More ambitious action is necessary that avoids harming human rights. This entails phasing out the use of fossil fuels and transitioning to 100% renewable energy
The Canadian Climate Institute’s narrative on climate change, which has spanned several decades, has overlooked a critical element: the impacts that climate change has had—and will continue to have—on some of the most vulnerable communities in Canada. In response, a climate justice movement has emerged more recently to position climate change as a civil rights issue given human rights implications for Indigenous, Black, and other racialized and marginalized communities.
Climate justice is both a concept and a movement that recognizes that communities are affected differently and unequally by climate change based on factors such as race, language, socio-economic status, ethnicity, class, gender, age, disability, sexuality, lower incomes and education, poverty, visible minority status, and other social identities. Rising sea levels, extreme storms, disappearing shorelines, frequent heavy rainfall, droughts, floods, heatwaves, wildfires, and poor air quality are more likely to impact Canada’s vulnerable rural and remote northern communities. In addition, a lack of arable land and drinkable water due to drought and desertification also means that topsoil can no longer support agriculture.
Statistics Canada reports that rapid population growth in cities is increasing their need for infrastructure, transportation, and various services. Approximately 70% of Canadians now reside in urban settings across the country. In 2021, 26.5% of Canadians were identified as racialized populations.
NRCAN points out northern and rural communities often have limited social and physical infrastructure and capacity (i.e., limited access to technology and communication systems, health and education services, supplies, and human resources). More so than urban areas, smaller populations, limited tax bases, isolated locations, harsh climates, shorter construction seasons, and labour shortages make it difficult and expensive to build and maintain infrastructure, such as roads, water systems, and internet access.
Nearly three-quarters of Canada’s 250 remote communities rely on small local electrical grids (microgrids), which most often use diesel generators to provide constant electricity to remote regions. Remote communities are not typically connected to the large North American electricity network. Fossil fuels are also needed to meet space heating and domestic hot water needs. The other polluter is the agriculture sector. Practices such as industrial livestock farming, deforestation, and land-use change contribute to pollution and emissions.
A climate justice lens examines the root causes of climate-related inequalities. Policy must consider both the ecological and human impacts of climate change in vulnerable communities to lead to stronger and fairer climate policy. Consultation requires meaningful decision-making processes with communities disproportionately exposed to and affected by climate change. Amnesty International states: The climate crisis is the greatest human rights challenge of our time, including the right to life, health, food, water, housing, security, and the rights of Indigenous and vulnerable peoples, and future generations.
Amnesty also emphasizes that poorer communities often breathe toxic air because their neighborhoods are more likely to be situated next to plants, petrochemical facilities, and refineries. Marginalized women often work at jobs that make them more reliant on natural resources and more at risk from climate-related events. Forced displacement experienced by communities (which impacts a whole range of rights from water, sanitation, and food to adequate housing, health, education, and development) is likely to be particularly harmful to children.
Climate change impacts can exacerbate economic and social inequalities, further affecting the health of people in communities that are less likely to have the resources and networks to recover from climate-related devastation. Actions and commitments taken by the Canadian government have been inadequate to prevent our climate crisis. More ambitious action is necessary that avoids harming human rights. This means phasing out fossil fuel usage and transitioning to 100% renewable energy.
Progress? Nearly a decade ago, the federal government pledged to eliminate 133 long-term drinking water advisories in 93 First Nations communities across Canada, aiming to reduce them to zero. Currently, there are 35 in 33 communities. Northern and remote communities face numerous challenges in waste management, including limited or no access to recycling, hazardous household waste disposal, and proper waste management facilities. Remote communities often have limited road access, relying on seasonal ice roads or planes. NRCAN is analyzing the renewable energy potential for nearly 200 Canadian remote communities, developing community load profiles, and assessing the potential for reducing diesel use and emissions. Lastly, the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program is currently accepting applications under biomass heating, district heating, and combined heat and power systems.
In conclusion, climate change is harming Canadians’ health, the country’s aging infrastructure, food and natural resource production, and Canada hasn’t done enough to adapt. We all hope our new government will be the innovative force we need now. Canada must prioritize climate justice by engaging with the needs of vulnerable communities in climate action planning, funding, and policy implementation. This includes ensuring equitable access to resources, addressing environmental racism, and engaging vulnerable people in decision-making.
Submitted by Diane Szoller, Climate Scorecard Canada Country Manager