246 academics call on government to act now to avoid global collapse 

We represent a diverse group of academics working at universities and colleges across Canada who can no longer stand by in the face of human-driven climate change.

In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published an alarming report confirming that climate change is posing a serious and unprecedented threat to the diversity and stability of life on earth. We face the imminent possibility of global eco-system collapse and mass social upheaval, and have little time to act.

For this reason, we the undersigned are united in the call for the Canadian government to take radical action in addressing the climate emergency. We are also united in the call for Canadian universities to divest funds from the fossil fuel industry that is contributing to the climate crisis, and to redirect investments toward the renewable energy sector and other climate-enhancing technologies.

In doing so, we support the efforts of the international group Extinction Rebellion (XR), which is calling attention to our extreme predicament. With XR, we are particularly concerned about the threshold for runaway climate change, which would lead to irreversible catastrophic changes that would impact us all. To keep below the 1.5°C increase in temperature that the IPCC report strongly urges we do not exceed, we must cut global CO2 emissions by 45% by the year 2030.

As an affluent country that has historically emitted vastly more greenhouse gas emissions than the global average, Canada has a moral and practical responsibility to reduce its emissions much faster than the average rate. Allocating Canada a share of emissions remaining under 1.5°C proportional to its population size would require full decarbonization by 2025, aligning with XR’s demand.

To meet this target, we must begin substantially reducing emissions as rapidly as possible — this means that after decades of intransigence, inaction, and rising emissions, we cannot afford to delay a moment longer. Given the extremely small window of time we have, nothing less than the drastic, systemic changes XR demands are necessary: 1) that the Canadian government acknowledge the climate emergency — not just rhetorically but in how it acts — by using its powers to make the threat of the climate emergency as widely known as possible; 2) that the Canadian government enact legally-binding policies to halt biodiversity loss and reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025; 3) that the transition be supervised by a citizen assembly endowed with decision-making powers, in order to ensure an effective and equitable process; and 4) that the energy transition is just for all Canadians, especially those already marginalized and neglected in the current economy.

Standing with XR, we are thus demanding that the Canadian government enact laws for a mobilization of society not seen since the Second World War to meet the 2025 net zero CO2 emissions target.

And because Canada’s past and future warming is double that of the global average, destroying the fabric of life of the Inuit and other indigenous groups and contributing to their ongoing oppression, we also demand, with XR, that our government collaborates with indigenous members of society in our country and around the world toward climate justice. Strong collaborations, as well as protections, must also be systemically created with and for the poor in both affluent nations and in the Global South, those who face economic persecution simply because of their race, religion, sexuality or gender, and anyone who has been most affected by unchecked resource extraction in the service of an economic system that promises unsustainable growth.

We refuse to continue supporting politicians who claim to be concerned about climate change while simultaneously approving oil pipelines, tar sands mines, and gas liquefaction facilities.

Our current government is not proposing the bold and swift action that is necessary. It is our moral duty to demand that they do. We have just a few short years to avoid irreversible catastrophe. We demand climate justice.

Albert Katz, Professor Emeritus, Psychology, Western University

Dave Shuttler, Professor, Biology, Acadia University

David Duke, Professor, History and Environmental Studies, Acadia University

Gabrielle Donnelly, Assistant Professor, Community Development, Acadia University

Glyn Bissix, Professor, Community Development and Environmental Studies, Acadia University

John Colton, Professor, Community Development and Environmental Studies, Acadia University

Mike Gismondi, Professor, Sociology and Global Studies, Athabasca University

Paul Ottaway, Instructor, Mathematics, Capilano University

Amy Poteete, Associate Professor, Political Science, Concordia University

Anya Zilberstein, Associate Professor, History, Concordia University

Geneviève Sicotte, Professor, French Studies, Concordia University

Kate Sterns, Associate Professor, Creative Writing, Concordia University

Leonard Sklar, Professor, Geography, Planning and the Environment, Concordia University

Nora Jaffary, Professor, History, Concordia University

Rachel Berger, Associate Professor, History, Concordia University

Shannon McSheffrey, Associate Professor, History, Concordia University

Damon Matthews, Professor, Geography, Planning and the Environment, Concordia University

Kathleen Kevany, Associate Professor, Agriculture, Dalhousie University

Richard Lebrasseur, Assistant Professor, Urban Agriculture, Dalhousie University

Amir Raz, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Ashley Wasana, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Brett Thombs, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Carolyn Ells, Associate Professor, Biomedical Ethics, McGill University

