Fredericton declares climate emergency

Fredericton – On March 27th of this year, the city of Fredericton officially declared a climate emergency following calls from local students, concerned Frederictonians, and New Brunswick Green Party leaders.

A crowd gathered together for a climate rally in Fredericton (Photo: Erin Hurley)

The latest student-organized climate rally in Fredericton on March 21st called for the city to adopt a climate emergency. Many municipalities in the province have already done this, and local environmental advocates argued that it was high time for the capital city to follow suit. On March 27th, it became the last capital city in Atlantic Canada to make this declaration.

“It’s just a way for the community to be aware that we are in tune with things that need to change in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions and basically become a better stewardship for the community,” said Kevin Darrah, chair of the environment committee and councillor for Ward 7.

People listening to speakers at a climate rally (Photo: Erin Hurley).

Following this, there was a legislative session in which Green Party MLA Megan Mitton requested that Premier Blaine Higgs support her motion to declare a province-wide climate emergency. She was met with little response during the meeting. 

Mitton is ultimately concerned with the social injustices associated with the climate crisis. 

“Climate breakdown touches every part of the world, and every system. The current system we have does not treat people fairly, and I’m worried that the rich will continue to get richer, the poor will continue to get poorer, and that these environmental pressures will exacerbate inequalities that already exist,” Mitton said.

The bookcase in the office of Dr. Janice Harvey, the coordinator of the Environment and Society department at St. Thomas University. Some titles that can be seen are “Environmentalism” and “Call to Action” (Photo: Erin Hurley).

Students at St. Thomas University and the University of New Brunswick have collaborated on organizing climate rallies in the city of Fredericton for multiple years now. These rallies have seen speakers from the Sustainability Society at St. Thomas, as well as other members of the community such as New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon and Wolastoq Grand Chief Ron Tremblay. 

Last year’s climate rally that focuses on issues of divestment and climate change policies (Photo: Erin Hurley).

These rallies call for the New Brunswick to improve public transportation and commit to the transition away from fossil fuels and, more recently, declare a climate emergency. 

“Sustainability is important because, I mean, looking at the climate crisis… to think that sustainability is not the future, I think, personally, would be a mistake—to think that it’s not part of the solution,” said Tyler Dupuis, former chair of STU Sustainability.

Tyler Dupuis, former chair of STU Sustainability Society (Photo: Erin Hurley).

Last year’s climate rally focused heavily on the need for the universities to stop investing in the fossil fuel industry. 

Dupuis added, “Sustainability and divestment are important because both of them involve the future, right? And it’s important nowadays because it’s our future, you know, it’s personal.”

Frederictonian that attended last year’s climate rally (Photo: Erin Hurley).

Another climate rally in November of 2022 called on the New Brunswick government to make the necessary changes needed in the face of the climate crisis. There were many speakers from STU Sustainability, including Chair Tabitha Evans and Olivia Gould. 

“Taking part in last November’s climate rally was such an inspiring experience. I found that each speaker spoke from the heart, and there was this feeling of solidarity,” said Olivia Gould, a member of STU Sustainability Society.

Olivia Gould, member of STU Sustainability Society, who gave a speech at the climate rally in November 2022 (Photo: Erin Hurley).

Individuals often feel feelings of helplessness and anxiety due to crises we are facing today like biodiversity loss and climate change. However, these issues can also offer opportunities for bringing communities together in the pursuit of positive change.

St. Thomas University students at a climate rally (Photo: Erin Hurley).

“Though climate change is real and terrifying, events like these make me so hopeful for the future,” Gould said.