SINCE TIME BEGAN : IN TRUTH WE TRUST
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NEWS
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Ontario Releases New Climate
Change Action Plan
Plan Charts Course to an Innovative, Low-Carbon
Economy
June 8, 2016 9:00 A.M.
Building on Ontario's landmark climate change legislation, the plan will ensure that proceeds from the province's recently finalized cap and trade program are invested in a transparent and accountable way back into green projects that will help households and businesses reduce greenhouse gas pollution and save on their energy costs.
The plan outlines the key actions the government will take to combat climate change, create good jobs in clean tech and construction, increase consumer choice and generate opportunities for investment in Ontario, including:
- Establishing a green bank that would help homeowners
and businesses access and finance energy-efficient technologies to reduce
greenhouse gas pollution from buildings.
- Creating a cleaner transportation system by addressing
greenhouse gas pollution from cars on the road today, increasing the
availability of zero-emission vehicles on the road tomorrow, deploying
cleaner trucks and making transit more available.
- Halting the ongoing rise in building-related emissions
by giving Ontarians more choices, incentives and tools to make the right
energy choice for their homes and businesses, by providing better
information about energy use by buildings and homes, and making new
buildings increasingly energy efficient over time.
- Making Ontario one of the easiest and most affordable
jurisdictions in North America for homeowners and businesses to install or
retrofit clean-energy systems like solar, battery storage, advanced
insulation and heat pumps, while helping to protect and support low-income
households, vulnerable communities and many renters from the cost impacts
of carbon pricing.
- Supporting a carbon market that drives the lowest-cost
greenhouse gas emission reductions. Actions in this plan, supported by cap
and trade proceeds, will help business and industry make investments that
reduce greenhouse gas pollution. This will help save energy costs, improve
productivity and global competitiveness, and protect and create jobs.
- Working in partnership with First Nations and Métis
communities to address climate change, with actions guided by Traditional
Ecological Knowledge, and helping to build capacity in these communities
to participate in the economic opportunities that may arise from these
actions.
- Building on progress, leading by example and acting on
opportunities to make government operations carbon neutral. Ontario will
achieve this by reducing greenhouse gas pollution across our facilities,
operations and procurement.
- Ensuring that natural, agricultural and forested lands
are used in ways that are efficient, sustainable and enhance the removal
and storage of carbon from the atmosphere while working with Ontario's
waste sector to leverage different practices and technologies to capture
greenhouse gas pollution that would otherwise be released into the air.
The Climate Change Action Plan builds on Ontario's leadership in the fight against climate change, including setting a 2030 mid-term target for greenhouse gas pollution reduction, hosting the successful Climate Summit of the Americas in July 2015, ending coal-fired electricity generation, and electrifying and improving Ontario's commuter rail network.
Fighting climate change while supporting growth, efficiency and productivity is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUOTES
" Ontario is a world leader in the fight against climate change. We are
committed to creating a low-carbon economy that will drive innovation, create
more opportunities for business and industry, and generate high-value jobs. Our
government’s Climate Change Action Plan is laying the foundation for cleaner
air, a healthier environment, a stronger economy and a better future for our
children and grandchildren." - Kathleen Wynne
Premier of Ontario
" Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan will create good jobs, help people and businesses reduce their carbon footprint, save money and accelerate a shift to a more sustainable society. Through the plan, Ontarians and the government are doing their part in the global effort to fight climate change."
- Glen Murray
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario expects to generate up to $1.8 billion to $1.9
billion per year in proceeds from its cap and trade program, which will be
deposited into a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account.
- Every dollar in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account
will be responsibly and transparently invested into actions that directly
reduce greenhouse gas pollution, create jobs, and help people and
businesses shift to a low-carbon economy.
- Ontario intends to link its cap and trade program with
Québec and California’s under the Western Climate Initiative.
- Ontario’s environmental and clean technology sector is
made up of 3,000 firms, employs 65,000 people, and is worth an estimated
$8 billion in annual revenues and $1 billion in export earnings.
LEARN MORE
- Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan
- Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy
- Ontario’s Cap and Trade Program
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