COP27 | End once and for all with the status quo

As climate-related disasters continue to grow in frequency and magnitude, Canada is the only G7 country that has not been able to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since ratifying the Paris.

Sabaa Khan
General Manager for Quebec and the Atlantic at the David Suzuki Foundation

If the 27^e conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — which begins on November 6 — is rightly criticized, it is important to remember that the only way to achieve global climate objectives is to significantly reduce the production of coal, oil and gas. It is therefore the national policies of each country that determine the practical value of international agreements.

With this in mind, what role should wealthy countries that are very disproportionately responsible for the climate crisis like Canada play? Here are four policies the federal government should quickly put in place to begin to catch up on decades of climate inaction:

• immediately stop the expansion of the exploitation of fossil fuels and the construction of new infrastructures for the transport and transformation of hydrocarbons. Not only is it economically unviable to invest in making the problem worse rather than start rolling out the solutions, but it is also the only feasible option to ensure compliance environmental human rights;

• cap emissions from the oil and gas industry based on science and then gradually lower this limit so as to keep global warming below the critical threshold of 1.5°C. Revenues from pollution pricing must be reinvested equitably to help families and businesses switch from fossil fuels to clean sources of electricity;

• follow the example of the countries of the European Union and create a tax on windfall profits from the production of hydrocarbons. Oil and gas companies are raking in record profits as many homes struggle to pay their energy bills. The UN Secretary General has repeatedly stressed the need for action to address this gross injustice in the midst of the global energy crisis;

• design a proactive global strategy in service of communities and the planet to foster the resilience of communities by helping them to adapt to the effects of climate change and to minimize and compensate for the losses and damages caused by climate destruction.

By 2050, the loss and damage that climate change will cause to livelihoods, critical infrastructure, land, biodiversity and cultural heritage will amount to approximately US$1 trillion per year. COP27 should be the first where States will seriously focus on the question of who is responsible for footing the bill for reconstruction in the wake of these tragedies, but also for the urgent adaptation measures that must be taken in order to prevent part of the damage and save lives. At least those are the expectations of the 58 member countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, whose combined populations amount to 1.5 billion people, but who are only responsible for 5% of global GHG emissions.

Vulnerable countries face existential risks and it is clear that rich countries must assume their responsibility by supporting them financially.

Rising sea levels and more intense climatic disasters will have profound legal consequences and threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, world peace and the security of all. Although it has a long way to go, Canada is among the countries best positioned technologically and economically to play a leadership role in the global response to the climate crisis.

COP27 must be an opportunity for Canada to take the plunge in acknowledging and addressing its long-standing role in shaping and escalating the climate crisis.

Many effective and affordable climate solutions are just waiting to be put in place, and there will never be a better time than now to be able to positively deviate from the dangerous trajectory in which humanity is engaged. .