CUSJ Appeals to Canadian Climate Delegation at COP 19 in Warsaw

Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice

A national faith-based organization founded in support of Unitarian values

P.O. Box 40011, Ottawa, ON, K1V 0W8

President, Rev. Frances Deverell                                                                          president@cusj.org

Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

House of Commons,

Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6

November 14, 2013

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

On behalf of members of Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice across the country, I would like to express our gratitude that the Canadian Government will be matching donations for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan and has sent the DART emergency response unit. We have been deeply moved by the images of horrible devastation and are proud of this national expression of Canadians' compassion.

However, a critical piece is missing in our response. It is time to acknowledge that such storms are linked to the changing climate and to increase our efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. This connection was movingly expressed Monday at the UN COP 19 Warsaw Climate Change Conference by the chief negotiator for the Philippines, Yeb Saño.  He linked the devastation of Haiyan to climate change and announced that he will fast "until a meaningful outcome is in sight."

Canada does not currently have a good record in this regard. Recent reports suggest that Canada will not even meet its current weak commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2020.

The recent IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) report notes that to limit the rise in global temperature to 2°C , considered the threshold limit to prevent dangerous interference with the climate system , global emissions of greenhouse gases ( GHG) emissions must be reduced to less than half of what they were in 2010 by 2050 . Emissions must then be phased out by 2070. To achieve this, 66% to 80% of fossil energy reserves currently known will have to remain underground^.  We need a change in direction in Canada.

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice joins Mr. Saño in calling for aggressive emission reduction targets.  I appeal to you today. Please work to make the post 2020 climate treaty a serious document that will get the world, and most especially Canada well on the way to a low emissions future.  Canada must participate constructively to make this a productive, forward-moving conference that will help address the greatest challenge of our generation.

In the wake of this terrible tragedy and as a further expression of Canada's compassion for the victims, it is time to join with others at the Warsaw Climate Conference to create the solutions.  Let us begin today by redoubling our own national efforts to meet, and even exceed, our own 2020 targets.  Let us do this for the well-being of coastal cities around the world.  Let us do this for the well-being of our children and grandchildren.

In faith that a better future is possible if we have the will to make it so;

Rev. Frances Deverell

President,

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

Cc:  The Hon. John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs; The Hon. Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources; The Hon, Leona Agglukkaq, Minister of the Environment; The Hon. James Moore, Minister of Industry; MP Thomas Mulcaire, Leader of the Opposition; MP Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party, and MP Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.