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.
Comments
Not sure that seniors are much different on climate than most voters. A recognition it's a problem, but not enough of a problem to do much that inconveniences them. We're great at normalizing everything, not so good at connecting dots.
Agreed, and I'd also add that David Suzuki waited too long to get "political." He should have jumped on Stephen Harper and what we now call the "cons" for "muzzling scientists." That was the beginning, and quickly became very personal when Suzuki himself became the target of new and burgeoning right-wing hate on the internet.
For me that was the first warning flag that something had fundamentally changed when a bona fide Canadian icon was being so unreasonably and arbitrarily ATTACKED via an internet still seen as wildly hopeful at the time. It was also still considered an appropriate response to "go high when they go low," but who knew how many among us happily LIVE in the latter, and were just waiting for a platform? And turns out they had major pent-up resentment AND a thirst for revenge, even revolution, which they now imagine they are legitimate "warriors" of, wholly destructive though it clearly is?
I DO remember David doing a piece on CBC with Jim Prentice to be fair where he tried to engage on behalf of the environment, but turned out Prentice was one of the moderate and soon to be drummed out PROGRESSIVE conservatives.
Naming an enemy is essential in a war, even a "culture" war, and still hasn't been done despite ever more egregious and dangerous behavior.
Important names like David Suzuki, who could summon not only seniors, but a powerful battalion of scientists and supporters could turn the tide in the face of this existential threat, and it could be as simple as ABC -- ANYTHING But Conservatives.
So what do you think David has been doing for the last almost 50 years?
Rather than digging up past details, how about pressing on with the changes we ALL must make? True, most people in rich countries like Canada do enjoy most of the comforts of a relatively easy life. So how about challenging just that and seeing what we can do without?
You're missing the point. The solutions are political, and have never been more binary when the right wing DOES NOT EVEN ACCEPT the reality of climate change.
Everyone KNOWS that, but the dance of bothsidesism still continues with the warped notion that fair-minded reason will win the day. This when roughly half of us STILL vote for conservatives DESPITE the likes of "leaders" like Trump, Poilievre, Rustad, Scott Moe, Doug Ford etc.
But many holier than thou progressives of the Green and NDP stripe smugly continue to split the vote on our side just so they can "vote their conscience" or some such nonsense. Like voting is just another form of their personal expression under the current circumstances! Clearly, there's plenty of delusion and denialism on all fronts when it comes to human behavior.
This next election will see the Liberals and NDP split vote and be wiped out. They gave to agree to not run candidates against each other
It won't matter, the Liberals may be lucky to get any seats. If the LIBERALS and NDP agree not run candidates against each other then there is some hope. The safe Liberal Montreal sat was won by the Bloc but the progressive Vote split