Charo Rodriguez, Professor, Family Medicine, McGill University

Derek Nystrom, Associate Professor, McGill University

Eric Latimer, Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Gabriella Coleman , Professor, Communication, McGill University

Heather Short, Adjunct Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University

Ismael Vaccaro, Associate Professor, Anthropology, McGill University

James Brophy, Professor, Medicine, McGill University

Jennifer Fishman, Associate Professor, Biomedical Ethics, McGill University

Jenny Burman, Associate Professor, Communication, McGill University

Joel Paris, Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Jonathan Sterne, Professor, Art History and Communications, McGill University

Juliana Mahood, Faculty Lecturer, Family Medicine, McGill University

Laurence J. Kirmayer, James McGill Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Lisa Travis, Professor Emerita, Linguistics, McGill University

Loree Tamanaha, Clinical Lecturer, Medicine, McGill University

Lucie Nadeau, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Maida Sewitch, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, McGill University

Marion Dove, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, McGill University

Mark Goldberg, Professor, Epidemiology, McGill University

Michael Mackey, Morley Drake Professor, Physiology, McGill University

Myrna Lashley, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, McGill University

Nancy E Mayo, Professor, Epidemiology, McGill University

Nicholas King, Associate Professor, Biomedical Ethics, McGill University

Phoebe Friesen, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Ethics, McGill University

Pierre Pluye, Professor, Family Medicine, McGill University

Robert Mahood, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, McGill University

Sasha Bernatsky, Professor, Medicine, McGill University

Scott Weichenthal, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, McGill University

Jay Kaufman, Professor, Epidemiology, McGill University

David Kaiser, Assistant Professor (Clinical), Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University

Jean Zigby, Guest Lecturer, Family Medicine, McGill University

Nancy Dahn, Professor, School of Music, Memorial University

Sylvie Proulx, Associate Professor, School of Music, Memorial University

Timothy Steeves, Professor, School of Music, Memorial University

Yvan Rose, Professor, Linguistics, Memorial University

Sarah Martin, Assistant Professor, Political Science, Memorial University

Mark Stoddart, Professor, Sociology, Memorial University

Lucian M. Ashworth, Professor, Political Science, Memorial University

Bill Brennan, Professor, School of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Kati Szego, Professor, School of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Kristina Szutor, Professor, School of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Florian Hoefner, Assistant Professor, School of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Vernon Regehr, Associate Professor, School of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Sarah Newbery, Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences, Family Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Lorin Young, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Gary Bota, Associate Professor and Section Chair, Emergency Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Mathew Reichertz, Associate Professor, Visual Arts, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

Cathy Vakil, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Queen’s University

David Barber, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Queen’s University

Eva Purkey, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Queen’s University

Kyla Tienhaara, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies/Global Development, Queen’s University

Sara Angelucci, Adjunct Professor, Photography, Ryerson University

Adam Baden-Clay, Manager, Youth Leadership Program, Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University

Adam Perry, Assistant Professor, Education, St. Francis Xavier University

Christina Holmes, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts, St. Francis Xavier University

Shannon Brooke Murphy, Assistant Professor, St. Thomas University

Carole Roy, Professor, Education, St. Francis Xavier University

Naima Imam Chowdhury, Women’s Leadership and GE Specialist, Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University

Simon Tremblay-Pepin, Assistant Professor, Elisabeth-Bruyère School of Innovation, St. Paul University

Karen Robert, Associate Professor, History, St. Thomas University

Derek Simon, Associate Professor, Religious Studies, St. Thomas University

Janice Harvey, Assistant Professor, Environment and Society, St. Thomas University

Brad Cross, Professor, History, St. Thomas University

Corinne Hersey, Contract Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University

Tracy Glynn, Contract Professor, Environment and Society, St. Thomas University

Matthew Hayes, Associate Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University

Monika Stelzl, Associate Professor, Psychology, St. Thomas University

Jeannette Gaudet, Associate Professor, Romance Languages, St. Thomas University

Julien Defraeye, Assistant Professor, Romance Languages, St. Thomas University

Dean Farrell, Lecturer, Irish Studies, St. Thomas University

Peter Weeks, Associate Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University

Raluca Bejan, Assistant Professor,Social Work, St. Thomas University

Janet Mullin, Assistant Professor, History, St. Thomas University

Kristi Allain, Associate Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University

