26 September 2019

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS GROUP (SSG) SUPPORTS YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKE

Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax – Sustainability Solutions Group (Canadian Co-op), a leading local government climate change planning consultancy, will suspend services and join young people in their Global Climate Strike actions around the world on September 27th, 2019.

“SSG supports the actions of young people around the world who are demanding action on the climate crisis,” said Yuill Herbert, SSG Principal. “The urgent need for action is evident in our work every single day.”

Municipalities across Canada are increasingly declaring climate emergencies. SSG is supporting several in developing plans to respond to these declarations.

“Meaningful action to prevent dangerous climate change requires political courage and our analysis indicates that there are few downsides,” said Mel de Jager, SSG Principal. “Reducing climate change will create new jobs, people will feel healthier, and household and business energy costs will go down.”

SSG members will show solidarity with youth climate strikers, adding our voices to demand action from provincial and federal governments to end fossil fuel use.

“Supporting the climate strike is imperative for every single person on this planet,” said Naomi Devine, SSG Communications Director. “Now is the time to work for a climate-friendly future for all.”

The following co-operatives and democratically run businesses in Canada will be joining SSG on September 27th by supporting planned Climate Strike actions in their communities:

• The Agency for Co-operative Housing
• Affinity Bridge
• Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
• CanTrust Hosting Co-operative
• CoEnergy Co-operative
• Pathway to Paris
• Realize Strategies
• La Siembra Co-operative
• Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative
• SolarShare
• Urbane Cyclist Worker Co-op
• Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-operative
• WhatIf? Technologies
• 1000 Cities for Carbon Freedom

About SSG

SSG is one of Canada’s leading climate change planning consultancy for local governments. Since 2004, SSG has completed community energy and emissions plans and climate action plans for more than sixty municipalities, including some of the most innovative projects in North America. Our work encompasses over a quarter of the Canadian population.

We have offices across Canada, including in Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. SSG was founded youth climate movement leaders and is incorporated as a workers cooperative, differentiating ourselves from conventional businesses in terms of governance, transparency, democratic participation, and contribution to community.

About the Global Climate Strike

Young people have woken up much of the world with their powerful Fridays for Future school strikes for the climate. As we deal with devastating climate breakdown and hurtle towards dangerous tipping points, young people are calling on all of us across the planet to disrupt business as usual by joining the Global Climate Strikes on September 20, just ahead of a UN emergency climate summit, and again on September 27.

Together, we will sound the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option. The climate crisis won’t wait, so neither will we.

For more information on the Climate Strike, please visit: https://globalclimatestrike.net/

About Climate Emergencies

List of Governments who have declared climate emergencies:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tb-LklFWLujYnjmCSvCWRcLUJCCWAL27dKPzVcFq9 CQ/edit#gid=0

About Worker Co-operatives in Canada

Worker co-operatives are businesses that are owned and democratically controlled by their members. The main purpose of a worker co-operative is to provide employment for its members through operating an enterprise that follows the Co-operative Principles and Values. When new employees join the business, after a successful probationary period they are encouraged to apply for membership. The worker co-op is, in principle, designed to provide benefits not just to the founding members but also to all future employee/members.

For more information, please see this resource from the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation: https://canadianworker.coop/about/what-is-a-worker-co-op/

-30-

Media Contacts

Naomi Devine

SSG Communications Director

778-676-7041

Yuill Herbert 

SSG Principal

250-213-9029