President Obama's Address at the Opening Session of COP21

In a passionate plea for climate action at the opening session of COP21, US President Barack Obama called on world leaders and delegates to resolve their differences and deliver a global agreement. 

Here is the full text of Obama's speech, courtesy of the White House:

President Hollande, Mr. Secretary General, fellow leaders. We have come to Paris to show our resolve.

We offer our condolences to the people of France for the barbaric attacks on this beautiful city. We stand united in solidarity not only to deliver justice to the terrorist network responsible for those attacks but to protect our people and uphold the enduring values that keep us strong and keep us free. And we salute the people of Paris for insisting this crucial conference go on -- an act of defiance that proves nothing will deter us from building the future we want for our children. What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it?

Nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week -- a declaration that for all the challenges we face, the growing threat of climate change could define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. What should give us hope that this is a turning point, that this is the moment we finally determined we would save our planet, is the fact that our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it.

Our understanding of the ways human beings disrupt the climate advances by the day. Fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have occurred since the year 2000 -- and 2015 is on pace to be the warmest year of all. No nation -- large or small, wealthy or poor -- is immune to what this means.

This summer, I saw the effects of climate change firsthand in our northernmost state, Alaska, where the sea is already swallowing villages and eroding shorelines; where permafrost thaws and the tundra burns; where glaciers are melting at a pace unprecedented in modern times. And it was a preview of one possible future -- a glimpse of our children’s fate if the climate keeps changing faster than our efforts to address it. Submerged countries. Abandoned cities. Fields that no longer grow. Political disruptions that trigger new conflict, and even more floods of desperate peoples seeking the sanctuary of nations not their own.

That future is not one of strong economies, nor is it one where fragile states can find their footing. That future is one that we have the power to change. Right here. Right now. But only if we rise to this moment. As one of America’s governors has said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.”

I’ve come here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest economy and the second-largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it.

Over the last seven years, we’ve made ambitious investments in clean energy, and ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions. We’ve multiplied wind power threefold, and solar power more than twentyfold, helping create parts of America where these clean power sources are finally cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. We’ve invested in energy efficiency in every way imaginable. We’ve said no to infrastructure that would pull high-carbon fossil fuels from the ground, and we’ve said yes to the first-ever set of national standards limiting the amount of carbon pollution our power plants can release into the sky.

The advances we’ve made have helped drive our economic output to all-time highs, and drive our carbon pollution to its lowest levels in nearly two decades.

But the good news is this is not an American trend alone. Last year, the global economy grew while global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels stayed flat. And what this means can’t be overstated. We have broken the old arguments for inaction. We have proved that strong economic growth and a safer environment no longer have to conflict with one another; they can work in concert with one another.

And that should give us hope. One of the enemies that we'll be fighting at this conference is cynicism, the notion we can't do anything about climate change. Our progress should give us hope during these two weeks -- hope that is rooted in collective action.

Earlier this month in Dubai, after years of delay, the world agreed to work together to cut the super-pollutants known as HFCs. That's progress. Already, prior to Paris, more than 180 countries representing nearly 95 percent of global emissions have put forward their own climate targets. That is progress. For our part, America is on track to reach the emissions targets that I set six years ago in Copenhagen -- we will reduce our carbon emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. And that's why, last year, I set a new target: America will reduce our emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels within 10 years from now.

So our task here in Paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework for human progress -- not a stopgap solution, but a long-term strategy that gives the world confidence in a low-carbon future.

Here, in Paris, let’s secure an agreement that builds in ambition, where progress paves the way for regularly updated targets -- targets that are not set for each of us but by each of us, taking into account the differences that each nation is facing.

Here in Paris, let’s agree to a strong system of transparency that gives each of us the confidence that all of us are meeting our commitments. And let’s make sure that the countries who don’t yet have the full capacity to report on their targets receive the support that they need.

Here in Paris, let’s reaffirm our commitment that resources will be there for countries willing to do their part to skip the dirty phase of development. And I recognize this will not be easy. It will take a commitment to innovation and the capital to continue driving down the cost of clean energy. And that’s why, this afternoon, I’ll join many of you to announce an historic joint effort to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation on a global scale.

Here in Paris, let’s also make sure that these resources flow to the countries that need help preparing for the impacts of climate change that we can no longer avoid. We know the truth that many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its most destructive effects. For some, particularly island nations -- whose leaders I’ll meet with tomorrow -- climate change is a threat to their very existence. And that’s why today, in concert with other nations, America confirms our strong and ongoing commitment to the Least Developed Countries Fund. And tomorrow, we’ll pledge new contributions to risk insurance initiatives that help vulnerable populations rebuild stronger after climate-related disasters.

And finally, here in Paris, let’s show businesses and investors that the global economy is on a firm path towards a low-carbon future. If we put the right rules and incentives in place, we’ll unleash the creative power of our best scientists and engineers and entrepreneurs to deploy clean energy technologies and the new jobs and new opportunities that they create all around the world. There are hundreds of billions of dollars ready to deploy to countries around the world if they get the signal that we mean business this time. Let’s send that signal.

That’s what we seek in these next two weeks. Not simply an agreement to roll back the pollution we put into our skies, but an agreement that helps us lift people from poverty without condemning the next generation to a planet that’s beyond its capacity to repair. Here, in Paris, we can show the world what is possible when we come together, united in common effort and by a common purpose.

And let there be no doubt, the next generation is watching what we do. Just over a week ago, I was in Malaysia, where I held a town hall with young people, and the first question I received was from a young Indonesian woman. And it wasn’t about terrorism, it wasn’t about the economy, it wasn’t about human rights. It was about climate change. And she asked whether I was optimistic about what we can achieve here in Paris, and what young people like her could do to help.

I want our actions to show her that we’re listening. I want our actions to be big enough to draw on the talents of all our people -- men and women, rich and poor -- I want to show her passionate, idealistic young generation that we care about their future.

For I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that there is such a thing as being too late. And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us. But if we act here, if we act now, if we place our own short-term interests behind the air that our young people will breathe, and the food that they will eat, and the water that they will drink, and the hopes and dreams that sustain their lives, then we won't be too late for them.

