System change for climate consequences

Climate change is the most multifaceted issue facing our world today, but there are clear pathways to build a system that meets our climate needs. Much of our climate work in Manitoba is done with the Climate Action Team, a coalition of leading non-government organizations committed to combating this climate crisis.

We recognize, along with many Manitobans, that as the impacts of climate change grow stronger — severe weather, floods, droughts and fires — our society’s ability to function and survive is at risk. Food shortages, climate migration and global conflicts are exacerbated by climate change. These effects do not affect everyone equally; vulnerable populations, marginalized groups, rural communities and Indigenous Peoples bear the disproportionate burden. 

To turn the tide, we need a fundamental societal shift. Locally, this means enacting policies to eliminate emissions from our buildings, transportation and food systems. It requires investing in public transit, renewable energy, building retrofits, and supporting a just transition for workers shifting from high-carbon to low-carbon jobs.

Most governments focus primarily on re-election, often avoiding urgent conversations about the scale of action needed under the pretext of being “practical”. It’s up to us collectively to demand the leadership and bold action needed to address the climate crisis effectively.

Down with fossil fuels, up with nature preservation

The Wilderness Committee's success in stopping a plan to ship crude oil through the Port of Churchill shows what a committed community effort can achieve. By investigating the proposed Energy East pipeline, we discovered that its route through Manitoba was illegal, and ultimately, the plan was stopped. 

Ending the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure must be a cornerstone of climate action in Manitoba. From fossil gas expansion in new buildings to LNG export terminal developments through Hudson Bay to silica sand mines for fracking gas, we’ll continue to oppose a destructive future driven by fossil fuel proliferation.

Caring for nature is key to caring for the climate. Protecting forests, wetlands, grasslands and peatlands — key ecosystems that store carbon and buffer against extreme weather — are essential steps forward. Advancing land-based reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples must also be part of our path toward a sustainable future.