April 22 is Earth Day – a day to recognize the climate change emergency and the action needed to restore our earth. With the world continuing to head for a catastrophic temperature rise and human caused destruction threatening the earth’s ecosystems needed to sustain life, Earth Day 2023 is an important time to renew our resolve to demand more urgent environmental action from governments, employers and within our communities in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Action to restore our damaged ecosystems and urgently shifting to a more equitable, sustainable economy will safeguard our health in the future and that of our only planet.

2023 is the second Earth Day celebrated within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, which aims to halt the already significant degradation of ecosystems and achieve global goals of restoration on every continent and in every ocean. We are experiencing a dangerous decline in nature, and humans are causing it. The decade coincides with the deadline for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and timeline identified by scientists as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change.

The CUPE Climate Change Emergency Declaration

Acting with urgency on climate change is the defining challenge of our times. CUPE Locals are invited to sign the CUPE Climate Change Emergency Declaration and to act on the steps outlined in the declaration.

Local Unions that sign the environmental declaration are asked to email the CUPE National Office at: enviro@cupe.ca

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

Watch the documentary series: Restore: Stories from the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Visit the UN Environmental Programme to discover the facts related to the global Emissions Gap Report and the progress needed on climate change.