And, my fellow leaders, accepting this challenge will not reward us with moments of victory that are clear or quick. Our progress will be measured differently -- in the suffering that is averted, and a planet that's preserved. And that’s what’s always made this so hard. Our generation may not even live to see the full realization of what we do here. But the knowledge that the next generation will be better off for what we do here -- can we imagine a more worthy reward than that? Passing that on to our children and our grandchildren, so that when they look back and they see what we did here in Paris, they can take pride in our achievement.

Let that be the common purpose here in Paris. A world that is worthy of our children. A world that is marked not by conflict, but by cooperation; and not by human suffering, but by human progress. A world that’s safer, and more prosperous, and more secure, and more free than the one that we inherited.

Let’s get to work. Thank you very much.

Related
COP21 Agreement is a Momentous Leap Forward
COP21 is an Unprecedented Turning Point  
Unpacking the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement (Infographic)
The COP21 Climate Deal and the Crucial Role of Obama's Leadership (Video)
Republican's Failed Attempts to Undermine the COP21 Climate Agreement
The Paris Terror Attacks Climate Change and COP21
We Have a Final Draft Climate Agreement at COP21
Optimism at COP21 Despite Disagreements on the Meaning of Differentiated Responsibilities
Canadian Leadership at COP21
COP21 Compact of States and Regions Pledges Emissions Reductions Equivalent to China's Annual Output
Al Gore Says COP21 Will be a Turning Point in Global Policy (Video)
COP21 and Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets
COP21 History and Guides
COP21 Starts With Pledges of Action from World Leaders
Everything You Need to Know About COP21 (Video)
Summary of the Final Round of Climate Talks Before COP21

COP21 is an Unprecedented Turning Point

On November 30th, the world will come together in Paris for the start of the most important climate talks ever. After more than two decades of negotiations, the expectations are high and global leaders appear to be ready to sign a comprehensive climate deal that will spur unprecedented emissions reductions.

If all goes as planned, the 21st annual session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be remembered as a seminal moment that reversed our perilous trajectory and changed the course of history.

Representatives from more than 190 nations will gather for this historic conference where they will try to hammer out the details of a new global agreement on climate change.

Undeterred by terror

COP21 convenes a mere matter of days after the Paris terror attacks that killed 129 people. Despite the recent carnage, the prevailing mood of most world leaders can best be described as defiant.

This includes President Obama who said he will be attending COP21 to show the world that, "we are not afraid of extremists...we do not succumb to fear. That's the primary power these terrorists have over us."

In addition to Obama, at least 80 heads of state, including those from the world's largest emitting countries, will be in Paris. This includes the leaders of the planet's most populace states, China's Xi Jinping and India's Narendra Modi.

The world is coming together to forge a comprehensive collaborative agreement in the face of these savage attacks and this strikes at the very heart of what the terrorists hope to achieve.

The facts

Those in attendance at COP21 cannot ignore the abundance of peer reviewed science that supports anthropogenic warming. Recent studies corroborate a wealth of existing research. Together, they comprise an irrefutable body of evidence demonstrating that growing levels of GHGs are the leading cause of planetary warming.

We have already picked up 1 degree Celsius; that puts us halfway to the 2 degree Celsius upper threshold limit. The most alarming finding is that the warming is accelerating, adding urgency to the negotiations in Paris.

We know that we have to shift away from fossil fuels and massively invest in renewables and efficiency. We are already seeing hopeful signs including the collapse of coal demand and rapid growth in renewable energy. This trend will continue as the costs of solar and wind are approaching parity with traditional energy in some markets.

What is at stake

Of course, everyone is threatened by climate change, but it mostly threatens those who have done the least to cause it. Western industrialized nations have effectively put entire civilizations at risk of disappearing. This view was the central theme of an October summit of Pacific island nations in Fiji.

“We in the Pacific are innocent bystanders in the greatest act of folly of any age,” said Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. “Unless the world acts decisively in the coming weeks to begin addressing the greatest challenge of our age, then the Pacific, as we know it, is doomed...The industrialised nations putting the welfare of the entire planet at risk so that their economic growth is assured and their citizens can continue to enjoy lives of comparative ease. All at the expense of those of us in low-lying areas of the Pacific and the rest of the world.”

The implications of runaway climate change for the globe are nothing short of catastrophic. Sea level rise, ocean acidification, extreme weather, and the extinction of more than half of the species on earth are part of what we will face if we fail to radically reduce our emissions.

Politics

After years of wrangling, there is reason to believe that we have finally achieved a critical mass of political will to make a positive outcome possible. The removal of Stephen Harper in Canada and Tony Abbott in Australia gives us reason to hope as both men have thwarted progress at previous COP meetings.

The seriousness of the effort is in evidence in the INDC submissions of the vast majority of countries on earth. Negotiators have learned from past failures and they know what needs to be done to secure a deal.

More than ever, politicians at COP21 are earnestly working together to manage the systemic threat of climate change. The emissions reduction efforts of the world’s largest polluters are helping to create momentum that will be carried into COP21.

“There’s no stronger sign of leadership,” President Obama said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly, “than putting future generations first...The United States will work with every nation that is willing to do its part...so that we can come together in Paris to decisively confront this challenge.”

INDC pledges are inadequate

After meeting with 70 nations at the so called Pre-COP, French representatives stated that countries will live up to their INDC pledges. While acknowledging that the current emissions reduction promises are inadequate, French officials indicated that many parties are prepared to do more to reduce their emissions. This could include reviewing INDCs every 5 years. As stated in the recent UN report titled, The Emissions Gap, "Increased participation and cooperation show there are opportunities to increase ambition in future."

Optimism

French representatives joined a number of others in saying that they are optimistic about a positive outcome.

“I have every expectation that negotiators will agree on an international climate pact in Paris,” says Jennifer Morgan, Climate Program Global Director for the World Resources Institute, a sustainability-oriented non-profit think tank. UN Climate chief Christiana Figueres has seen it all in the last five years, yet she expresses reasons to be hopeful:

"I am optimistic for Paris. We have so much momentum going into this conference from the past 5 years of progress in the negotiations and from the businesses, investors, cities and regions that are already engaged in climate action."

A working draft should be completed as soon as Saturday December 5 and a final draft should be ready by December 11. However with 55 pages of text and some 1,500 specific points of contention, a lot of work remains to be done.

