Rather than putting together a real plan for addressing the climate emergency, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has spent millons of tax dollars on a p.r. campaign and court battle against federal government efforts to put a price on carbon pollution
“The current Ontario government isn’t just a dragging their heels when it comes to fighting climate change. They are blocking real action.” – Sarah Buchanan, program manager, Environmental Defence
A News Release from Environmental Defence, a Canada-based advocacy group for environmental protection
Posted Decembert 4th, 2019 on Niagara At Large
A Statement from Sarah Buchanan, Clean Economy Program Manager at Environmental Defence, on the Auditor General’s Annual Report which slams Ontario’s climate change plan –
The Auditor General’s Annual Report, released (this December 4th), confirms that Ontario’s climate change plan falls apart under serious scrutiny.
There is no credible evidence to support, and little reason to believe, that the plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to meet Ontario’s 2030 target, which was significantly weakened last year. A failing climate change plan is terrible news for Ontarians and also jeopardizes Canada’s ability to meets its climate targets.
The current Ontario government isn’t just a dragging their heels when it comes to fighting climate change. They are blocking real action. They fight solutions like carbon pricing in court, quote climate-denying websites, rely on technology that hasn’t been invented yet to reduce emissions, and propose weak plans that let big polluters off the hook.
Along with slashing funding for flood management, tree-planting and so many other environmental and climate-related programs, the Ford government has also cut back on incentives for encouraging people to make the shift to electric cars.
Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change are affecting a growing number of Ontarians.
One of the key takeaways from today’s report is that Ontario’s weak pricing plan for big polluters will result in a feeble one mega tonne of emissions reductions by 2030, about five per cent of their target. If the federal government is considering approving this system to replace their own stronger system, which is already in place, they should reconsider.
The Auditor General has clearly given Ontario’s plan a failing grade, and the federal government should too. Ontario needs to overhaul its weak climate change plan with effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on sound evidence.
To read a New lease issued by the Office of the Auditor General on its December 4th report, click on – http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/19_newsreleases/2019news_overall.pdf
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE ( www.environmentaldefence.ca [https://www.environmentaldefence.ca/] ): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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