Phase out fossil fuels and make polluters pay for climate crisis

At the end of the hottest summer on record, the NB Media Co-op editorial board joins New Brunswickers in calling for the federal government to act on phasing out fossil fuels and making polluters pay for their part in exacerbating climate disaster. Thank you to Danielle Jones, Neil Cole, and Vivian Unger for sharing their urgent messages about the current climate crises with us; we share them now with you. 

Dear editor,

More than 13 million hectares of land have burned across Canada, and we’re barely halfway through wildfire season. My heart breaks to think of the devastation these fires have caused for people across the country.

People from coast to coast to coast have felt the impact. We’ve been breathing in toxic wildfire smoke, thousands have been evacuated from their communities, and four firefighters have lost their lives fighting these flames.

The fossil fuel industry is to blame for the unthinkable tragedies caused by climate disasters in Canada and around the world.

Enough is enough. We have to act now to ensure our political leaders stop subsidizing polluters and letting these dangerous companies slow action on the climate emergency. Most importantly, we need to make polluters pay off their debt to people hit hardest by climate disasters.

Danielle Jones

Fredericton, NB

Dear editor,

This summer has made it clearer than it’s ever been before. We are in a climate emergency, and it’s time to act like it. But instead of getting us off fossil fuels and salvaging a livable future for our children, our federal government is offering piecemeal half-measures.

The recent announcement about limiting fossil fuel subsidies relies on unproven and short-sighted fixes like carbon capture, and is full of loopholes that continue to channel public dollars into Big Oil’s pockets. The long anticipated Sustainable Jobs Act offered an inadequately ambitious plan to make another plan – and it leaves the door open for the fossil fuel industry to have a seat at the table. We need more and better from our federal representatives.

No more delays. No more distractions. Canada is on fire, we must make polluters pay and accelerate bold action.

Neil Cole, Fredericton

Dear editor,

Recently on CBC radio, I heard Bill McKibben, founder of 350, call fossil fuel subsidies “indefensible.”

He’s right. We’re experiencing the worst wildfire season on record, historic flooding has devastated communities in Nova Scotia, and droughts are destroying crops across the country. Yet our government continues to pour money into the oil and gas industry.

They may as well be pouring fuel on the fires in the Northwest Territories.

The climate science is clear. We can only prevent a future of ever-worsening fires, floods and droughts if we rapidly phase out fossil fuels. We have all the technology to start doing that today.

Canadians want action on climate, and the Liberal government’s poll numbers are at record lows. Time for the government to put two and two together, start listening to the people, and stop listening to the oil lobbyists.

Vivian Unger, Fredericton