Visit your MPP (if you live in Ontario) with a Citizens Guide to a Climate Change Action Plan for JustEarth: A Coalition for Environmental Justice

Please note for people in other jurisdictions, adapt and use as appropriate:

In the recent Ontario election there was almost no mention of climate change or other environmental issues. Now is the time to ask the re-elected McGuinty government to come up with a serious climate change action plan. Ontario's goals for greenhouse gas reductions, while better than the federal governments, are far from adequate.

George Monbiot, in Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning, says 90% reductions in carbon emissions are necessary for industrial countries; the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently said 85% Kyoto calls for 6% and Canada has increased its emissions by 30% since signing.

Fossil fuels are non renewable: Better to switch to renewable energy before we do more damage to the planet.

Ask your MPP, phrasing as needed--if your MPP is a Cabinet minister ask to raise in Cabinet, if not ask to raise in caucus and the House.

1. Will you support a climate change action plan with firm targets and dates, based on the scientific assessment of need?
2. Will you support a concerted plan to replace the use of fossil fuels with sustainable, carbon-free or low carbon alternatives? to include a carbon tax as an essential element?
3. Will you support effective monitoring and evaluation of efforts on climate change targets? on new programs and major budget expenditures as to their effect on environmental deterioration in general, and climate change in particular?
4. Will you support the review of provincial laws, so as to facilitate action on climate change? Including corporations legislation, planning codes, taxation, advertising?
5. Will you support citizen involvement, such as by holding town hall meetings and special legislative committee hearings?
6. Where there is no vision, the people perish. We need a visionary plan to reduce climate change, to put the interests of all the earth s inhabitants, especially future generations, ahead of our extravagant lifestyles and oil company profits.

Notes for Meeting with your MPP
by Lynn McDonald for JustEarth: A Coalition for Environmental Justice

1. Make an appointment, by telephone is best, either the constituency office, or at Queen's Park. (MPPs have 2 offices.) If you do not get a reply in a day or two from an assistant, try the other office. You could try email, but again use the phone if no reply fairly soon.
2. Ask for an appointment, best with several people, to discuss the urgent need for a strong climate change action plan. (If you get a reply that the MP is doing everything already, you will have to do some explaining--ask if he or she has supported a reduction plan as recommended by the IPCC of 85%, or of Monbiot at 90%).
   If you get an absolute refusal, ask if the MPP has any "open hours" at his or her office, or when he or she might be having an open meeting that you could attend and ask your questions publicly.
3. When you go for the appointment take something written to leave behind, the JustEarth one-pager, brochure, your own organization's brochure. You will doubtless be politely received. It is good to take notes (I think tape recording might be tacky.)
   If the MPP is very keen and largely on side, propose that he or she sponsor an "open house" on a climate change action plan, to help push the agenda that he or she shares your concern on.
   If the MPP is not at all keen, say you hope to change their mind, that this is urgent, refer the person to the IPCC website, etc. Keep the door open for another visit.
4. Follow up with a letter of thanks for the time. (This helps to keep the door open for another visit, by you, or others, or some combination of new blood and you.)
5. MPPs assistants tend to be nice and helpful. Cultivate!
   Note: The same process would apply to a meeting with your MP, except that, unless you lived near Ottawa, you would have to meet at a constituency office (MPs are there mainly Friday and for the week end, on week days only when the House is not sitting).