Paris climate change conference sparks Maritime rallies

Hundreds gathered in cities and towns across the Maritimes today calling for new emissions targets ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France scheduled to start Monday.  

In downtown Halifax on Sunday a crowd carried signs and posters chanting, "We are unstoppable, another world is possible."

Their message is targeted at regional representatives who will be among 200 world leaders attending the two-week conference, which takes place from Nov. 30 - Dec. 11. 

Brian Gifford, organizer of the rally in Halifax, says he wants to see governments agree to eliminate the use of fossil fuels by the year 2050. 

"It's really essential that we go a 100 per cent to renewables," Gifford said. "And it's feasible. There's been lots of studies showing it. There's some countries that have already committed to that in that time frame, and Canada needs to commit to that."

Dalhousie student Jayde Tynes will be joining world leaders in Paris for the conference, but not as a certified Canadian delegate.

Tynes is paying her own way to Paris, in hopes of returning to Halifax with new ideas and information about how climate change impacts communities in Nova Scotia. 

"There's a kind of mini-Canada that's happening in Paris right now," Tynes said.

"And the difference between the government leaders, to grassroots activists, to educators, to scientists. It's just so diverse, and  so rich that we're all there for the exact same reason."

Testing grounds in the Maritimes

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be joined by provincial and federal representatives at the conference to try work out what's expected to be the broadest global plan so far to deal with climate change.

Trudeau has said he won't provide new emissions targets in Paris, but he has committed to talking with the premiers within 90 days after the summit to work out a national climate strategy. Trudeau says he's optimistic a deal will be reached during the conference that will unify international efforts. 

Premiers from New Brunswick and P.E.I. will be in attendance. Nova Scotia's acting Environment Minister Randy Delorey will be going in place of Premier Stephen McNeil. New Brunswick's Green Party leader David Coon will also be there.

The conference will represent a turning point for Canada, Coon has said. The economy needs to transition away from fossil fuels, he says, and the Maritime provinces are a good place to start that transition.

"We could become, in a sense, the testing grounds for how to make that energy transition that the entire country is going to have to make, and let's try it here first in the Maritimes," Coon said. 

Climate Change demonstrations took place in cities and towns across the Maritimes, including Antigonish, Chester, and Wolfville, in New Brunswick. Saint John, Hampton, and in Stratford, Prince Edward Island.