support Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s call to implement the G7 leaders’ original plan for a decarbonized economy by 2050. In our platform, the Green Party commits to moving toward the elimination of fossil fuel use in Canada by mid-century. Canada’s recently announced target, a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, is the weakest in the G7. It is also nearly impossible to reach, thanks to the Harper Conservatives’ efforts to obstruct domestic and international emissions reductions. We are falling behind in the emerging low-carbon economy. Stephen Harper wants us to believe that it is not possible to both reduce carbon emissions and create jobs. This is simply not true. Stephen Harper’s work to undermine the G7’s goal and delay action until 2100, so he can continue to commit Canada to a fossil fuel economy, is deplorable. For the health of our planet, we must continue to push for a decarbonized economy by 2050. I hope that Stephen Harper and Thomas Mulcair will re-join the national televised leaders debates, to ensure a debate where Greens can raise these issues.
Stephen Harper
Member of Parliament Calgary Southwest
Ban Ki-moon (Secretary-General of the United Nations)
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada/Premier ministre du Canada
Tom Mulcair
Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada / Chef, Nouveau Parti démocratique du Canada

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