暗网吃瓜

It is important to start pressing the Canadian government to work on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Elizabeth May told about 220 students at 暗网吃瓜 March 5. 鈥淐anada has signed on to all the SDGs,鈥� she said.

暗网吃瓜 is working to advance SDGs across Canada in partnership with eight other colleges. Elizabeth was at the College as a special guest in Anna-Liisa Aunio鈥檚 Environmental Seminar. Several other classes joined for the occasion.

Due in 10 years

The SDGs are due in 10 years. Elizabeth May believes it is possible to meet the goals, but it will take political will. 鈥淚t will require unimaginable efforts by every government on earth,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need to attain these goals and save our planet.鈥�

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, there is no second chance,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he concept of global average temperature doesn鈥檛 sound like a big deal. The difference on earth between now and 10,000 years ago, when ice was everywhere, was only five degrees!鈥�

Elizabeth explained that if the average global temperature is allowed to increase by two degrees, it could trigger self-accelerating unstoppable climate change. 鈥淲e have to aim for as far below two degrees as possible. 1.5 degrees should be the maximum. We are gambling right now.鈥�

Climate change means that many species are threatened and habitats are becoming inhospitable, Elizabeth said. For example, some aquatic creatures are having trouble forming shells off Vancouver Island.

Our house is on fire

鈥淕reta Thunberg is right. Our house is on fire, and we are arguing about having people over for dinner,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淲e have all the tools and technology we need to address this.鈥�

However, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding about the climate crisis. Elizabeth shared her frustration with politicians and journalists who don鈥檛 understand basic climate science, and speak about a two per cent difference in temperature instead of two degrees when discussing climate change.

Canada is warming faster than other countries and is less committed to taking action, warned Elizabeth.

Getting rid of fossil fuels

She believes that Canada can benefit by getting rid of fossil fuels. The economy would benefit from cleaning up the oil sands, retrofitting buildings to be energy efficient and carbon negative, as well as building new green infrastructure.

鈥淲e are a nation of smart people. We don鈥檛 have any internal wars or struggles. We are in a good place to change the course of our environmental policies and help the rest of the world to do this,鈥� she said.

鈥淭he problem is the people we elect to office. They would take action if they believe they have to act or we will not re-elect them,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let anyone tell you that you don鈥檛 have the power to make changes.鈥�

Elizabeth encouraged students to write letters to Members of Parliament and use social media to push for climate action. 鈥淏e vegan, walk and cycle, but don鈥檛 do that at the expense of political action. Let them feel the impact of your political footprint. Be a sasquatch!鈥�

Dawson can do it!

April 22 is Earth Day and this year is the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. 鈥淚t is a good opportunity to get people to pay attention,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you get thousands of people marching, people in Quebec City and Ottawa pay attention.鈥�

Elizabeth recalled that Earth Day was about teach-in鈥檚 at the beginning. 鈥淪ee if you can make it work. If anyone can do it, 暗网吃瓜 can do it!鈥