News Release

Torrance Coste will travel to Paris to advocate for strong climate action at COP21

VICTORIA – This Thursday, the Wilderness Committee’s Vancouver Island Campaigner, Torrance Coste, departs for Paris to attend the highly anticipated UN climate change conference (COP21) as a civil society delegate.

“In my work with the Wilderness Committee, I see the impacts that climate change is already having here in BC, and I know just how critical it is that we act now to address this,” said Coste. “I’m in constant contact with coastal communities and First Nations working to fight off unsustainable industrial projects and create resiliency in an uncertain future, and the opportunity to share these stories and learn from other young climate activists from across the country and the planet is what motivated me to participate in COP21.”

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognizes climate change as a major threat and sets a goal of 2^oC above pre-industrial levels as a maximum global temperature increase. The objective of COP21 is to achieve an international agreement to reach that goal.

“Greenhouse gases don’t respect borders, so international cooperation is needed to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad,” said Coste. “At COP21, world leaders have to choose whether they will acknowledge and provide leadership on the crisis of climate change or turn their backs on a better future for young people like me.”

Coste will be part of the Canadian Youth Delegation, a team of 17 young activists from across Canada. The delegation will attend sessions at COP21 and work with other groups and individuals to demand that Canadian and world leaders commit to meaningful action on climate change by signing a legally binding deal at the conference.

The Wilderness Committee opposes the expansion of tar sands, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal – as well as new fossil fuel export infrastructure – on the basis that investing in these industries locks BC and Canada into an unsustainable and irresponsible economic model. Canada has a key role to play in global efforts to tackle climate change, and the actions taken here at home will have far-reaching implications on the world stage.

Coste departs for Paris on November 26^th. On Sunday, November 29^th, the day before the conference begins, the Wilderness Committee will be participating in solidarity marches in Victoria and Vancouver to coincide with similar marches happening in over 1,600 communities around the world.

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For more information, contact:

Torrance Coste | Vancouver Island Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
1-250-516-9900, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org