UN Climate officials and the president of the summit, Laurent Fabius, said that success is an “absolute necessity.” There is simply too much at stake to consider failure. “I’m optimistic that we can get an outcome that we’re all proud of, because we understand what’s at stake,” President Obama told an Asia-Pacific summit in the Philippines.

However, we must act and we must act now. As explained by Johan Rockström, executive director of the Stockholm Resilience Center in Sweden, "the window is still open, barely open, to transition back into a safe operating space."

We are at a crossroads and it is decision time. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to seize the moment and protect our world for future generations.

We have reason to hope that we will soon be witness to a remarkable moment of transformation that represents a turning point in human history.

Source: Global Warming is Real

Related
COP21 Agreement is a Momentous Leap Forward 
Unpacking the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement (Infographic)
The COP21 Climate Deal and the Crucial Role of Obama's Leadership (Video)
Republican's Failed Attempts to Undermine the COP21 Climate Agreement
The Paris Terror Attacks Climate Change and COP21
We Have a Final Draft Climate Agreement at COP21
Optimism at COP21 Despite Disagreements on the Meaning of Differentiated Responsibilities
Being Hopeful About the COP21 Climate Deal (Video)
Canadian Leadership at COP21
COP21 Compact of States and Regions Pledges Emissions Reductions Equivalent to China's Annual Output
Al Gore Says COP21 Will be a Turning Point in Global Policy (Video)
COP21 and Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets
COP21 History and Guides
COP21 Starts With Pledges of Action from World Leaders
President Obama's Address at the Opening Session of COP21
Everything You Need to Know About COP21 (Video)
Summary of the Final Round of Climate Talks Before COP21

Event - The 2016 AIPH International Green City Conference

This event takes place in Vancouver from 14 – 18 March 2016. The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) invites all those with an interest in improving cities to experience the fusion of green and urban at the 2016 AIPH International Green City Conference and Tours.

Organised by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) and AIPH, the event gives delegates a chance to see innovations in urban green infrastructure and planning on a global scale.

Delegates from across the world will learn about the importance of incorporating green design in urban development. A line-up of international speakers will share practical examples and strategies of real green cities. The goal of the conference is to equip delegates with the tools to support their local green city efforts. During the week, they will discover why urban greening is so important, how to achieve practical and affordable solutions and then experience it in action on a day and a half of tours.

Chair of the AIPH Green City Committee, Karen Tambayong said: “Vancouver aims to become the greenest city in the world by 2020, Vancouver is setting the standard in green industry practices, making it the perfect host for our next conference. I know that delegates both from cities across North America and members of the horticulture industry around the world will be inspired to increase green landscaping to make their cities healthier and more sustainable.”

Conference Chairman and CNLA Board Member, Bill Hardy said: “We are proud to be hosting the next AIPH International Green City Conference and bringing together AIPH and ELCA to promote what greening cities can really achieve. We look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world.”

The conference will also be held in conjunction with the AIPH spring meeting, the European Landscape Contractors Association spring meeting, and the CNLA Landscape Canada Summit.

By attending the AIPH International Green City Conference, delegates will place themselves at the heart of this important discussion. There will be plenty of opportunities to network and meet with like-minded individuals.

Click here to register.

Event - The Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF15)

The Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF15) will take place on December 7 - 8, 2015 at the Stade de France (gate E) in Paris. This is the largest business focused event at COP21. Building on year-round work from Climate Action and the UN Environment Programme, the 2 day Forum will convene cross-sector participants from business, Government, finance, UN, NGO and civil society to create an unparalleled opportunity to bolster business innovation and bring scale to the emerging green economy.

Now in its sixth year, the Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF15) brings together world leaders, CEOs, senior executives, national, regional and city leaders, investors and industry experts to share ideas and accelerate innovative solutions to address climate change, accelerate green growth and sustainable development. With its unique informative but relaxed environment, the Sustainable Innovation Forum facilitates collaboration through networking, informed discussion and the creation of innovative partnerships for change.

This year the Forum will bring together 750+ selected global leaders from business, government, finance and NGOs to catalyse innovation, with the aim of accelerating sustainable development.

SIF15 Highlights

This event has the largest number of global stakeholders at any commercially-inclusive side event at COP21 International attendance – meet decision makers from across the globe with delegates spanning 43 countries at SIF14 Over 80 world class speakers including country Ministers, industry CEOs and international thought leaders Interactive discussion panels throughout the event, allowing for in-depth debate via audience Q&A and polls Workshops and co-located events to maximise content and networking opportunities throughout the two days

2015 Speakers

Dexter Galvin Head of CDP's Supply Chain Program. Dexter runs CDP’s program to enable major multinationals and governments to achieve sustainable supply chains, influencing over $2 trillion in annual procurement spend.

David Nussbaum Chief Executive Officer, WWF UK, the world’s largest conservation and environmental network, and chairs WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative.

Andre Borschberg Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Pilot, Solar Impulse. André is a Swiss businessman and pilot. He is a co-founder of the Solar Impulse project and, on 7 July 2010, completed the first 24-hour solar powered flight.

Achim Steiner Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (born 14 May 1943) is the fifth President of Iceland, having served since 1996..

Dr Ernest Moniz Secretary of Energy, USA. As United States Secretary of Energy, Dr Moniz is tasked with implementing critical Department of Energy missions.

To register click here.*

* Important note: Registration does not immediately guarantee your attendance- due to an overwhelming level of interest and limited number of places available at the Forum. You will be contacted by a member of the Climate Action team about your place within 7 days. Please do not make any travel arrangements before you receive this confirmation. If your registration is not accepted, your registration fee will be refunded to you.

Everything You Need to Know About COP21 (Video)

Tell World Leaders that we Want Bold Climate Action at COP21 (Video)

COP21: March4Me (Video)

Following the tragic attacks on November 13, mass marches and demonstrations around the COP21 climate summit in Paris have been prohibited by the French authorities. But everywhere around the world, mobilisation for our climate and a massive energy transition is growing. On November 28 and 29, hundreds of thousands of people will join scores of marches across the globe.

If you can't make your voice heard in the country where you live, make it count somewhere else in the world. Marchers from all over the world are ready to carry your message on your behalf. Join the movement and find a climate partner below:



Click here for more information.

