CANADA and CLIMATE
"Millions of people around the world are fleeing their homes because of conflict and persecution. The international community must come together to address their immediate needs and to help rebuild their lives.”
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, 2017
Canada is a vocal advocate for both climate-change fighting initiatives and accepting refugees from abroad. While the nation’s willingness to accept refugees has faded since 2016, Canada still represents one of the countries willing to accept those seeking refuge. The main concern is separating the rhetoric from reality.
Despite nearly constant voiced support for a ‘greener’ future, the Trudeau government and various provincial legislatures have acted against this goal by allowing further degradation of the environment. Canada is not on track to hit many of its goals, which seems to show the issue isn’t with intention; its with action.
By attending the COP 23 conference in Bonn in 2017, Canada showed at the very least a political support for those facing the immediate consequences of climate change. Despite kind words for the Fijian President Bainimarama and $2million CAD pledged for environmental concerns abroad, the Canadian delegation did very little.
Going forward Canada will be called into action when refugees begin leaving countries across the world. While many Pacific nations stand to lose everything, countries across the world are being faced with equal devastation. The rising delta in Bangladesh and the rapid expansion of the Sahara are just two of the other environmental concerns set to leave millions without a home. Canada will soon be asked to pledge more than just kind words eventually. The country is set to be on the forefront of this inevitable mass migration and it is of utmost importance for political leaders to begin discussing Canada’s definition of ‘refugee’ and whether the Northern nation will be there to answer the call.