Wondering how you can get more involved in efforts to safeguard nature, communities and the climate through law?
Check out this page for information and opportunities to take action by attending events, contacting decision-makers, participating in government processes and more.
Sign the Parliamentary petition urging the federal government to establish a new biodiversity accountability law.
Across Canada, nature and wildlife are facing intense pressures – including the loss of forests and wildlife habitat, harmful industrial activities, pollution and climate change. Despite international commitments to safeguard biodiversity, our current laws and policies simply aren’t cutting it when it comes to protecting the species and places we hold dear.
On June 23, in the middle of what is expected to be the busiest cruise ship season ever on the west coast, Canada finally announced a new legal order imposing stronger restrictions on dumping from cruise ships in Canadian waters.
No matter where we come from, most of us want to care for the coast and ocean and the wildlife that call them home, and to leave a more abundant future for those to come.
To make sure this happens, coastal Indigenous nations, Canada and BC have released a plan to protect vast swaths of the ocean on the north and central coast of BC.
In July, Canada released a discussion paper outlining options and considerations for establishing a cap on oil and gas sector emissions, as part of its strategy for reaching its 2030 reductions target and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The discussion paper follows an announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau at the 26th United Nations climate summit in 2021 that Canada would impose a hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector.
“We are going to sue Big Oil,” noted journalist Avi Lewis told us. “This is an historic moment, and you are going to be able to tell everyone you were here when it began.”
Environmental racism is a widespread problem in Canada, affecting many Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities across the country. These communities are disproportionately exposed to polluting industries and other environmental hazards, and are also frequently excluded from environmental decision-making and the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
For decades, Canadians across different sectors of the economy have been working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. From agriculture to construction, to our household carbon footprints, people in Canada are ready to do their part for the climate – and now it is Big Oil’s turn.
Take action: Show your support for a new BC law to safeguard nature and ecosystem health
**TRIGGER WARNING**
I am a staff lawyer at West Coast and I work with our Access to Justice and RELAW (Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water) Programs. I am a mother, I am a daughter, and I am the granddaughter of Lottie and Isaac Lindley, who both attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Secwépemc Territory. I also work in the building and my office is #215.