Related
COP21 Agreement is a Momentous Leap Forward
COP21 is an Unprecedented Turning Point  
Unpacking the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement (Infographic)
The COP21 Climate Deal and the Crucial Role of Obama's Leadership (Video)
Republican's Failed Attempts to Undermine the COP21 Climate Agreement
The Paris Terror Attacks Climate Change and COP21
We Have a Final Draft Climate Agreement at COP21
Optimism at COP21 Despite Disagreements on the Meaning of Differentiated Responsibilities
Canadian Leadership at COP21
COP21 Compact of States and Regions Pledges Emissions Reductions Equivalent to China's Annual Output
Al Gore Says COP21 Will be a Turning Point in Global Policy (Video)
COP21 and Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets
COP21 History and Guides
COP21 Starts With Pledges of Action from World Leaders
President Obama's Address at the Opening Session of COP21
Everything You Need to Know About COP21 (Video)
Summary of the Final Round of Climate Talks Before COP21

Thanksgiving and Environmental Gratitude

This year Thanksgiving takes on a special meaning as we count the days to the beginning of COP21 and a hoped for global climate deal. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to deepen commitments to greener living and more sustainable business practices. Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for everything we have, and it is only natural that we should show our appreciation for the environment by learning to be better stewards of the earth.

Thanksgiving traces its origin from a 1621 Pilgrim harvest feast to celebrate a successful growing season and survival after an extremely difficult first winter in the New World. At that harvest feast these Pilgrims from England ate with the Wampanoag Indians in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie. The Pilgrims owed their survival to the goodwill of the Indians, who had taught them how to survive by living in harmony with the land. It is time to revive that long forgotten lesson and address the daunting environmental challenges we face today.

The threat from climate change is real, however, so are the opportunities to address it. This Thanksgiving, we should all be doing our part and give thanks to those who support for the environment and act to make this world a greener place.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Green Market Oracle

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States and people across the nation are celebrating by coming together to give thanks. Traditionally Thanksgiving is the holiday long weekend when people get together to celebrate the bounty of the fall harvest. The Thanksgiving tradition takes us back to the early days when European settlers were first making North America home. They were welcomed by Native peoples who showed them how to live in harmony with the Earth.

We need to cultivate the spirit of thankfulness that helps us to rekindle a harmonious relationship to nature. Gratitude of this kind may be difficult but it is essential if we are to find the motivation and the courage to advance ecological action.

As explained in an article titled "Environmental Gratitude and Ecological Advocacy:"

"We need a new way of communicating the urgency of environmental action because it is becoming increasingly apparent that standard fact based approaches are not getting through. Environmental gratitude is an approach that can help to inspire ecological action"

"The shortsighted pursuit of profit has led humans to ravage worldwide resources. Environmental gratitude may enable us to counteract this nihilistic tendency and expedite ecological action." 

This holiday season take a moment to remember and give thanks for the ineffable splendor of the world around us. Acknowledge the beauty and life giving properties of the natural world that we all depend on for our very survival. Remember that we have a responsibility to protect, preserve and restore nature's bounty for future generations.

It is also important to appreciate those who work to preserve nature and advocate for sustainability. This work is about more than creating low carbon commerce, we work to protect people by preserving our water, air, forests, animals, and fish.

While there are many corporate interests that continue their wanton rape of the Earth's resources we should recognize those businesses that are bravely leading global efforts to find the balance between commerce and  the natural world.

We deeply appreciate your readership and we look forward to working together for a more sustainable world. Wishing you all a happy holiday full of environmental gratitude.

Richard Matthews
The Green Market Oracle

Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21

On Monday November 23 Canadian premiers met with the Prime Minister to discuss a national strategy on climate change ahead of COP21. Provincial leaders will be attending the December climate talks alongside the Prime Minister. Although emissions reduction is a provincial prerogative, Ottawa will provide powerful incentives to the provinces for their emissions reduction achievements.

Trudeau has repeatedly stated that his government is prepared to ensure that Canada does it part to contain climate change.Trudeau has been making good on his commitments to advance climate action. At the meetings of the G20 and APEC last week Trudeau encouraged members to engage the struggle against global warming. Now the meeting with Canadian premieres prepares the way for Canada to play a constructive role at the forthcoming UN sponsored climate negotiations.

"We'll demonstrate that we are serious about climate change," Trudeau said in a speech at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. "This means making decisions based on science, it means reducing carbon emissions, including through carbon pricing towards a climate resilient economy. It means collaborating with our provincial and territorial partners, supporting climate change efforts in developing countries and investing in sustainable economic prosperity."

This climate conference is the first time that there has been a meeting between the leader of the federal government and his provincial counterparts in seven years. In stark contrast to his predecessor Conservative leader Stephen Harper, the new Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that he will work in closely with the provinces.

There are some dramatic policy differences between the two governments. When they were in power the Conservatives rejected climate action including the idea of a carbon tax, while the Liberals have a climate focused policy agenda that promises some form of carbon pricing.

Canadians support efforts to combat global warming. Last April, six months before Canadians decisively rejected the Harper government, more than 25,000 people gathered in Quebec City to demand climate action from provincial leaders. According to a poll commissioned by Canada's Climate Action Network, almost three quarters of Canadians want the country to lead global climate protection efforts.

Canada's current emissions reduction target is 30 percent below 2005 levels and the new Liberal environment minister, Catherine McKenna, has said her government hopes to set an even more ambitious goal. Achieving such goals will be difficult in the absence of a tar sands strategy. However, the new premiere of Alberta, home of the tar sands, has already made some ambitious pledges of her own. Her new energy strategy including a carbon tax, phase-out of coal-fired power plants and an all important cap on tar sands emissions.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet the first ministers again in 90 days where he has promised to deliver a national climate action strategy that will include specific emissions reduction targets.

"We will continue over the next 90 days after Paris to ensure we come forward together not just with strong targets but also a with credible plan to achieve these targets," he said, speaking Monday after the meeting. "It's not enough just to have a target, we need to have a plan to achieve that target."

The Premiere of Saskatchewan Brad Wall just announced that his province will get half of its energy from renewables by 2030. Wall expressed concern about the economic impact of implementing carbon-cutting measures amid low oil prices.

