Letter to send to council members (feel free to make it personal): 

Dear honourable Councillor

Like many in BC, I am worried about our future. We have already seen the devastating impact of climate change with more fires, floods and killer heat domes, both here and all across the world. I watched as families lost their homes or even their whole town. We saw the impact on our economy as supply chains broke down and businesses were damaged or had to close to keep their staff safe. The most terrifying part is this is just the beginning.

A few generations ago we faced a global threat of nuclear annihilation, and it was a grassroots effort, led by ordinary people, that called for a global "no nukes" treaty to protect us all. That Treaty did happen and, while it wasn't perfect, it did a lot to move us to a much safer place. It's time to use that model and get ourselves a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, one based on three important principles:

• Non proliferation (end subsidies, no approvals for expansions/new projects)
• Fair phase out (making sure those who contributed most and who can best afford it take the lead)
• Just transition (helping all workers and communities shift to a green economy)

We know we can't keep on our present course: the International Committee on Climate Change has said that present production rates are 200% of what we can safely consume. That means we need to actually stop production and leave some oil in the soil; if we don't we will condemn many millions or maybe even billions to homelessness and possible starvation.

Of course it's not reasonable or safe to "turn off the taps" on oil and gas instantly. Too many lives are dependent on the energy systems we have in place. But we need our leaders to act together and push for brave and decisive action to get us off of fossil fuels as fast as we safely can. The data shows that green energy will give us lots of good jobs for a long time to come, with much lower risks for workers and communities, which is good news indeed when we can see that our businesses, homes and even lives depend on changing our economy quickly. Cities are already bearing the financial burden of mitigation and we just can't keep up with all the extra insurance and repairs from damage as well as soaring costs from health impacts.

This is why I am asking you to join Victoria, Vancouver, Powell River, Richmond, New Westminster, Port Moody, Burnaby, the Islands Trusts and the districts of North Van and West Van, as well as 3 BC unions who support UBCM resolution NR42 in favour of endorsing a call for this treaty. Globally there are thousands of scientists and more than 60 cities and regions that are calling on their governments to move it forward, with new ones joining every day ( https://fossilfueltreaty.org/). Perhaps it is time we can look at getting it passed locally as well!

Our children and grandchildren deserve to have a safe and healthy BC.

RESOLUTION NR42 Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty

Whereas many local governments have adopted Community Energy and Emissions Plans with policies sufficient to locally achieve the deep GHG reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and have amply demonstrated commitment to climate action through advancing low-carbon or zero-carbon initiatives and implementing advanced flood protection, drainage, and diking projects, as applicable;
And whereas it is increasingly evident that oil and gas producers are seeking to indefinitely extend the production and consumption of fossil fuels rather than allow a transition to low or zero GHG energy sources, in significant part through the expanded use of subsidies, thereby diverting needed resources from energy efficiency, renewable energy and low-GHG electrification;
And whereas an exclusive focus by senior governments on setting limits on GHG emissions rather than on the fossil fuels producing these emissions now threatens to undermine climate action at the local level:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to expeditiously follow through on its CleanBC commitment to enact a GHG emissions cap for natural gas utilities, and to support the objectives of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, to:

1. end new exploration and production, including an end to the use of subsidies to artificially increase the supply of, and demand for, fossil fuels;
2. set limits directly on fossil fuel production so as to set out a measured and predictable phase out of existing stockpiles and production of fossil fuels; and
3. accelerate a just and equitable transition to support workers and communities dependent on fossil fuels.

Thank you for your support and help.

Sincerely,

(Insert your name)

other letters and outreach

We have a group who are doing presentations to students - if you would like to have them come to a school near you, please call on us!  

Plus we have an open letter going to councils that you can use to gather signatures.  

RESOURCES: Sample letters to editor and summary of the campaign to share and online