Ontario Releases New Climate Change Strategy

• Province Charts Course to a Prosperous, Low-Carbon Future

“Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time (and) it’s imperative we take action on all fronts to effectively reduce greenhouse gas pollution while building a stronger economy.” –  Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

News from the Government of Ontario

Queen’s Park, November 24^th, 2015 – Ontario took the next step in the fight against climate change today by releasing the province’s Climate Change Strategy. The strategy lays out the government’s vision for securing a healthy, clean and prosperous low-carbon future by transforming the way we live, move, work and adapt to our environment.

The strategy also supports Ontario’s proposed cap and trade program, which will help Ontario meet its emissions reduction targets, reward innovative companies and ensure that households and businesses thrive as the province transitions to a low-carbon economy.

Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy outlines the steps the government will take, including:

• Introducing climate legislation that, if passed, would establish a long-term framework for action and make the cap and trade program law in Ontario.
• Integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation considerations into government decision-making and infrastructure planning.
• Introducing changes to government operations, procurement, employee training, building retrofits and in other areas to help government move towards carbon neutrality.
• Developing a coordinated approach to reduce emissions from new and existing buildings.
• Reducing emissions from transportation by promoting the uptake of zero emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The government will also release a detailed five-year action plan in 2016, which will include specific commitments to meet near-term 2020 emissions reduction targets, and establish the framework necessary to meet targets for 2030 and 2050. The government will report on, and renew, its action plan every five years.

The Ontario Climate Change Strategy builds on Ontario’s leadership in the fight against climate change, including setting a 2030 mid-term target for greenhouse gas pollution reduction, hosting the successful Climate Summit of the Americas in July 2015, working with industry and other partners on the design of a cap and trade program, ending coal-fired electricity generation, and electrifying and improving Ontario’s commuter rail network.

Premier Kathleen Wynne will promote Ontario’s leadership and success in climate change action when she joins the Prime Minister and Canada’s Premiers at COP21 in Paris next week.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions while supporting growth, efficiency and productivity is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUICK FACTS

• Combatting climate change creates new economic opportunities in renewable energy and clean technologies. Ontario’s environmental and clean technology sector has 3,000 firms, employs 65,000 people, and is worth an estimated $8 billion in annual revenues and $1 billion in export earnings.
• According to the Conference Board of Canada, every $100 million invested in Ontario in climate-related technologies is estimated to increase GDP by $107 million and create 1,400 new jobs.
• Ontario has the fastest-growing cleantech sector in Canada.
• In just 10 years, the province has become a North American leader in the development, use and manufacturing of clean energy.
• A Canada2020 poll shows that 84 per cent of Canadians believe that prosperous countries such as Canada have an obligation to show international leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• In May 2015, Ontario became the first province in Canada to set a mid-term greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 37 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030. Climate Change Discussion PaperWhat You Can Do to Fight Climate ChangeComment on Ontario’s Preliminary Cap and Trade Program DesignNovember 24, 2015
•  

Support for Climate Chhange Strategy – November 24, 2015

“The Government of Ontario is moving forward with an ambitious plan to address climate change. The David Suzuki Foundation has long said this problem requires greater use of public transit and zero-emission vehicles; the development of green infrastructure; and an “all-of-government” approach which sees climate protection as a responsibility of every ministry. We’re gratified this is very much the Government of Ontario’s thinking as well.”  — Peter Robinson, CEO, The David Suzuki Foundation

“We all need to be part of climate change solutions. General Motors Canada is proud to be working with the Province of Ontario and our customers to deliver low GHG urban transportation solutions for the future ranging from our electric vehicles to smart investments in multi-modal transportation infrastructure systems.” — David W. Paterson, Vice President, Corporate & Environmental Affairs, General Motors of Canada and Chair, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

“With this Climate Strategy, Ontario has reconfirmed its dedication to transitioning to a low-carbon, clean economy, and capturing the many benefits this transition offers. Just as closing the coal plants saw smog days become a thing of the past and the Green Energy Act established Ontario as Canada’s clean tech leader, this strategy will help position Ontario to realize a healthier, more prosperous future. We look forward to working with the government to develop the details of a strong plan for action in the months ahead.” — Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence

“Both mitigation and adaptation must be part of an effective climate change strategy in order to protect Ontarians and our economy. This is why we strongly support the government’s intention to integrate adaptation considerations into decision-making and infrastructure planning.”— Doug DeRabbie, Director, Government Relations, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada

“Climate change is the public health challenge of our time. It is already claiming lives with extreme heat, insect-borne diseases, droughts and floods. We must take dramatic steps to slow climate change; to save lives; to protect health.” — Kim Perrotta, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)

“Ontario’s climate strategy is an industrial blueprint that fuses environmental progress with economic growth, positioning the province to be a go-to global jurisdiction for low carbon investment.” — Toby Heaps, CEO, Corporate Knights

“The measures outlined in today’s climate change strategy will continue to build on Ontario’s past climate leadership. In particular, we are encouraged to see the province outline steps to reduce emissions from its largest source, the transportation sector. We look forward to working with Ontario to ensure carbon emissions are explicitly considered in transportation, land-use planning and infrastructure decision making going forward.”  — Eli Angen, Ontario Director, Pembina Institute

“This is a timely and important initiative. Energy storage can play a key role in supporting Ontario’s climate change strategy by storing excess energy from carbon-free generation to be used when needed instead of carbon-emitting generation. Ontario’s energy storage sector is on the leading edge of the low-carbon economy bringing clean-tech innovation, economic development and jobs together to address climate change.” — Patricia Phillips, Executive Director, Energy Storage Ontario

“Ontario’s low emitting electricity grid means that electrification can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. By combining ambitious targets with support for EV charging and clean tech innovation in the auto sector, Ontario is to be commended for positioning itself to be among the leaders in the global shift to low emission and electric vehicles “— Cara Clairman, President and CEO of Plug’n Drive

“The Canadian Solar Industries Association is very pleased to see continued progress on the development of climate change policy in Ontario. The solar industry has already contributed to Ontario’s phase out of coal generation which has been North America’s single largest action on climate change. As a distributed source of electricity, heating and cooling, solar can continue to play a role in emission reductions in our communities, industries, buildings the transportation sector as we transition to the low-carbon economy envisioned in the Climate Strategy.” — John Gorman, President, Canadian Solar Industries Association

“The Canada Green Building Council commends Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy and the inclusion of highly-efficient buildings and high-density, transit-oriented communities as effective measures to reach carbon reduction targets. Building on our work with Ontario to develop a national energy benchmarking program, the CaGBC welcomes Ontario’s support of net zero construction and will be leading a net zero national initiative and assessment process. This is in addition to encouraging the uptake of the LEED rating system which supports energy-efficiency and the use of low-carbon building materials — an important element on the road to net zero.” — Thomas Mueller, President and CEO, Canada Green Building Council 

Read the whole Strategey by clicking on –   Read Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy

Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.

(NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)