Suzuki: Leaders be warned, seniors will vote for climate action

In 1989, when I aired my first The Nature of Things program on “global warming” as we called it back then, I wrote into the script that the problem was a “slow-motion catastrophe.” We had decades to save ourselves — and I thought we would. I never expected to be around to see the catastrophe happen. Or, 35 years later, to be marching with other elderly people, demanding our government take immediate action on the global crisis we now call climate change. 

But earlier this week, on National Seniors Day, I was out marching with thousands of seniors in 76 communities across Canada. Often together with youth, Seniors for Climate repurposed National Seniors Day to make it what we really care about: action on climate and a better future for our kids and grandkids. 

What started as a dream of a few exploded over the summer into a 3,000-plus mailing list and more communities signing on every week. And, when the day came, the media took note — in hundreds of radio, TV and print interviews, seniors got their say to demand action on climate. 

 Nature is showing us very clearly what rising temperatures mean to our planetary home. In B.C. where I live, they mean mountain pine beetle infestations, melting glaciers, firestorms and heat domes. We’ve all seen changes we never expected to see in our lifetime. As a biologist, I never expected to see warm-water squid or giant sunfish in the waters off Haida Gwaii. But I’ve seen them.  

 As the host of The Nature of Things, I had the privilege of reporting on the natural world through a scientific lens for almost 50 years. So, I’m sad to see how little faith we now have in science. Scientists predicted disaster if we didn’t stop burning fossil fuels — and those predictions are coming true. And they’ve shown us how the science of renewables could provide a better future for our kids and grandkids if we switch now.  

But our politicians won’t commit to the switch. They won’t even commit to a cap on emissions now. They won’t commit to stopping the subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.   

 Why? Because politicians don’t see a path to re-election if they go up against Big Oil. Even though the industry has lied to us about the risks of burning fossil fuels for over five decades, it still has huge power. And let’s face it – we all still rely on its product. For now.  

 If politicians won’t commit to the actions we need to save a liveable future, we must help them.  

Toronto Seniors for Climate event on Oct. 1, 2024. Photo by Peter Shepherd

 One in three Canadian voters is over 60. Like those younger, seniors care deeply about action on climate. But unlike kids who can’t vote and young people who vote less often, we almost always vote. That gives us outsize power.  

 On Oct. 1, from Salt Spring Island to Halifax, thousands of us harnessed this senior power to call for a transformation to a future that is free from the destruction caused by burning fossil fuels. We reminded our politicians that we’re a powerful force in a growing global movement for this transformation. And that, in the upcoming provincial and federal elections, we’ll vote for politicians that commit to the policies that we desperately need to build a safer world for our kids, our grandkids and all living things.   

 Science informs us that the transformation to a renewable energy future is possible. Elders like me know from lived experience that such great transformations are possible. A transformation brings with it a huge opportunity. Just like the space race, the race to renewables will create jobs and new technology and huge business opportunities. Now it’s up to our governments to commit to protecting us by leading us through this transformation. That’s their job.   

 We’ll be back to remind them. Later is too late.   

David Suzuki is a founder of Suzuki Elders, one of six partner organizations that came together to create Seniors for Climate.