BY RICHARD BROWN
GUEST OPINION
Among the highlights of the fall session of the legislature was passage of the Climate Leadership Act. This act is most significant because it establishes, for the first time, our ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction into law.
Prince Edward Island has joined with the federal government to achieve the national emissions target under the Paris Agreement. That target is 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. We have said all along that we can meet our targets by reducing our energy consumption.
The Climate Action Plan is focused on helping Islanders reduce carbon emissions while saving money at the same time.
Islanders are to be commended for the steps they have already taken. Prince Edward Island has the second-lowest per capita emissions in Canada. Meeting our target will require annual emissions to decrease to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030. Because of the efforts of Islanders, we are now one-third of the way to meeting that goal.
Government is providing strong support for residents and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
have committed $24 million over the next four years to the low carbon economy fund. Combined with federal contributions, we are supporting Islanders with $48 million to improve the efficiency of their homes and developing ways to reduce emissions on farms and sequestering carbon through reforestation.
Prince Edward Island has reduced the use of heating oil by 40 per cent, from 200 million litres in 2003 to less than 120,000 litres in 2017. We were able to negotiate an exemption from the federal government on heating oil under carbon pricing. Removing the provincial portion of the HST on heating oil is saving Islanders $83 million a year.
Islanders are turning to other sources to heat their homes. The number of heat pumps has increased by 300 per cent this past year. The rebate of the provincial portion of the HST on electricity, propane and wood-based fuels will save Islanders $10 million a year.
Through efficiencyPEI’s incentive programs to reduce energy, Island residents and businesses have saved more than $10 million on their energy bills.
Taken together, these and other initiatives will save Islanders more than $100 million annually over the next five years, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet our target.
Because we are a rural province, we rely on fossil fuels for our vehicles. Technological solutions to reduce the carbon impact of transportation are advancing quickly, but widely available and affordable solutions are not here yet.
Islanders have already shown that when solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are available, they will adopt them. Under the Climate Change Action Plan, and through the Climate Leadership Act, Prince Edward Island will continue to lead the way.
The Climate Action Plan is available on the Prince Edward Island government website.
- Richard Brown is minister of communities, land and environment
