There’s no time to waste on several pressing issues according to the participants at Saturday’s climate, justice and jobs rally in Saskatoon’s Rotary Park.
“We wanted it on Oct. 1 in particular because in November, the provincial leaders are meeting with the federal government to develop their national climate strategy,” Catherine Gendron, a member of Climate Justice Saskatoon, said.
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Speakers discussed a number of topics but focused on changing to renewable energies like solar and wind and moving away from pipelines.
“The fact of the matter is that we can’t afford not to,” Gendron said. “This is our future generations’ lives on the line, this is our Mother Earth and we can’t risk it anymore. If we want to maintain our Paris commitments then we just can’t build anymore.”
Energy consultant and applied physicist Mark Bigland-Pritchard would like to see tougher emission targets to meet the Paris climate agreement goals, an end to subsidies for fossil fuel companies and a carbon tax.
“We can actually do that, it’s possible, but it requires the political will and a willingness to say no to vested interests in the oil and coal industries,” Bigland-Pritchard said.
Those at the rally signed a banner that will be delivered to the legislative building before the November climate meetings, with attention to Premier Brad Wall.