Earth Day 2022

“In the midst of a climate emergency, we must move beyond awareness-raising to action.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

Ottawa (22 April 2022) — The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) commemorates Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day has been celebrated as a day to raise awareness about environmental protection since 1970. 

"According to a poll we conducted last year, we have come a long way when it comes to awareness of climate change," said Larry Brown, NUPGE President. "Almost 9 in 10 people see climate change as an emergency or a threat (NUPGE). Now, in the midst of a climate emergency, we must move beyond awareness-raising to action.”

Worsening climate impacts, inequality show need for change

People across Canada, including NUPGE members, are experiencing the worsening effects of climate change, from fires and floods to air pollution. 

And its effects aren’t even, within Canada or around the world. Vulnerable and marginalized populations — including Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of colour (BIPOC), people with disabilities, women, seniors, youth, and people living in poverty — are disproportionately experiencing the negative impacts of climate change and environmental harms. The climate crisis is deeply intertwined with inequality.

Time for more drastic action: climate scientists 

This year, Earth Day comes on the heels of 2 dire reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading climate scientists. The report released in February detailed the devastating impacts of climate change if the world fails to curb emissions, with those communities and ecosystems least able to cope being hit the hardest. It called for “ambitious, accelerated action” to adapt to climate change impacts while also making “rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions” (IPCC).

The IPCC’s April report found that, while it’s not too late to act, our window is closing, and governments need to urgently strengthen their targets and plans (IPCC). The report also identifies solutions, emphasizing the need for the phase-out of fossil fuels and the need for transformational change towards a more just economy.

These reports, and the real impacts on people's lives, livelihoods, and health, should be a call to action. 

We need a Just Transition

In this context, our federal government continues to take half measures and incremental steps, if not actively delaying by approving new fossil fuel projects (CBC News).

What we need is a transformation of our economy to one that is more sustainable and just. That means proactive supports and measures, led by workers and communities, to ensure a Just Transition for those most affected. An important first step will be for the federal government to introduce Just Transition legislation, which it has been promising since 2019.  

NUPGE has also emphasized the role of the public sector, and expanding strong public services, to meet the climate crisis head on and support the transition.

“The overwhelming majority of people in Canada are worried about the climate crisis and want to see their government prioritize ambitious action, the NUPGE poll found. What we need, now, is for governments to deliver on their promises to act, and for them to ensure that nobody is left behind,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer.

Take action on Earth Day and beyond

The federal government’s consultation on Just Transition is still open for comments (Natural Resources Canada). 

We will need governments and industry to act in order to tackle the scale of this crisis. But our actions as individuals and in our communities matter too.

Earth Day Canada offers some ideas for actions that people can take at home. People can also get involved in their communities. They have a calendar of activities and events happening across the country — on Earth Day and beyond.