NDP calls for government commitment to climate emergency

Halifax -- The NDP Caucus is calling on the McNeil government to acknowledge the current state of climate change and declare a climate emergency. In recent months, governments around the world, including the UK, Vancouver, and the HRM, have made a point of declaring a climate emergency. Nova Scotia needs to do the same.

“The NDP believes the climate is an urgently important issue that we must address now,” said NDP Environment spokesperson Lenore Zann. “As a coastal province we can’t ignore the coming challenges. Nova Scotia needs to be a leader in answering the call for how to deal with the climate emergency.”

Last week, reporters asked Environment Minister Gordon Wilson if Canada was facing a climate change emergency. While the minister said climate change was at the top of mind for people, he avoided using the word emergency.

“The McNeil Liberals have continued to fall short on this urgent issue,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “From leaving the words climate change out of the most recent budget address to decreasing the speed at which we lower our greenhouse gas emissions, the Liberal government has failed to show the leadership needed.”

The NDP introduced the Green Jobs Act in the spring sitting of the legislature, which would set out a plan to build an economy around new, green jobs in Nova Scotia and transition away from fossil fuels.

June 5th is World Environment Day.

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