Three young Canadians are suing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration, arguing the federal government no longer has a credible plan to meet Canada’s 2030 climate target.
The federal complaint charges that the government has “eliminated, weakened and/or significantly altered” efforts to reduce emissions, even as Canadians are already feeling the effects of climate change. The lawsuit was filed by the three youth, along with Environmental Defence Canada and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
“Prime Minister Carney has offered hope to many Europeans as a champion of a democratic global order capable of tackling the 21st century’s challenges. Yet it is impossible to lead solutions to these profound challenges on the global stage when gutting progress on the climate crisis at home,” said Charlie Hatt, climate director at Ecojustice, which is representing the youth.
Invoking Carney’s Davos speech in January — in which the prime minister urged “middle powers” across the globe to act together — Hatt said “any alliance of middle powers purporting to build a stable and prosperous future cannot turn a blind eye to one of the most destabilizing threats facing our planet: the climate crisis.”
