[greenon-l] Voters and the Environment

[CCO]

My advice for the women and men running in the Canadian Federal election:
don't treat the environment like something far off and remote.  Make it
personal and help people deal with the effects of climate change and rising
energy costs.  As "Tip" O'Neill - a longtime Speaker of the House in the
U.S. Congress, once said "all politics is local."  Why should the
environment be treated any different? 

 

>From my experience at community events all across Ontario, people are making
the connection between climate change and their own lives.  Every time a
major hurricane sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico our gas prices go up.
Every time gas goes up, food prices and the cost of living also rise.  It's
as simple as that.

 

Price gouging is not the issue here 

 

The key question is not 'will you stop climate change', but 'what will you
do today that will help me deal with the effects of climate change"?
Promises of megatonne reductions in CO2 emissions are meaningless to most
voters, whereas incentives for fuel-efficient cars, public transit,
increased insulation and energy conservation are easily understood and
appreciated by Canadians trying to cope with rising prices and economic
uncertainty. 

 

There is also a second and more troubling trend over the past few years,
where at many of the public events on conservation someone will commonly
ask, "Is it enough?"  

 

There is a deep-rooted fear for the future.  People see the impact of rising
energy costs on the economy.  They are afraid of economic collapse and the
subsequent impact on our standard of living.  As a result, they are looking
for political leadership to create a more resilient environment, economy and
a better quality of life.  

 

So here's my advice to those seeking to win a seat in the Federal election,
whether as the Prime Minister or an MP is to focus on the cornerstones of a
sustainable economy (food, shelter and transportation).

 

*         Transform the automotive sector to become leaders in
fuel-efficiency by 2012.

*         Invest in the energy conservation sector by increasing energy
efficiency standards in new homes, training builders in best practices, and
increasing incentives to retrofit the existing building stock

*         Invest in green infrastructure to create compact, transit-friendly
communities with strong local economies

*         Invest in local, sustainable agriculture and healthy food.

 

Like it or not, we are moving towards a conserver society and economy.  The
choice is between a smooth transition to a better standard of living, or the
eventual collapse of the traditional economy.

 

 

Chris Winter

Executive Director

The Conservation Council of Ontario

416.533.1635  ext 1.

 



 www.weconserve.ca

 

 

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