With massive flooding in British Columbia in the immediate aftermath of a wildfire summer, the impacts of climate change are undeniable just days after COP26 in Glasgow ended weak commitments to address the climate emergency.
This comes like Canada, through its inaction on the climate in the past. 30 years, has shown time and again that it prioritizes the short-term gain of the few over the survival of the many and future generations. As Canadian musicians, we call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the new Parliament for a fair and green recovery.
Given that billionaires had more time to speak than delegates from the world’s worst-hit regions, it’s no wonder COP26 falls short. And it is worrying that the Canadian government is becoming a climate leader. Of all the G7 nations, Canada has the highest per capita carbon emissions. Last year, our government subsidized oil and gas to the tune of $18 billion and went ahead with pipelines that violate indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights.
Despite some significant steps forward, such as putting a price on carbon, Trudeau has continually chosen to fuel the climate crisis rather than do what the science of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) points out that it is necessary for the health of future generations. We, as Canadian musicians and supporters of Music declares emergency, we are raising our voices: we declare a climate emergency. With Parliament now in session, we urge Trudeau to step up and become the climate leader we need. Last weeks throne speech He declared: “We must go from talking to acting.” We agree: it is time for Trudeau to do what is said. We cannot afford any more delays in climate action.
Climate chaos and the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed economies into crisis, something artists, venue owners, and music industry workers know well. We need support to recover, but also to rebuild sustainably. Addressing the climate crisis must be at the center of economic decisions and reconstruction.
Survey published last month by a coalition of environmental organizations show that progressive voters overwhelmingly support a post-pandemic recovery based on jobs, infrastructure and training in renewable energy.
Musicians have always been at the forefront of such calls for change; Joni Mitchell joined James Taylor and Phil Ochs in the concert that marked the founding of Greenpeace in October 1970.
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David Suzuki created a playlist for the planet and toured Canada in 2014 with music front and center as part of the Blue Dot Tour. And since the spring, hundreds of Canadian musicians have joined thousands of others around the world in declaring a climate emergency.
We in Music declares emergency to Canada are encouraging the music industry to consider the weather in all decision-making: making festivals net zero, changing the rules on how people travel to concerts, fostering circular and local economies for merchandise and food, changing the structures of grants to encourage low-carbon tours, and more. Our goal is to focus racialized and indigenous voices in recognition of the ecological wisdom of First Nations and the enormous impact that climate change has on underserved communities.
Canadians care deeply about climate change – witness the strong push to pass Bill C-12, the Canadian Net Zero Emissions Liability Act. With that legislation in place, we must now rise to the massive and necessary challenge of emergency situations. mobilization on a scale, up to COVID-19, not seen since WWII.
Opinion: As musicians, we want to use the power of music to address the climate emergency and ask Canadians to listen to what the planet and younger generations are telling us, writes @Raffi_RC @carobrooksmusic & @moscowapt. #Social justice
We call on Members of the 44th Parliament to work together to address the climate emergency and develop a fair and green recovery that leaves no one behind:
- Direct two percent of annual GDP to climate investments to reduce emissions.
- Protect and strengthen indigenous rights and sovereignty
- Stop all fossil fuel startups
- End all oil and gas subsidies
- Create new government mandates to address the climate emergency.
The 2018 IPCC report made it clear: we must cut global emissions by almost half, by 2030, to limit warming to 1.5C. To get an idea of what the world would look like at 1.5C versus at 2 C or the terrible 3 C to 4 C warming we’re heading toward, consider the 2021 IPCC report, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a Code Red for the humanity.
Music comes from a place of deep love, and we extend that love to the planet and to our fellow humans. As musicians, we want to use the power of music to address the climate emergency and ask Canadians to listen to what the planet and younger generations are telling us. We can all benefit from a new, green and fair economy.
Signed
Raffi
Tamara Lindeman from the weather station
Sarah Harmer
Brighid Fry & Pascale Padilla (Moscow Apartment)
Tania gill
Caroline Marie Brooks (Good Lovelies)
Liv Cazzola (The Lifers, Tragedy Ann)
Ken whiteley
Bob Ezrin (producer)
Lido Pepper
Amy Millan (Stars, Broken Social Scene)
Joel plaskett
Scott helman
Jenn Grant
Shad
Melissa McClelland (Whitehorse)
and manganese
Joel Gibb (The Hidden Chambers)
Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene)
Fred penner
Leela gilday
Tyler Bancroft (said the whale)
Jill barber
Lisa MacIsaac (Madison Violet)
Murray McLauchlan
Sylvia Tyson
Andrew Craig
Rich Underhill (Shuffle Demons)
Ariel Engle (The Force)
Brandon Valdivia (Mas Aya)
Eve Egoyan
Guillermo Subauste (producer)
Jackie Richardson
Eve goldberg
Abigail lapell
Chris whitely
Jenny Whitely
Joey wright
Diana Braithwaite
Cassie Norton
Bram Morrison (Sharon, Lois and Bram)
Jane lewis
David buchbinder
Cindy Church
Caitlin hanford
Gwen swick
Jesse whiteley
Max trefler
Laura Mina Mitic and Pat Ferguson (Carmanah)
Alex Biro, Cameron Snooks, Michael Ticar (Selfish Things)
Natalie Lynn
Braden Lam
Kritty Uranowski
Colleen brown
Ben caplan
Ashleigh Ball
Luke Gruntz (cleopatrick)
Reference-www.nationalobserver.com