{"id":103021,"date":"2021-09-18T10:52:49","date_gmt":"2021-09-18T14:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=103021"},"modified":"2021-09-18T11:03:36","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T15:03:36","slug":"none-of-the-federal-parties-climate-targets-are-achievable-dave-wilkin-commentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/none-of-the-federal-parties-climate-targets-are-achievable-dave-wilkin-commentary\/","title":{"rendered":"None of the federal parties’ climate targets are achievable: Dave Wilkin | Commentary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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I watched the recent leaders debate with some dismay. The format issues and usual rhetoric aside, one topic stood out for me \u2013 climate change and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaders did the expected by saying why their plan was best and the others were inadequate or worse. The discussion seemed to focus on who had the most ambitious aggressive policies and targets, almost like cost no longer mattered\u2026 after all, it\u2019s a climate emergency. The obvious questions were never asked: What will it cost? Is it affordable? Who ends up paying?<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I very much doubt that the experts who validated the parties’ plans have done a full costing either. If they have, then let\u2019s see their analysis, assumptions made, and in particular the details behind the electrical system expansion clearly needed. It shouldn\u2019t be up to voters to try to figure it all out. Cost still matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have written a few articles in the past on this important topic, including estimating just the capital cost needed to build out an expanded electrical system. Here is my updated high-level projection on what these costs may be to achieve a 45 per cent CO\u2082 emissions reduction by 2030. I picked this target as the mid-point between the Conservative Party\u2019s 30 per cent and the Green Party\u2019s 60 per cent targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For full disclosure, my estimate makes these key assumptions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n