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This week provincial premiers met in Quebec City to discuss, among other things, climate change strategies.
Quebec City (18 July 2008) - Frame the discussion for the rest of us at the First Ministers Meeting, the David Suzuki Foundation released a report describing and ranking each of the premiers' efforts toward emissions reductions.
The report says most provinces are stepping up with strong targets and policies to reduce greenhouse gases in the absence of federal leadership on climate change.
“The leadership vacuum at the federal level is being filled with action from the provinces and territories,” said Dale Marshall, report author and a climate change policy analyst with the Suzuki Foundation. “Most provinces and territories realize the urgency of climate change and they are moving ahead on their own to put policies in place to reduce emissions.”
The report, Provincial Power Play: Breaking Away from Federal Inaction on Climate Change, looks at provincial and territorial action on climate change, compares their greenhouse gas emissions, assesses their climate change plans and evaluates their records.
The report finds most provinces have stronger climate change targets and policies than the federal government. Some provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) are leading the pack when it comes to putting real solutions in place. Other provinces and territories (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut) have started taking action but require more effort to move forward. Some (Newfoundland, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan) have weak or vague climate plans. The worst offender (Alberta) has skyrocketing emissions and no plans to decrease them any time soon.
The proof will be in the emission reductions achieved this time next year. It will be time for evaluating the progress of all strategies from carbon taxes and efficiency regulations, to forays into a cap and trade economy and renewable energy schemes.
“The provinces that have good plans need to continue to implement them, and invest the resources required to make their emission goals a reality,” said Ian Bruce, a climate change specialist with the Suzuki Foundation. “Others that are on the cusp of action and leadership have an opportunity to move forward.”
As well, the Suzuki Foundation is calling on the federal government to follow the lead of the provinces and set strong, national standards across Canada (in order to create a level and fair playing field). This is especially important in order to rein in greenhouse gas increases in Alberta.