Statement from the Green Party of Canada on World Environment Day

On this the 42nd annual United Nations World Environment Day, the Green Party of Canada challenges the Harper Conservatives to give a straight answer as to whether or not Canada remains committed to achieving our Copenhagen targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The theme for World Environment Day 2014 is “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level” – A particularly fitting message in light of the May 12 NASA report indicating that the melting of the West Antarctic Glacier as a result of climate change appears to be unstoppable, and will eventually raise the global sea level by 5 meters.

“We need to immediately take drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet none of the other federal parties have shown any leadership on this issue,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich­–Gulf Islands. “The global climate crisis is now so significant that it no longer makes sense to simply call it an environmental issue – it’s a survival issue.”