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Public Statements & Op-Eds Happy Environment Day Letter to the Editor on Friday, June 5th 2009 Today is World Environment Day, one hundred and ninety days before our world leaders will gather in Copenhagen for the crucial climate change talks. This year's theme is "your planet needs you: unite to combat climate change" reflecting the responsibility of each of us as well as the urgency for nations to agree to a new climate change deal in December. And Canadians know their planet needs them. In a UNA-Canada soon to be released survey of engaged Canadians - those who give to charities and who volunteer in their community - climate change and the environment ranked two and four with poverty first, global security number three, of a list of over 18 important and pressing issues affecting us all. What is a Canadian to do? Today and tomorrow, how about switching off the lights. Take public transport. Recycle. Plant a tree. Ask why you can't buy euro-sized appliances. Ask your employer how you can help to improve their environmental practices. You can also support environmental charities who, like UNA-Canada, are working to engage and educate Canadians, large carbon-emitters and all levels of government so that Canada is not a follower but a trusted and innovative leader on reaching our global obligations on carbon emissions. Today, we should reflect on the great wealth - even in these challenging economic times - that our oil and gas sector has brought to our economy over many years. Also today, you should ask that this sector, together with our government, focus their leadership on balanced development, investing their innovation, engineering and technology in greening their operations and in a new green technologies. We commend stimulus investment in greening our economy but urge more. We may need strategic patience with these investments. We must all roll up our sleeves in the coming months so that Canada, our shared environment, our future and prosperity is secured through our every day actions at home and meeting our global obligations. Despair is not helpful. Your planet needs you engaged. Happy Environment Day.
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