Toronto played host this week to the Climate Summit of the Americas, an event that drew over 300 delegates from 21 subnational governments in North, Central and South America. The event highlighted the role that local, provincial and state governments continue to play in addressing climate change and pressured national governments to ‘get on board’ ahead of COP21 in Paris this December. The meeting culminated in the first ever Pan-American Climate Action Statement, which highlights the urgency of combatting climate change, affirms that state, provincial and municipal governments are leaders in achieving impactful global climate action and acknowledges the need to work together to continue reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
Though the sub-text was clear, Premiers Wynne and Coulliard were reserved in their comments on federal climate change policy. At a press conference, Wynne contended that “we need federal and national governments across the continent to commit, to hear these messages” and Coulliard asserted that “the provincial level and territorial level[s] are filling the void.” Without saying it outright, both Premiers were making it clear that meaningful action at the national level is missing. The governor of California, Jerry Brown, was more cutting in his critique of national governments, both in Canada and the United States, suggesting that Harper needs to re-examine what he is doing: “Canada has a long way to go, as does the United States… We’ve got a lot to do, but some people aren’t even on board to know that. So I would say, ‘Get on board, let’s get going, let’s work together and make a world that really will work for all of us.'”