Despite Wall's concerns, there was a unified front from all present at the meeting. Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, the chairman of the provincial Council of the Federation, said Canada will have a "co-ordinated" voice at COP21, "and certainly a different voice going out to the world."

Trudeau said that Canada's climate strategy is ambitious and recognizes provincial efforts. He also said that he and the provinces are ready to act together to fight climate change.

The Federal Provincial meeting is yet another reason to be believe that Canada will shed its reputation as a climate laggard and become a global champion of climate action.  

"Alberta’s new climate strategy, combined with a new federal government that is a true climate change partner for the provinces and territories, positions Canada to enter the Paris conference with a united voice. This unity is a departure from the past." said Kathleen Wynne, the Premier of Ontario.

While some may dismiss these efforts as little more than clever rebranding, under Trudeau's Liberals Canada appears to be an earnest partner in the global push to combat climate change.

Related
New Liberal PM's Mandate Letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
Canadian Government Scientists can Now Speak Freely Again (Video)
Canada's New Minister of Environment and Climate Change is Already at Work
The Liberals Must Deliver on their Environmental and Climate Promises after 10 Years of Conservative RuleClimate Welcome and Gifts for Canada's New Prime Minister
Dion to Lead Canada's New Environment, Climate Change and Energy Cabinet Committee
Canada's New Government and Hopes for Climate Action
The New Liberal Government's Climate and Energy Policy Promises
Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21
What Canadian Provinces are Doing to Combat Climate Change
Alberta's New Climate Plan is a Quantum Leap Forward
Saskatchewan to Get Half of its Energy from Renewables
Canada's Provincial and Territorial Governments Draft Principles for a Clean Energy Strategy
The Merits of Carbon Pricing in B.C.
Canada's Green Provincial Report Card

What Canadian Provinces are Doing to Combat Climate Change

Climate action is largely a provincial matter in Canada. This is the view of both the former Conservative government and the newly elected Liberals. This means that provincial and territorial climate plans are crucially important to Canada's collective effort.

Alberta

The newly elected premiere of Alberta is Rachel Notley. Alberta generates 249.3 Mt CO2 per year representing 35.7 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Notley has announced sweeping reforms to the province's energy sector that are intended to balance the economic concerns with climate concerns. The plan includes an economy-wide price on carbon, the phase out of coal, methane reductions l and a commitment to renewables and energy efficiency. The goal is to derive nearly one-third of the province's power from renewables by 2030. The plan also includes a 100-megatonne cap on carbon emissions from the tar sands (it currently emits 70 megatonnes annually).

The government of Alberta has put together a climate change panel, chaired by Andrew Leach, the University of Alberta environmental economist. The panel will examine a wide assortment of potential actions and deliver a report to the government in the fall.

The NDP's climate-change policy puts Alberta on track to reduce emissions by approximately 20 megatonnes in 2020 and 50 megatonnes by 2030.

British Columbia

The Premier of British Columbia is Christy Clark, the provinces Annual GHG emissions are 60.1 Mt CO2 representing 8.6 percent of Canada's emissions. B.C. invested $5.2 billion in renewable energy from 2010 to 2014, There are a number of climate concerns that are in evidence in BC including the fact that the provinces glaciers are melting. In 2008, B.C. imposed a carbon tax that has been a driver of economic growth.

Since its inception in 2008, B.C. has reduced its annual CO2 emissions by 2.2 gigatonnes, taking strides towards its goal of a 33 per cent reduction from 2005 levels by 2020.

B.C. is steadily building green infrastructure to power a decarbonized economy, such as new buildings that use ‘net zero carbon.’ The province is even greening its fossil fuel sector, using electricity to power gas wells instead of burning the product itself for fuel and cutting pollution rates.

"British Columbia has a growing number of clean-tech companies that have produced the services developed for the B.C. market that they can now export abroad," said Dan Woynillowicz, policy director at Clean Energy Canada.

Clark has pledged to deny provincial operating permits to both Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain expansion unless they meet five conditions ranging from safety to profit sharing.

Manitoba

The Premier of Manitoba is Greg Selinger. The provinces annual GHG emissions (2012) are 21.2 Mt CO2 or 3.03 percent of the Canadian total. Since taking office in 2009, Premier Greg Selinger has been outspoken on climate change and Manitoba’s need to adapt and take action. His administration held knowledge-sharing sessions with experts in neighboring Wisconsin; he’s spoken at sustainability conferences in India and committed to a robust set of climate adaptation goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels, to about 17.5 megatonnes.

Manitoba invested $1.7 billion in renewable energy from 2010 to 2014 and in October 2015, the province became the first in Canada to sign on in support of the Blue Dot movement. The Blue Dot movement enshrines in law people's rights to clean air, water and soil.

Selinger says Manitoba is aiming to be a leader in developing electric vehicles to help cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Manitoba government is investing $3 million to develop a model for an all-electric transit bus in partnership with Winnipeg-based bus manufacturer New Flyer Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Manitoba Hydro and Red River College. The province is also putting up money to create an electric-vehicle learning and demonstration centre at Red River College.

New Brunswick

The Premier of New Brunswick is Brian Gallant. The province's annual GHG emissions (2012) are 16.4 Mt CO2 or 2.35 percent of the Canadian total. Gallant has imposed a moratorium on fracking across the province. However, he has done little else to support climate action. Speaking at January news conference, Gallant said:

"There's no doubt as a nation we have to do a better job on climate change…On top of that, we also have to have a conversation about developing our economy throughout the country in a responsible way. We believe the Energy East pipeline is one that will help us grow our economy, create jobs; it's one we that we can do, we believe, in a sustainable way."

Nova Scotia

The Premier of Nova Scotia is Stephen McNeil. The provinces annual GHG emissions (2012) are 19.0 Mt CO2 or 2.7 percent of the Canadian total. In 2010 McNeil implemented a law that required the province to meet 25 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources. The province is now on track for a second goal: generating 40 per cent of its electricity by 2020. In fall 2014, the province also imposed a moratorium on onshore fracking.

Speaking to delegates at a conference, Premier McNeil said, “Nova Scotia is a small province with a big future in sustainable energy. We're addressing climate change and the need for a lower carbon future by embracing change through innovation that focuses on one of our greatest advantages — our proximity to the ocean and its tides.”

