A Citizens' Guide to a Climate Change Action Plan for JustEarth: A Coalition for Environmental Justice

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." We need a visionary action plan to minimize climate change, one that puts the interests of all the earth's inhabitants, and especially future generations, ahead of our extravagant lifestyles and oil company profits.

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

Ask Candidates in the Alberta Provincial Election

1. Will you (your party) support a climate change action plan with firm targets and dates, based on the scientific assessment of need?
   How much? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calls for 85% reductions by 2050; George Monbiot, in Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning, says for 90% reductions, for Canada, by 2030; Kyoto calls for 6% and we have increased our emissions by 30% since signing, mainly because of the tar sands.
2. Will you support a concerted plan to replace fossil fuel use with sustainable, carbon-free or low carbon alternatives? with a carbon tax? (an essential element to achieve serious reductions)
3. Will you support effective monitoring of progress on climate change targets? Including the routine review of 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 in addressing these challenges, such as by holding town hall meetings and special legislative committee hearings?
6. Do you not think we have some responsibility to leave energy resources for future generations of Albertans?

References: For further material on the Citizens' Guide see the backgrounder on the JustEarth website and excellent material on the Pembina Institute's: www.justearth.net