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Just days after a summer of wildfires, massive floods erupted in British Columbia. These are just some of the obvious effects of climate change. COP26Glasgow ended with very weak commitments to combat the climate emergency.
This is Canada’s inaction on climate change for the past. 30 years, has repeatedly demonstrated that it prioritises the short-term gains of a few over the survival and well-being of future generations. We, Canadian musicians, call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeauand the new Parliament to deliver a just and green recovery.
Given that billionaires had more time to speak than delegates from the world’s hardest-hit regions, it is no surprise COP26 fell short. This is troubling for Canada, which spins itself as a climate-leader. Canada is the G7’s most advanced country. highest per capitaCarbon emissions Our government subventioned oil and gas last year to the tune $18 billionPipelines that violate Indigenous sovereignty or treaty rights were pushed forward.
Despite some positive steps forward, such a price on carbon, Trudeau continues to choose to fuel the climate crisis rather than doing what the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change science (IPCC), outlines is necessary for future generations. As Canadian musicians and supporters, we are proud to be a part of the climate change. Music Declares Emergency, are raising our voices: we declare a climate emergency. With Parliament in session, we call on Trudeau to be the climate leader we need. Last week’s throne speechTrudeau stated, “We must turn talk into action.” We agree — it’s time for Trudeau to walk the talk. We can’t afford any more delays in climate action.
Climate chaos and the COVID-19 pandemic have thrown economies into crisis — something that artists, venue owners, and labourers of the music industry know well. We need support to both recover and to build back sustainable. Climate change must be at the heart of economic decisions as well as rebuilding.
Polling by a coalitionAccording to polls by environmental organizations, a majority of progressive voters support a post-pandemic recovery that is rooted in renewable energy jobs and infrastructure.
Musicians have always been at the forefront of such calls for change; Joni Mitchell joined James Taylor and Phil Ochs at the concert that marked Greenpeace’s founding in October 1970.
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David Suzuki created the Playlist for the planet and toured Canada as part the Blue Dot Tour in 2014. He also put music front-and-center. Since then, hundreds of Canadian musicians have joined thousands worldwide in declaring climate emergency.
We are Music Declares Emergency CanadaWe are encouraging the music business to consider climate when making decisions. This includes making festivals net-zero, changing the norms for how people travel to concerts, encouraging local and circular economies for merchandise, food, and changing grant structures to encourage low emission touring. We will focus on Indigenous and racialized voices to recognize the ecological wisdom of First Nations and the immense impact that climate change has had on marginalized communities.
Canadians care deeply about climate change — witness the strong push to pass Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Now that we have this legislation, it is time to tackle the huge, urgent challenge of emergency mobilizationUp to COVID-19 on a scale that was not seen since after the Second World War.
Opinion: As musicians, we want to use the power of music to address the climate emergency, and ask Canadians to hear what the planet and younger generations are telling us, write @Raffi_RC @carobrooksmusic & @moscowapt. #SocialJustice
We appeal to the 44th Parliament members to come together to address the climate crisis and to create a just and green recovery that benefits all.
- Climate investments to reduce carbon emissions: Direct 2 percent of your annual GDP towards climate investment
- Protect and reinforce Indigenous sovereignty and rights
- Stop all new ventures in fossil fuels
- Stop all subsidies to oil or gas
- For the climate emergency, establish new mandates for government
The IPCC’s 2018 report made it clear: we must cut global emissions by nearly half, by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 C. For a sense of what the world would look like at 1.5 C versus the 2 C or terrifying 3 C to 4 C warming we are careening toward, consider the 2021 IPCC report, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a Code RedFor humanity.
Music is born from deep love. We extend that love to the planet as well as our fellow human beings. We as musicians want to use music’s power to address the climate crisis. And we ask Canadians for their feedback. A new, green and just economy will benefit all of us.
Signed,
Raffi
Tamara Lindeman, Weather Station
Sarah Harmer
Brighid Fry & Pascale Padilla (Moscow Apartment)
Tania Gill
Caroline Marie Brooks (Good Lovelies)
Liv Cazzola (The Lifers Tragedy Ann).
Ken Whiteley
Bob Ezrin (producer).
Lido Pimienta
Amy Millan (Stars, Broken Social Scene)
Joel Plaskett
Scott Helman
Jenn Grant
Shad
Melissa McClelland (Whitehorse).
Dan Mangan
Joel Gibb (The Hidden Cameras).
Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene)
Fred Penner
Leela Gilday
Tyler Bancroft (Said The Whale).
Jill Barber
Lisa MacIsaac (Madison Violet)
Murray McLauchlan
Sylvia Tyson
Andrew Craig
Rich Underhill (Shuffle Demons)
Ariel Engle (La Force)
Brandon Valdivia (Mas Aya)
Eve Egoyan
Guillermo Subauste (producer)
Jackie Richardson
Eve Goldberg
Abigail Lapell
Chris Whitely
Jenny Whitely
Joey Wright
Diana Braithwaite
Cassie Norton
Bram Morrison (Sharon Lois and Bram).
Jane Lewis
David Buchbinder
Cindy Church
Caitlin Hanford
Gwen Swick
Jesse Whiteley
Max Trefler
Laura Mina Mitic & Pat Ferguson (Carmanah)
Cameron Snooks and Alex Biro (Selfish Things), Michael Ticar
Natalie Lynn
Braden Lam
Kritty Uranowski
Colleen brown
Ben Caplan
Ashleigh Ball
Luke Gruntz (cleopatrick)
