What is KYOTOplus?
KYOTOplus is a national, broad-based petition campaign, endorsed by a coalition of 500 Canadian environmental, labour, indigenous, human rights, and faith-based groups united to create a movement for urgent federal government action on the climate change crisis. KAIROS is coordinating church participation in this campaign.
Why KYOTOplus?
In 1999, the Canadian government signed onto the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement promising to cut back our Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) 6% below 1990 levels. The Kyoto Protocol’s commitment period runs from 2008 to 2012. How are we doing? Canada is now actually 26% above 1990 levels (and 33.8% above its Kyoto target) with no viable plan to meet its Kyoto commitment.
The international community is coming together again this year from December 7 to18 in Copenhagen to hammer out a post-Kyoto framework, which will begin in 2013. Canada needs to take on targets in Copenhagen that are in line with climate change science in order to minimize the impacts of climate change on communities here and abroad. The Canadian government must demonstrate its intention to live up to its Kyoto obligations.
Why a Petition?
The KYOTOplus petition is a way to get all Canadians involved in addressing the issue of climate change through demanding that the Canadian government does the right thing in Copenhagen. We hope to have at least one million signatures to impress on the Canadian government that the public is serious about tackling climate change both at home and abroad.
What is Canada’s Responsibility?
Canada’s responsibility first and foremost is to demonstrate moral leadership in the face of this global climate crisis by
setting a national target to cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 25 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020,
implementing an effective national plan to reach this target and
accepting our historical responsibility for climate change by helping developing countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.
Why is Climate Change a Faith Issue?
Scripture makes many references to God’s love for the whole world, God’s intention for harmony and right relationship, Jesus’ call for all to love one another, and the model of Jesus’ life dedicated to justice and equity. Our Christian theological tradition recognizes the deep interconnections among faith, justice and the integrity of creation. Human-caused climate change, which threatens the viability of human and non-human life, compels a Christian response. We must work to ensure the repair of the world—making a new global covenant—both through our personal life changes as well as through political action.
What Should I Do?
Personally, we are asking you to take note of your carbon footprint and reduce your own carbon emissions by 25%. You can take a Carbon Sabbath by eliminating unessential air travel, conserving your use of electricity, cutting down on the use of your car and using public transit instead. Even taking an action as simple as reducing your shower time to 2 minutes makes a difference!
Back up the petition by contacting your Member of Parliament to say you support the intent of the petition. Say that you want Canada to make a strong international commitment in Copenhagen and to invest in a green economy at home.
What Happens After Copenhagen?
KAIROS will be tracking the results from Copenhagen, and we may call on Canadians for further action. But we’re also asking everyone to reduce their own emissions and to make public witness to keep this issue at the forefront of every Canadian’s agenda.
This coming Lent (17 February – 3 April 2010) we’re asking people to observe Carbon Sabbath. Each week of lent, we will focus on a different aspect of our addiction to fossil fuels and ask you to stop or reduce your use of these resources. Check the KAIROS website for details in Fall 2009.