Newfoundland and Labrador

The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is Paul Davis. The provinces annual GHG emissions (2012) are 8.7 Mt CO2 or 1.2 percent of the Canadian total. In the 2014 election Davis won his seat by pledging to protect the province’s offshore oil and gas extraction industry and ensure the billions of dollars it generates in royalties are better shared around the province.

On Friday April 10, Premier Davis announced his plan to attend a premiers climate summit, citing an opportunity “to discuss best practices and future solutions in the fight against climate change and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation.”

The Premier NWT is Bob McLeod and the Premier of Nunavut is Peter Taptuna. The Annual combined GHG emissions (2012) of both places is 1.7 Mt CO2 or 0.24 percent of the Canadian total. The vast expanse of land has about the same amount of GHG emissions as the tiny province of Prince Edward Island.

In 2014, the Premiers of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut met in Iqaluit to develop a strategy document for northern Canada, entitled ‘A Northern Vision.’ In it they agree that “clean, reliable, affordable energy is the backbone of a sustainable economy, is essential for the well-being of northerners, and fosters investment and economic growth in the North.”

Ontario

The Premier of Ontario is Kathleen Wynne. The Annual GHG emissions (2012) of the province is 166.9 Mt CO2 or 23.9 percent of the Canadian total. This is the highest GHG total of any province in Canada except Alberta. Ontario has invested $12.7 billion in renewable energy from 2010-2014. In April, Ontario joined Quebec and California to implement the world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market that is worth more than $1 billion.

Wynne has instituted a province-wide Smart Grid program, a $24 million initiative to fund energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and micro-grids. These programs have created hundreds of jobs.

Her predecessor Dalton McGuinty passed the Green Energy Act in 2012, and pushed forward legislation to end urban sprawl, protect clean drinking water and limit toxic chemicals in manufacturing. The Green Energy Act spawned SolarShare, an organization that has now sold $10 million in solar bonds to regular people and built six megawatts of solar projects worth $30 million. Wynne has elaborated on the work of McGuinty and seems poised to take things even further and removed all coal-fired power production. She has also pledged seven conditions before new pipeline infrastructure projects such as Energy East will be allowed to go forward.

Together with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, Wynne helped to development the Canadian Energy Strategy — the framework for the Premier’s Climate Summit last spring.

The combination of shutting coal plants, increasing renewables have helped the province to reduce its GHGs.

"Getting off coal is the single largest climate change initiative being undertaken in North America, equivalent to taking up to seven million cars off the road," says Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s minister of energy."

Ontario is achieving its energy goals and it has built a thriving renewable energy industry that is providing jobs and helping the economy to grow.

Ontario has than 23,329 microFIT small rooftop solar projects have been installed with 2,356 megawatts of solar PV Ontario also has also installed 3,498 megawatts of wind and another 2,228 megawatts are under development, making it the leader in wind energy in Canada. Even, Ontario Power Generation, the organization that used to run Ontario’s coal powered electricity plants, is now building solar farms on the sites of those former coal plants. Ontario is also a leader in biomass and biogas projects. Ontario is on track to get a quarter to a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2021.

Despite small increases in the price of energy, the people of Ontario remain strong supporters of solar and wind energy. A 2015 poll commissioned by the Canadian Solar Industries Association found that 77 per cent of Ontarians believe that their provincial government needs to invest more in solar.

Ontario has also mandated a build-out of 50 megawatts of energy storage; three utility-scale projects that add up 34 megawatts worth of energy storage are being built right now.

Ontario is a climate change leader in Canada. As such Ontario is a model for other Canadian provinces and territories.

Prince Edward Island

The Premier of PEI is Wade MacLauchlan. The annual GHG emissions (2012): 1.9 Mt CO2 or 0.27 percent of the Canadian totals. In his speech accepting the title of premier designate, Mclauchlan called P.E.I. a world leader in renewable energy, but said we can do more as “an important first step as we turn our attention to climate change.”

Quebec

Quebec's current premiere is Phillippe Couillard. In 2012 the province had GHG emissions of 78.3 Mt CO2 representing a total of 11.2 percent of Canada's emissions. Quebec invested $8.6 billion in renewable energy from 2010 to 2014.

Couillard has worked closely with Ontario Premier Wynne on developing the Canadian Energy Strategy and his administration implemented a cap-and-trade scheme in partnership with California starting in January of this year. He opposed the Energy East pipeline and fracking. He’s also repeatedly said that he hopes for Quebec to have an important voice at the COP21 Summit in Paris.

"I will ensure that Quebec is not only present, but also that it has the opportunity to make its voice heard."

Electricity will play an increasingly important role in transportation and the government of Quebec has provided incentives for the buyers of hybrid vehicles.

As of April 2015, Quebec alone had generated $330 million in revenue from its cap and trade program, and the province expects to get $2.5 billion by selling permits to high-polluting industries. These revenues are helping to fund Quebec’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Four months later, Quebec earned another $205 million from its fourth carbon auction held jointly with California, money that will fund the implementation of measures in that province’s 2013-2020 Climate Change Action Plan.

“The carbon market is the centerpiece of Québec’s strategy for fighting climate change. In addition to ensuring GHG emission reductions, it is a green fiscal tool that bolsters the re-launching and sustainable development of our economy," said David Heurtel, whose lengthy job title is Quebec’s 'Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change.'

"By 2020, more than 3.3 billion dollars will have been invested to support Québec’s businesses, municipalities and private citizens in their transition to a low-carbon world," said Heurtel. "Together, we can fight climate change in order to ensure a better quality of life for our children."

Saskatchewan

The premiere of Saskatchewan is Brad Wall. The provinces annual GHG emissions (2012) are 74.8 Mt CO2 or 10.7 percent of the Canadian total. Wall recently announced that his province will get half of its energy from renewables by 2030. This includes a combination of wind, solar and geothermal energy. To achieve this goal the province will have to double its renewable energy production. Saskatchewan currently gets 25 percent of its power from renewable sources, mostly wind and hydro.

