Earth Day has come and gone again. And again, people are reflecting on the tremendous pressures we put on the earth and the environment and what they can do to live a greener more sustainable life.
Perhaps this year, we should also reflect on Canada's stubborn insistence on being a part of the climate change problem rather than part of the solution.
Earth Day was created nearly 40 years ago to inspire awareness of the earth and appreciation for our environment.
Millions of Canadians took part last year, joining an estimated half a billion people worldwide.
Much of the Canadian interest focused on calling for action on climate change.
Public opinion in Canada has consistently favoured taking action on climate change. Support has grown even stronger since the federal government signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 and committed the country to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.
Canadians were rightly proud when the federal government signed and then ratified the Kyoto treaty.
But somehow that public pride and concern about climate change has not convinced successive governments to make progress on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
By 2005, Canada's emissions had risen to 30 per cent above 1990 levels.
In response to the public's desire for action on global warming and Canada's rapidly escalating greenhouse gas emissions, the current government produced "Turning the Corner" that falls drastically short of what is urgently needed.
Not only does this half-measure of weasel words and soft targets not meet our legally binding commitments to cut GHG emissions, it will certainly not achieve the deep reductions scientists say are needed to prevent truly catastrophic climate change impacts.
It is a case of government actively planning to fail the most critical challenge facing our planet today.
Provincially, only Manitoba and Quebec have agreed to meet their share of Canada's Kyoto commitment. No jurisdiction in Canada, federal or provincial, has agreed to reduce its emissions 25 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 - the minimum reduction the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said is necessary to avoid disastrous impacts.
What does this lack of progress mean for Canadians who support Earth Day and who want to be part of the climate change solution?
It means making a pledge to change your personal habits and reduce your carbon footprint.
Turn out the lights when you leave the room and caulk those drafty windows. Walk to the store and buy locally grown produce - we must do everything we can to lower our personal emissions and every bit counts.
But these are voluntary measures and the future of the planet can't be left to individual goodwill. The biggest lifestyle change you can make following this Earth Day is to turn up the heat on your elected politicians. Climate change is a global problem that requires a united global response and requires government action on a major scale.
It requires bold leadership and government regulation that will make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
It is about limiting the output of Canada's largest emitters and using every carrot and stick available to make these cuts in short order.
If no jurisdiction in Canada has committed itself to make the cuts necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts then how do we get our elected representatives to move? It is time to exercise our responsibilities as citizens and engage in democracy in order to achieve those things we want for ourselves, our children and our communities.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It goes without saying that the tar sands oil companies, the automobile industry and all the large emitters of GHGs are exercising their democratic rights with governments - it's time for individuals to do the same.
Because of this Earth Day, commit to a lifestyle change that will speak volumes: Call your member of Parliament, let him or her know you want effective action on climate change and that you support politicians who take action.
Then let them know you will be paying close attention to their position on climate change.
Bruce Cox is the executive director of Greenpeace Canada.
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