Canada is quickly approaching an election where climate change is one of the biggest issues on the table. It should therefore come as no surprise that candidates are under intense scrutiny when it comes to their own carbon footprints. #twoplanetrudeau recently made waves as it came to light that the Liberal Party was using a second Boeing aircraft, mainly to haul cargo as he makes his way across the country to campaign.
The primary justification used by Trudeau and his progressive opponents is that they have purchased carbon offsets, i.e. they have paid a third-party organisation to offset the campaign’s carbon footprint through activities such as planting trees. While this theoretically invalidates any criticism of Trudeau’s use of an additional plane, it fails to adequately deal with the realities of climate change. As carbon taxes and other environmentalist policies necessary for our future wellbeing are enacted, the vast majority of Canadians will be forced to make significant lifestyle changes. This may well mean reducing the frequency of air travel, or, in the Prime Minister’s case, leaving that second plane on the tarmac.
The use of a private plane is perhaps necessary considering the logistics of campaigning in the world’s second-largest nation, but it would be heartening to see our leaders explore alternative strategies. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has reportedly made extensive use of trains and commercial flight as an alternative to frequent private air travel and Bloq leader Yves-François Blanchet moves around his province by bus.
Trudeau and Singh alike are avoiding the new reality the rest of us will have to endure if we want our planet to survive the coming decades. While carbon offsetting is laudable, it is not a realistic strategy for the middle class which will need to significantly reduce its consumption of highly-polluting goods and services, ranging from animal products to cars. It is unlikely that these changes will come voluntarily. Legislation, such as the proposed carbon tax, will be necessary in order to deter pollution and eventually shift the country’s habits. In the meanwhile, however, parties should walk the talk on climate change and be an example to the country of how we can compromise between our short-term wellbeing and our planet’s survival.
This is all, of course, not to criticize the Liberals or the NDP over the alternatives. The Conservatives have very little in terms of a climate action plan, while the People’s Party strongly denies the existence of a problem. #twoplanetrudeau, though it raises important questions about our leadership’s role in the fight against climate change, will be all but forgotten in a week. The dangers of electing an administration that refuses to protect Canadians from climate change will last four years, with potentially permanent repercussions.
