I have been asked to research and choose a person in my community who is passionate about an ecological concerns of mine. My immediate concern is the effect of human activity on environment and climate change.
The person I chose is Steven Guilbeault. He is a long-time climate activist, and a published author, who has been Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change since October 26, 2021.
After studying computer science, he switched to political science. He then became president of his faculty’s student association and took part in activities of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation. He later joined GRIP, a group formed by Ralph Nader, the renowned American consumer advocate. In 1993, Guilbeault helped found ASSED, following the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to their website, the company seeks to motivate and influence people to take action transition towards ecological transition in areas of food and agriculture, transportation and mobility, climate and energy, and production and consumption.
He joined Greenpeace Canada in 1997, and was put in charge of its climate change division. He later became the organizations Quebec bureau chief in 2000. He made news in 2001 when he climbed CN tower with Chris Holden, a British activist and unfurling a banner that read “Canada and Bush Climate Killers", for which he was arrested and charged with mischief.
Guilbeault entered the provincial politics in Quebec and sat in the climate change advisory committees of different Quebec governments. He was then noticed by federal liberal minister, Stephane Dion, who said that Guilbeault "is among the select few in the environmental community with whom it is important to remain in contact, because his reactions and his opinions will count”.
Justin Trudeau appointed Guilbeault as Canada’s minister of heritage in 2019 and as minister of environment and climate change in 2021.
I selected Steven Guilbeault because I find his journey from a student to activist to minister inspiring. I think he is a person with strong climate protection and environmental convictions. He has been instrumental in a number of important government policies such as Oil Sands exploration restrictions and reduction in fertilizer use. These policies can lead to reduction in Canada’s CO2 emissions and the amount of nitrates, phosphates, and potassium in the land and the aquatic ecosystems.
Guilbeaut has a rather active Twitter presence Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault) · Twitter that I follow. He Twits about a variety of topic and policies.
I will continue to follow his Twits, look for his speeches and, hopefully, if I ever meet him, I will ask him about what motivated him to become and environmental activist and seek his advice on how to become a successful activist.
Sources and References
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