Yukon Territory

The premier of the Yukon is Darrell Pasloski. The Territory's annual GHG emissions (2012): 0.4 Mt CO2 or 0.06 percent of the Canadian total. In 2012 Pasloski’s government announced:

"Rather than commit to an arbitrary target based on estimated projections of Yukon’s economic growth, the government is working with key players in the electricity, building and energy efficiency, industrial, and transportation sectors to identify actions that will lead to realistic and measurable outcomes to minimize growth in Yukon’s overall GHG emissions."

Instead, the government has committed to a reduction in emissions for its own internal operations — 20 per cent lower than 2010 levels by 2015.

Related
Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21
Alberta's New Climate Plan is a Quantum Leap Forward
Saskatchewan to Get Half of its Energy from Renewables
Canada's Provincial and Territorial Governments Draft Principles for a Clean Energy Strategy
The Merits of Carbon Pricing in B.C.
Canada's Green Provincial Report Card

Alberta's New Climate Plan is a Quantum Leap Forward

The new NDP government in Alberta led by Premier Rachel Notley has announced sweeping reforms to the province's energy sector that are intended to balance the economic concerns with climate concerns. The plan includes an economy-wide price on carbon, the phase out of coal and a commitment to renewables and energy efficiency.

The former leader of Alberta, Progressive Conservative Premier Jim Prentice was a Federal Minister of Environment in the Harper Conservative cabinet. His federal and provincial track record on the environment and climate change was less than impressive.

When he was in power, Prentice said he supported the idea of  “the provinces [finding] common ground on energy and the environment, and [enforcing] fair, clear, well thought-out rules,” but he never offered any concrete action. Between 2010 and 2014 Alberta invested a mere $2.3 billion in renewable energy.

Under the former provincial government of premiere Prentice Alberta generated an average of 249.3 Mt CO2 representing 35.7 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alberta's high levels of GHG emissions were due largely to the tar sands, Canada’s fastest-growing source of emissions. Between 1990 and 2013 the province's GHGs increased by 53 percent.

"Our goal is to become one of the world's most progressive and forward-looking energy producers," said the new Alberta Premiere. "We are turning the page on the mistaken policies of the past, policies that have failed to provide the leadership our province needed."

Alberta has a long history of oil spills, but the most egregious climate crime emanate from attempts to expand the tar sands. The collapsing price of oil has made the tar sands far less viable as has the failure to build pipelines. Efforts to expand the tar sands have been impeded by President Obama's cancellation of the Keystone XL, and domestic resistance to the other pipelines (the Energy East, Northern Gateway, Kinder Morgan). The new federal Liberal government has promised a careful review of the nation's pipeline projects.

The tar sands have been significantly undermined by low oil prices and this has wreaked economic havoc on the province of Alberta and the nation as a whole. There have been 37,000 job losses in Alberta and the provincial economy is in recession.

Alberta has the dirtiest oil on the planet and the expansion of the tar sands will negate global efforts to reign in climate change. The tar sands have been called "filth" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and "hypocritical" by Canadian Rock legend Neil Young who compared the tar sands mining operations to Hiroshima

The federal government's complicity with the tar sands industry began to unravel with the election of the NDP and the subsequent rejection of the Harper Conservatives. There are a number of lessons that can be learned from the Conservative's failed bet on fossil fuels. Under the former provincial government Alberta has not capitalized on opportunities to drive the province forward.

In 2007, the Conservative provincial government of Alberta government implemented a token carbon tax of $15/tonne for large emitters. Shortly after coming to power in 2015 the new NDP government announced that it will double the province’s carbon tax on large emitters by 2017. Under the new framework the province's 103 major GHG emitters (largely from the fossil fuel industry) must lower their emissions by 20 percent below baseline, with a $30-per-tonne levy for emissions above that target.

Although this represents progress in the right direction it has been criticized as inadequate. “It’s not going to drive the meaningful reductions or give the market incentives that we need,” said Ed Whittingham, executive director of the Pembina Institute. Pembina advocates for a $40-per-tonne levy with a 40 per cent emissions reduction target.

There are three options for companies that exceed their emissions quotas:
  1. Carbon offsets
  2. Alberta Emission Performance Credits (similar to carbon offsets but rewarded based on performance) 
  3. The Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, which funds climate change projects
The new government of Alberta has put together a climate change panel, chaired by Andrew Leach, the University of Alberta environmental economist. The panel will examine a wide assortment of potential actions and deliver a report to the government. 

Alberta’s new climate plans were announced on Sunday November 22. The plan includes the phase out of coal-fired power by 2030 (the province currently has 18 coal-fired electricity plants that generate 55 percent of the province’s electricity) and cuts to methane emissions from flaring and leakage by 45 per cent from 2014 levels by 2025. The plan will also provide incentives for renewable energy with the goal of getting nearly one-third of power generated from renewables by 2030.

"Alberta is leading again," Ms. Notley said. "The government of Alberta is going to stop being the problem and we are going to start being the solution."

In addition to phasing out coal power, reducing methane emissions and incentivizing renewables, the NDP's newly announced climate rules will impose a 100-megatonne cap on carbon emissions from the tar sands (it currently emits 70 megatonnes annually). There will be an economy-wide tax of $20 per tonne on carbon-dioxide emissions starting in 2017, rising to $30 in 2018.

"The oil-sands emissions limit will give the world certainty that our emissions will not grow unchecked. It’s a game changer and will change the debate about the oil sands industry doing its part to address climate change," said Ed Whittingham, executive director of the Pembina Institute, an environmental think tank.

Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd said the province’s NDP government will both take a leadership role on the climate-change file and stand up for Alberta’s energy industry. The fossil fuel industry knows that change is coming and it wants clarity. This has prompted TransAlta Corp., Suncor Energy Inc., Shell Canada, Cenovus Energy Inc. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd to support the NDP's new climate rules.

The NDP's climate-change policy puts Alberta on track to reduce emissions by approximately 20 megatonnes in 2020 and 50 megatonnes by 2030.

The new carbon tax is expected to raise $3-billion annually by 2018 Some of the new revenue will be spent on a green climate fund that will spur technology to fight climate change and an "adjustment fund" to help lower earning people in the province to cope with the changes. The average household will see heating and transportation costs increase by $470 annually by 2018. In addition to the rebates afforded by the adjustment fund, the $3 billion raised by carbon taxes will go towards building green infrastructure and public transit. The government will also create efficiency programs to help people reduce their energy use.

