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When it comes to the climate crisis, urgency seems to fall on deaf ears. We turn to the government to guide us and implement policies that will combat climate change, but governments at all levels are failing us.
Fighting climate change can no longer be an empty campaign slogan for political parties—the era of talk without action needs to come to an end. There is no longer room for governments to toy with soft ideas to fight climate change. We must act now, and we must be ambitious.
This edition of the Monitor doesn’t let governments off the hook, but it does provide real life examples of people and organizations that are taking the lead on climate activism in their own communities. They’re setting the tone and creating change right where they live.
In his article, Why Canada needs grassroots climate organizing, Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood offers a five-step program that can guide any community group into action.
Kathryn-Jane Hazel’s article, How organizing led Nanaimo to adopt the doughnut economics framework, tracks how the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub started their work at the start of the pandemic—and registered a major win.
In his article, The invisible workforce and climate justice, John Cartwright draws from real-life examples of workers who, acting through their union, are combining a culture of relentless organizing with political mobilization to impact energy-efficient city initiatives.
Isabella Pojuner’s article, After the flood, they mapped land ownership, shows real-life examples of communities coming together after a flood to use mapping techniques to push for policy changes—and wins.
Claire Calderwood’s article, Fostering an inclusive cycling environment in Nova Scotia, shows four initiatives that the Ecology Action Centre has been leading to promote equitable access to cycling for the past 25 years.
Adrien Werner’s article, Candidate forums can foster a collaborative climate movement, shows how the Manitoba Climate and Environment Election Coalition (MCEEC) follows a five-step process at election time—through all-candidates forums—to foster a collaborative climate movement.
And after many years in hiatus, Trish Hennessy revives the Hennessy Index for this edition of the Monitor, focused on the climate crisis and our urgent need to act boldly now.
There’s that and much more in this edition of the Monitor, including an expanded book review section. Be the first to learn about progressive new books by reading the Monitor!