Submitted by Lesley Hastie
Like the 76 per cent of [polled] Canadians who want governments to do more to mitigate climate change (Ipsos poll, Dec. 2019), I am celebrating the Canadian government’s new legally binding climate action targets. The majority of Canadians believe climate warming is largely man-made, and know that meaningful government action is essential.
However, Canada has missed every climate action target to date. This must not happen again.
Science tells us that the next 10 years is critical if we are to have a hope of keeping global heating below 2⁰C (and hence avoiding irreversible tipping points of accelerating heating feedbacks). For that reason, to make sure we are on target, we should set goals within that 10 year period. Along with organizations such as Ecojustice and the David Suzuki Foundation, I urge the government to establish a legally binding target five years hence, for 2025, and for every five years thereafter. This would allow timely adjustments to make the critical 2030 and 2050 targets a reality.
I also urge the federal government to review its many incentive programs including the $200 million Energy Savings Rebate Program which closed last year as ‘funding has been exhausted’. This program had been making available rebates of up to 25 per cent of the purchase price of energy star appliances, electric vehicle home charging stations, induction stove tops and more. Over 50 per cent of Canada’s emissions come from energy (2018:IPCC).
Some government funding for this and other programs and infrastructure will come from stopping the more than $3.3 billion annual federal subsidies to oil, gas and coal producers (Environmental Defence). Others will come from savings when the economy is transformed, retooled.
As individuals we can also save money, and reduce our carbon footprint too. Transportation accounts for 30 per cent of Canada’s emissions (2018:IPCC) but driving at 100 km an hour instead of 120 km uses 20 per cent less fuel, so saves money and creates 20 per cent less CO2. Reducing energy waste in the home by turning down thermostats in winter, unplugging electronic devices when not in use, washing laundry in cold water all save money and reduce emissions.
Doing nothing about climate change will cost the world economy US$7.9 trillion by 2050 according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, and between $21 to $43 billion a year in Canada. Let’s support our government in meeting its targets to mitigate this most pressing existential threat.
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Leslie, I caution you on some sources for numbers. Take subsidies to oil and gas. The $3.3 B is not a credible number. According to Statistics Canada, they amount to $1.9 billion ($271 million annually) in the seven-year (inclusive) period from 2010 to 2016. https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/analyzing-claims-about-oil-and-gas-subsidies/
Also note, the % of Canadian emissions from combustion of all fuels is~75% (2018) not 50% of all emissions. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions/sources-sinks-executive-summary-2020.html
The do-nothing cost of climate change estimate for Canada at 20 & 40 B$ annually is interesting. To put them into some context, you need to look at the other side of the equation, the transition costs. Just the capital costs of fully transitioning off of fossil fuels (by 2050) for Canada (as many want), is at least 3 to 4 times those amounts, based on my earlier rough calculations (I published in a previous article).
I am not saying a transition to cleaner energy is unneeded. The problem is few have actually studied and published the costs involved. The federal government certainly has not. They have no credible plan (small carbon taxes and minor green energy subsidies is not a plan). Perhaps they will publish one soon, as promised.
A far more pragmatic and affordable approach for Canada is to apply significant CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage) technology, and ramp up nuclear power generation significantly to supply clean power to those sectors that can switch affordably to grid energy. This allows us to responsibly transition where there are affordable alternatives, and where there isn’t, continue to supply our own domestic needs (e.g. feedstocks, heating, industrial process, large scale transportation), rather than having to import oil and gas. This allows us to continue exporting to countries that will need oil and gas (for many many decades to come – e.g. in Asia), providing much need income and jobs for Canada.
Leslie, you are absolutely right. The coronavirus pandemic will kill a few million people and destroy many businesses. But with the apparent success in finding effective vaccines, it will be under control in a year or two in most of the world. Climate change is an even bigger and more difficult threat. It too will kill people and business, and is already destroying homes and expensive infrastructure and causing conflict and mass migration which causes even more conflict.
Unfortunately the pandemic is diverting precious and limited government time and funds away from dealing with climate change. And the same anti-science people who care more about “freedom” than they care about their grandchildren have their heads in the sand about wearing masks and about mitigating climate change.
As soon as a successful Covid-19 vaccination program is underway, we all need to return to the same kind of urgent national and international cooperation for dealing with climate change.
It’s people who create the problem .. period! .. If we are not going to do ‘something’ about the ‘people’ problems we are fighting a losing cause. All this climate change ‘stuff’ works great for city folks but IMHO .. not good for non-city people who enjoy the out door life .. we have rights too!