Congratulations to prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau on forming a new government! Of his many commitments during the campaign, we are especially concerned about and support those dealing with climate change.
We agree with the statement on the Liberal Party website that: “Climate change is an immediate and significant threat to our communities and our economy.” We hasten to add that the science also says that the GHGs that are “in the pipe” — that is those we emitted yesterday and those we are emitting today — will have a significant incremental threat to our communities and economy in the future.
The additional emissions expected tomorrow will make things worse and could be catastrophic if we do not act quickly to reduce those emissions.
Current reduction commitments or Intended National Determined Contributions made in preparation for the Paris meetings are insufficient to hold GHG emissions below 450 ppm, the limit scientists confirm is necessary to hold global warming to less than two degrees Celsius.
If, as Trudeau suggests in the Liberal platform, Canada is to repair its international reputation and become a leader on the world stage, it needs to lead by example at home. Canada needs to have deeper GHG reduction targets than those offered by the previous government and an earlier time frame.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby supports Trudeau’s commitment to have a plan to deliver those deeper and earlier emissions targets, including measurable objectives, doable plans that deliver those objectives and a strong program of carbon pricing (which is also supported by the IMF and World Bank) — all with an effective monitoring system.
We favour an incrementally rising national price on carbon. Specifically carbon fee-and-dividend can reduce GHG emissions while creating jobs and protecting the poor and middle class during our transition to a decarbonized economy. Carbon fee-and-dividend can make what might be perceived as a challenging transition a positive change that will directly benefit middle and low income earners.
Mike Geisler, Ron Robinson, Laura Sacks, Jan Inglis, Judy O’Leary, Michael Jessen, Ashley McWhirter, Dona and Paul Grace-Campbell, Clinton Swanson, Al Auringer, Anni Holtby
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Nelson-West Kootenay Chapter