David Suzuki, Professor Emeritus, Biology, University of British Columbia

Karine Vanthhuyne, Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa

Meg Stalcup, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa

Nathalie Mondain, Associate Professor. Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa

JP Sapinski, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, University of Moncton

Adrian L. Burke, Professor, Anthropology, University of Montreal

Alexandre Messier, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Chloé Courteau-Vézina, Clinical Lecturer, Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Christopher Marquis, Clinical Associate Professor, Pharmacy, University of Montreal

Cynthia Milton, Professor, History, University of Montreal

Daniel Valois, Professor, Linguistics, University of Montreal

Derek McKee, Associate Professor, Law, University of Montreal

Eric Dagher, Clinical Lecturer, Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Eric Notebaert, Associate Clinical Professor, Family and Emergency Medicine, University of Montreal

Eric-Viet Laperrière-Nguyen, Assistant Clinical Professor. Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Gregory Moullec, Assistant Professor, Public Health, University of Montreal

Guillaume Emeriaud, Associate Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, University of Montreal

Isabelle Ledoux, Clinical Lecturer, Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Jean-Baptiste Paolini, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, University of Montreal

Julien Riel-Salvatore, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Montreal

Kate Frohlich, Professor, Public Health, University of Montreal

Laurence McFalls, Professor, Political Science, University of Montreal

Marie-Jo Ouimet, Clinical Lecturer, Public Health, University of Montreal

Martin St-André, Associate Clinical Professor, Prenatal and Young Infant Psychiatry, University of Montreal

Michel Seymour, Honorary Professor, Philosophy, University of Montreal

Nicolas Demers, Clinical Lecturer, Family Medicine, University of Montreal

Phaedra Royle, Professor, Speech Therapy and Audiology, University of Montreal

Yan Kestens, Associate Professor, Public Health, University of Montreal

Yasmine Ratnani, Assistant Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal

Isabelle Montplaisir, Assistant Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal

Isabelle Lepage, University of Montreal

Pier-Luc Turcotte, Lecturer and PhD Candidate, Community Health, University of Sherbrooke

John Drendel, Professor, Medieval History, University of Quebec at Montreal

Stéphane Dandeneau, Professor, Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal

Eric Pineault, Professor, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal

Alison Munson, Professor, Wood and Forestry Sciences, Laval University

Anne-Sophie Denault, Professor, Psychoeducation, Laval University

Benoit Arsenault, Associate Professor, Medicine, Laval University

Charles Baron, Professor, Management, Laval University

Gina Muckle, Professor, Psychology, Laval University

Jason Guertin, Associate Professor, Medicine, Laval University

Johanna-Pascale Roy, Professor, Linguistics, Laval University

Laurence Guillaumie, Associate Professor, Nursing Sciences, Laval University

Laurent Bazinet, Professor, Food Sciences, Laval University

Louis-Philippe Sirois, Assistant Professor, Compliance, Laval University

Maryse Mayer, Doctoral Candidate and Lecturer, Administration, Laval University

Michael Lau, Associate Professor, Mathematics, Laval University

Michel O'Neill, Professor Emeritus, Sociology, Laval University

Pascal Vallières, Lecturer, Anthropology, Laval University

Patrick Provost, Professor, Medicine, Laval University

Stephanie Lloyd, Associate Professor, Anthropology, Laval University

Thierry Lefèvre, Researcher, Biophysics, Laval University

Valériane Champagne St-Arnaud, Postdoctoral Researcher, Public Communication, Laval University

Veronique Moulin, Professor, Medicine, Laval University

Vincent Couture, Associate Professor, Nursing Sciences, Laval University

Vincent Fradet, Associate Professor, Medicine, Laval University

Yves Caumartin, Clinical Lecturer, Medicine, Laval University

Hélène Rousseau, Assistant Professor, Medicine, McGill University

Howard Nye, Associate Professor, Medicine, University of Alberta

Jaimie Baron, Associate Professor, Film and Media Studies, University of Alberta

Tanya Harnett, Associate Professor, Art and Design/Native Studies, University of Alberta

Jaymie Heilman, Professor, History, University of Alberta

Keavy Martin, Associate Professor, English and Film Studies, University of Alberta

Sarah Krotz, Associate Professor, English and Film Studies, University of Alberta

Jennifer Welchman, Professor, Philosophy, University of Alberta

Laurie Adkin, Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Carolyn Sale, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Alison Murray, Professor, Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta

Glen Hvenegaard, Professor, Environmental Sciences, Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta

Sean Caulfield, Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Iman Mersal, Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Gordon Laxer, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Makere Stewart-Harawira, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

