Last Friday the great annual march for the climate was held, in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. Several thousand people of all ages gathered in Montreal during the Demonstration for the Rest of the World. But in reality, we have been talking about the future of the world for a long time.
In 2015, at COP21, 195 countries adopted the Paris Agreement, a legally binding commitment to limit global warming. In 2018, Greta Thunberg, then a teenager, launched the climate strike to denounce the inaction of governments in the face of the ecological emergency. An emergency which has always been the subject of consensus. But what is the real effect of these climate marches today?
Yes, they allow citizen remobilization on an essential cause. However, the event seems to be drowned out in a flood of news. Political priorities have shifted to more immediate issues. We have been talking about ecology for ten years, since young people have mobilized on a global scale, since green parties have gained electorates, and since scientific studies have multiplied.
However, ecology is no longer at the heart of discussions. And this, despite the fact that the devastating effects of climate change are more visible. Forests are burning, lands are flooding, and climate refugees are already a reality. Territories will disappear, temperatures are breaking records, and biodiversity is collapsing.
Are we tired of talking about ecology? Has hope gone with the flames?
Today, attention is focused on energy and the economy. The Office of Environmental Public Hearings, like many other environmental initiatives, is often overlooked. The carbon tax is considered too threatening for the economy by the Conservative Party of Canada. The quest for energy self-sufficiency justifies new oil pipelines. The debate on thermal engines is becoming a matter of money. Trains remain inaccessible, kerosene is tax-free, and wind turbines are accused of visual pollution. As for reducing meat consumption, this is still a challenge for many.
Ecology is a great idea. But this seems too distant for a period marked by inflation and the economic crisis.
How can we think about 2050, when we don’t know how we will last until the end of the month?
This problem crosses borders. Ecology has never been a political subject taken seriously. It has often served as electoral leverage or a tool of global influence. The COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, which is one of the largest oil producers, is striking proof of this. The World Cup in Qatar, with its air-conditioned stadiums, or Everest transformed into a landfill bear witness to our contradictions. Worse still, we have let our plastic waste create a “seventh continent”, floating in the heart of the oceans.
Let’s not forget that ecology is above all a social issue: the richest 10% are responsible for almost half of global emissions, while the poorest are the first to be affected. Ecology is also a fight for equity between nations and within populations.
Despite general weariness and changing priorities, ecology remains a central issue for the future of our societies. Citizen mobilizations, even discreet, remind us that the fight is not over.
Each mobilization is a reminder that the climate emergency will not disappear with inaction. We remind the world of the repercussions of our actions. We demand answers. It is our duty to continue to mobilize, for the planet yes, but also for a fairer world.
If hope wavers, it is not extinguished. Last Friday, like other years, we were able to prove it.