A group of North Shore citizens will march over the Lions Gate Bridge this Sunday to join a larger march in downtown Vancouver calling for urgent action on climate change.
Jon Corrodus, one of the organizers for the Highlands Climate and Environment Action Group, said his group is marching to let national leaders taking part in the Paris climate summit next week know that drastic action is needed to help save the planet for future generations.
Corrodus said he’s hoping new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will take the message to heart.
Under the previous government, Canada’s role in addressing climate change “has been quite dismal,” said Corrodus. “Our previous prime minister once received a Fossil of the Year award for his lack of action.”
Corrodus said he’d like to see a Canadian carbon tax instituted as well as an increase to British Columbia’s existing carbon tax, established by former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell.
“We have to encourage people to turn away from carbon as quickly as possible,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult for people to make those kinds of switches. But that will be less difficult than suffering the effects of catastrophic climate change.”
Corrodus said his call to action has been inspired by thinking of what kind of world his grandchildren and their children will inherit.
“I’m over 70 years old so I’m not going to see the terrible effects of what could happen but the children and grandchildren of the world are going to have to face them,” he said. “They are going to face a pretty bleak prospect if we don’t do something quickly.”
Anyone who wants to take part in the march should meet at the south side of Park Royal at the Spirit Trail entrance at the end of Taylor Way at 11 a.m. Sunday morning. Dress warmly and ready to walk. Organizers aim to leave at 11:20 a.m. and join the Vancouver march at 1 p.m.
The Paris climate summit with world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, gets underway on Monday.
Observers are waiting to see if Trudeau announces new targets for Canada to lower its carbon emissions.