Dwayne Donald, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

Cam Jefferies, Associate Professor, Law, University of Alberta

Andrew Holt, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, University of Alberta

Michael Tenzer, Professor, School of Music, University of British Columbia

Nathan Hesselink, Professor, School of Music, University of British Columbia,

Warren Bell, Rural Preceptor, Family Practice, University of British Columbia

Bill Winder, Assistant Professor, French, Spanish and Italian Studies, University of British Columbia

Christy Sutherland, Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine, University of British Columbia

Eric Meyers, Associate Professor, School of Information, University of British Columbia

Heather O'Brien, Associate Professor, School of Information, University of British Columbia

Jocelyn Morlock, Sessional Instructor, School of Music, University of British Columbia

Kerry Greer, Senior Instructor, Sociology, University of British Columbia

L. Mark Anderson, Associate Professor, School of Music, University of British Columbia

Leticia Aviles, Professor, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia

Lisa Nathan, Associate Professor, School of Information, University of British Columbia

Litsa Chatzivasileiou, Sessional Instructor, Institute of Social Justice, University of British Columbia

Mike Krisinger, Instructor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia

Neil Chadha, Associate Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Rashmi Chadha, Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine, University of British Columbia

Robert Taylor, Professor, School of Music, University of British Columbia

Tony Ng, Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Rita McCracken, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Tony Robinson-Smith, Lecturer, English, University of New Brunswick

Marie-Eve Bérubé, Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

Larisa Kurtovic, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa

Susan Spronk, Associate Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa

Josdalyne Anderson, Clinical Lecturer, Family Medicine, University of Ottawa

Jason MacLean, Assistant Professor, College of Law and the School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

Fiona A Miller, Professor, Health Policy, University of Toronto

Samantha Green, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University of Toronto

Jillian Alston, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Edward Xie, Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto

Adrienne Wong, Clinical Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Scott Prudham, Professor, Geography and Planning, School of the Environment, University of Toronto

Steve Easterbrook, Professor and Director, School of the Environment, University of Toronto

Deborah Cowen, Professor, Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Sue Ruddick, Professor, Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Gavin Smith, Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, University of Toronto

William Carroll, Professor, Sociology, University of Victoria

James Rowe, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, University of Victoria

Angela Carter, Associate Professor, Political Science, University of Waterloo

Imre Szeman, Professor, Arts and Communication, University of Waterloo

Heather Newell, Professor, Linguistics, University of Quebec at Montreal

Paul Handford, Professor Emeritus, Biology, Western University

Anna Gunz, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University

Adrian Stacy, Clinical Adjunct Professor,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University

Tony Weis, Associate Professor, Geography, Western University

Alan MacEachern, Professor, History, Western University

Jeff Hopkins, Associate Professor, Geography, Western University

Andrew Walsh, Associate Professor, Anthropology, Western University

Carol Hunsberger, Assistant Professor, Geography, Western University

Eric Desjardins, Associate Professor, Philosophy, Western University

Rianne Mahon, Professor, Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University

Simon Dalby, Professor, Geography and Environmental Studies. Wilfrid Laurier University

Jody Berland, Professor, Department of Humanities, York University

Natasha Myers, Associate Professor, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University

Walter Whiteley, Professor Emeritus, Mathematics and Statistics, York University

Peter Vandergeest, Professor, Geography, York University

Shubhra Gururani, Associate Professor, Anthropology, York University

Santiago Mora, Professor, Anthropology, St. Thomas University

Erica Lawon, Associate Professor, Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, Western University

Sylvia Hale, Retired Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University

Deborah van den Hoonaard, Professor Emeritus, Gerontology, St. Thomas University

Stewart Donovan, Professor, Irish Studies, St. Thomas University

Greg Thorn, Associate Professor, BiologyWestern University

Benjamin Pliska, Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia

Sara Kirk, Professor, Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University

Leslie Smith, Lecturer, English, University of New Brunswick

Kate Neville, Assistant Professor, Political Science, School of the Environment, University of Toronto

Julia MacIsaac, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Alain Deneault, Assistant Professor, Humanities, University of Moncton

Andrea Protzner, Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Calgary

Elizabeth Halpenny, Associate Professor, Kinesthesiology, Sports and Recreation, University of Alberta

Zelma Kiss, Professor, Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary

Shayna Watson, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Queen’s University

If you are an academic working in a Canadian university and would like to add your name to the list, visit academics4xr.ca.