On October 23-26, 2009, over 1000 young people from across the country will converge on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift will be two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable to for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This will be the largest-ever gathering of young people on the environment in the history of this country.

At Power Shift Canada, we will deliver our message of change to our elected officials. Youth of all backgrounds will come together to create a fresh, positive, and inspiring vision of the future, one focused on our potential to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, build a clean energy economy, create millions of green jobs, increase global equity, and revitalize our economy. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for boldness. We will accept nothing less from the people with whom we have entrusted our future: our elected officials, and most importantly, ourselves. 2009 will be a year history will remember.

Strategic timing

There are two key events on the political and environmental horizon: the 15th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009, and the G8 Leaders’ Summit in Huntsville, ON in July 2010. The Canadian public values international leadership and expects to see Canada taking progressive, principled positions on the global stage. Unfortunately, at present there is a disconnect between belief and reality when it comes to perceptions of Canada’s negotiating position on climate change. While a majority of Canadians want the federal government to take bold actions, many are unaware that Canada is an international laggard in this regard. Power Shift will play a key role in directing the attention of media and Canadian society to our government’s role at both events, and in setting expectations for leadership that we can be proud of.

Power Shift: A Global Phenomenon

Power Shift Canada will join a formidable global movement of young people who are stepping up our leadership on climate. In 2007 the United States’ Energy Action Coalition held the first-ever national youth summit to solve the climate crisis Power Shift 2007 (http://powershift07.org/) which brought over 5,000 young Americans from all over the country together and created a shift in the national climate movement. Power Shift 2009 (www.powershift09.org) brought an unprecedented 12,000 to Capital Hill. In July of 2009, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition will bring 4,000 young Australians together at their country’s first Power Shift, and the United Kingdom will do the same in August of 2009.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact Tria at powershift@powershiftcanada.org

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Amara or Shawn at volunteer@powershiftcanada.org