About

Background

In recent years, the true impact of human activity on climate change has become more clear. Accordingly, environmental sustainability has become a top priority for Canadians and polls reveal that Canadians have high expectations for government action.

As with the peace and civil rights movements, students have played a critical role in the environmental movement for decades. Through organisations such as the Canadian Federation of Students, Sierra Youth Coalition, and the David Suzuki Foundation students are mobilising across Canada to put pressure on politicians to take action on environmental issues.

Our Vision

December 2007 marked the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol. Although Canada committed to reducing its emissions by 6% by 2007, greenhouse gas emissions have actually increased by 20%. At the United Nations Climate Conference in Bali in 2007, Canada’s chief negotiator, Pierre-Marc Johnson, admitted that Canada lacks credibility on climate change. To counter this inaction, members of the Canadian Federation of Students developed a national campus tour in fall 2008 to highlight the actions students can take in support of the environment, to encourage students to get involved with sustainability initiatives and to pressure the federal government to take action against climate change.

The Objective

In partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation and the Sierra Youth Coalition, the fall 2008 Students for Sustainability Campus Tour will visit 21 campuses in 30 days and will send one clear message to government: students want action now.

Our Committment

Members of the Canadian Federation of Students have long prioritized environmental and social sustainability as an issue of importance for the organisation. Student unions from across the country have come together and formed policy and practice within the organisation to ensure that all of our materials and operations are as sustainable as possible.

For example, all of the paper materials produced for this campaign are produced on tree-less paper (100% recycled) using vegetable-based inks and processed chlorine-free. The paper stock is taken from trees forested using the most sustainable practices in Canada (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council). The buttons can be recycled after use.