Hi Friend,

I just wanted to send you a quick note recounting my recent experience as
part of the COP25 international climate conference in Madrid. Those of you
who know me, know that I am committed to honesty so I won't sugarcoat this
for you.

COP25 was a brutal experience. The last several days of it I hardly slept
at all, but neither did anyone trying hard to get to agreement.

We are blocked at this meeting by the negotiators representing Donald
Trump's America, Bolsonaro's Brazil and Morrison's Australia. Canada is no
longer the worst, but we still won a few Fossils of the Day.

WE COULD HAVE SHOWN UP AND MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR CLIMATE ACTION.

I asked Justin Trudeau to come in person. It would have changed the course
of these negotiations to have a few leaders of government show up
unexpectedly to say what needs to be said:

_"We must stop using fossil fuels as quickly as possible."_

Pressed by reporters, Norway's Minister of Climate and the Environment, Ola
Evestuen said: "We have to prepare - we have to cut our own emissions as
fast as we can. We have to stop all use of fossil fuels….. We have to do
this - all countries. And Norway will take its responsibility on this."

IT STRUCK ME HOW STUNNING IT WOULD BE TO HEAR ANY CANADIAN MINISTER SPEAK
SO CLEARLY. 

Yes, Norway is still oil-dependent. Oil represents more than one-third of
Norwegian exports and 12% of its GDP, far more than Canada. Yet, Norway is
willing to say, this must end and we will plan for it and end it.

And, it is ever-clearer how much of a difference more Green seats would
have made. Imagine if when I had asked Trudeau to go to COP25, to bring a
clear statement based in science, he had needed Green votes to hang on to
government.

Will you make a year-end donation to the Green Party today? There will be
chances for Greens to make an impact in this parliament and hold Trudeau to
account, but with only three of us, we need your support to amplify our
message. [1]

There is a real link between Canada's role in the world and Greens in
Parliament. Here in Madrid, the role of Greens is clear. Greens do not
promote the party in ways that would distract from the goal of climate
action, so the role of Green Party ministers is almost invisible. But the
countries with the strongest climate policies are the countries with many
Greens in government. The Green Party Ministers negotiating here in Madrid
represent Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, while the
leadership of the EU - introducing to the EU Parliament this week the EU
Green New Deal - is no doubt impacted by the 74 Green MEPs (about 10% of
the EU Parliament).

I confess that I am still depressed - and likely will be for a long time -
that the citizen's movement for climate action did not make it clear to
voters that our plan "Mission: Possible" was the only one remotely
consistent with the IPCC advice. Maybe I wasn't sufficiently clear. Maybe
we were outgunned by money raised by the other, bigger parties telling
Canadians that the Liberals or the NDP would deliver climate action.

We (sadly) know that is not true.

ONLY GREENS STAY FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN THE SCIENCE. ONLY GREENS ARE PREPARED
TO SAY OUT LOUD: WE MUST STOP USING FOSSIL FUELS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 

So, Monday morning in Spain, as I write this, COP25 has ended - 44 hours
later than the expected last gavel. It failed to reach agreement and fell
far short of what is needed.

As we approach the end of 2019, I have to ask if you can consider making
another donation. [1] Given that this was an election year, you have likely
given the last penny you intend to give.

Fair, enough. We have never raised as much money as we did this year. Thank
you for all your generosity.

But with a minority parliament, we never know when we have to go back to
the polls. I am absolutely convinced that climate action depends on
electing more Greens. Our work must continue. Helping us now - and helping
us later - is much appreciated.

DONATE [1]

Many thanks for all your support, generosity and help of all kinds. Every
hour spent knocking on doors, every donation, every conversation trying to
convince others that only a Green vote is a vote for our future is much
appreciated.

Elizabeth May
Green Party Parliamentary Leader
MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands

-------------------------

Update Your Information [2] | Modifier votre langue [3]

This email was sent to: [email protected]. We believe that emails are
a vital way to stay in direct contact with supporters like you. If you'd
like you can unsubscribe from this type of mailing [4] or opt-out of all
mailings [5]. To contact us please reply to this email.

Our mailing address: PO Box 997, STN B, Ottawa ON, K1P 5R1. Call us
toll-free: 1-866-868-3447

Authorized by the Green Party of Canada Fund, Chief Agent for the Green
Party of Canada.



Links:
------
[1] [link removed]
[2] [link removed]
[3] [link removed]
[4] [link removed]
[5] [link removed]