"We need to step up to the climate change issue,” Notley said. “The simple fact is this: Alberta can’t let its emissions grow without limit....But we can grow our economy by applying technology to reduce our carbon output per barrel. And that is what this limit will promote" 

"This is the day that we set a better course for our economic future," Notley said. "This is the day that we start to mobilize capital and resources to create green jobs, green energy, green infrastructure and a strong, environmentally responsible, sustainable and visionary Alberta energy industry with a great future … This is the day we stop denying there is an issue, and this is the day we do our part."

Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change: “This is a strong, positive step in the right direction. We want to send a clear signal to Canadians and our partners around the world that Canada is back and ready to play our part ... Alberta is taking a leadership position on phasing out coal, and as Minister of Environment and Climate Change, I will be looking at ways to help accelerate the reduction of coal power right across the country."

Greenpeace applauded the move by the new government of Alberta but they said that they would like to see emission reduction targets.

"Targets give an important signal to business, let the world know where Alberta is headed, and help ensure that direction leads to the reductions that science and equity demand," said spokesman Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace. He went on to say, "These policies are important first steps, but much bigger emission reductions will be needed for Alberta to do its part to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius."

The proposed emissions cap and will not be enough to keep temperatures from warming more than the internationally agreed upon upper threshold limit of 2 degrees Celsius. To ensure we can meet this target we will need to freeze tar sands expansion.

Nonetheless, Al Gore said, "This is also another powerful signal — well-timed on the eve of the Paris negotiations — that humanity is beginning to win our struggle to solve the climate crisis."

Related
Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21
What Canadian Provinces are Doing to Combat Climate Change
Saskatchewan to Get Half of its Energy from Renewables
Canada's Provincial and Territorial Governments Draft Principles for a Clean Energy Strategy
The Merits of Carbon Pricing in B.C.
Canada's Green Provincial Report Card

Saskatchewan to Get Half of its Energy from Renewables

Last week Brad Wall the premiere of Saskatchewan announced that his province will get half of its energy from renewables by 2030. This includes a combination of wind, solar and geothermal energy. To achieve this goal the province will have to double its renewable energy production. Saskatchewan currently gets 25 percent of its power from renewable sources, mostly wind and hydro.

This is welcome news from a province that has been repeatedly identified as a climate laggard. In a 2014 report titled "Tracking the Energy Revolution" from the climate think tank, Clean Energy Canada, Saskatchewan was singled out as one of the worst provinces in Canada in terms of its renewable energy efforts.

Saskatchewan has been ranked as the worst province in Canada for its climate efforts.  Despite being one of the least populated provinces, Saskatchewan has the fourth highest levels of emission in Canada accounting for 10 percent of the nation's greenhouse gases (GHGs). This is noteworthy because Saskatchewan's emissions are even higher than the far more developed province of B.C. Emissions in the province increased by 7.6 percent (5.3 Mt) between 2005 and 2013.

Saskatchewan is also the worst per capita GHG emitters in a country that itself has high per capita GHG levels. Saskatchewan generates more per capita GHGs than Alberta, Canada's fossil fuel producing giant.

The people of Saskatchewan have been slow to accept the anthropogenic origins of climate change. A 2012 poll revealed that only 21 percent of that provinces population believed that climate change is man-made. This is the lowest percentage of any province in Canada. A 2014 poll shows that Saskatchewan has the lowest levels of belief in the science of climate change. However a more recent poll reveals that the people of Saskatchewan want more renewable energy.

The combination of climate related events and the demise of the oil industry may have played a role in changing attitudes in the province. This summer Saskatchewan has suffered from some of the most destructive climate related forest fires in its history. Low oil prices have hurt the provinces own oil industry and this is having a ripple effect on the wider economy. Under the former Conservative federal government the province received considerable financial support for a carbon capture project. However, the plant has been operational less than half of the time and it has yet to prove that it is economically viable.

At a news conference Wall told reporters the 50 percent target is “achievable, and that’s what we’re going to be moving toward.” Wall added that renewables share of power generated in the province “can be much greater, we want it to be greater and we need it to be greater because … we have high emissions in this province.”

The official announcement was made by Crown utility SaskPower on Monday, November 23. "I think this is a realistic plan that we believe the people of Saskatchewan will support," Bill Boyd, minister responsible for SaskPower, said Monday. The cost of increasing the amount of renewable energy in the province is estimated to be $1.5 billion. This will translate to an increase of less than $1 a month for SaskPower customers.

While wind has a history in the province, solar is a new addition to the province's energy mix. the premiere has indicated that the introduction of solar this is due to technological advancements. In addition to large scale solar projects private citizens will also be given incentives to encourage them to put solar arrays on their homes. SaskPower’s Net Metering program currently allows customers to be compensated for feeding excess renewable energy into the grid.

The 50 percent target is even better than the 40 percent target that was contained in an NDP bill. Opposition Leader Cam Broten is skeptical. He said that he’ll believe in the government’s commitment to renewables when he sees it, because the Sask. Party record hasn’t been great.

In addition to concerns about implementation, others have expressed disappointment that Wall has no plans to introduce any form of carbon pricing. Perhaps most discouraging is the provinces ongoing reliance on coal powered electricity generation. Boyd said, "we see coal as part of the mix for the next number of years."

While the addition of more renewable energy in Saskatechewan is laudible it is not enough to be considered as serious climate leadership.  

Related
Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21
What Canadian Provinces are Doing to Combat Climate Change
Alberta's New Climate Plan is a Quantum Leap Forward
Canada's Provincial and Territorial Governments Draft Principles for a Clean Energy Strategy
The Merits of Carbon Pricing in B.C.
Canada's Green Provincial Report Card

Financial Losses Associated with Fossil Fuels

The losses associated with fossil fuels are staggering and it is not just oil producing states and companies that are feeling the heat. Pension funds going long on oil are getting killed as they hope that prices will rebound.

With oil prices around $50 per barrel, the IEA estimates that OPEC states have lost half a trillion dollars a year in revenues since the oil price fell from over $100 a barrel in 2011-2014 to current levels. The declining price of oil is also creating volatility in the stock market and significantly impacting the petro-economies of both Russia and Canada.

As reported by the Star, a new study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives indicates that fossil fuel holdings in Ontario's five largest pension funds lost a total of $2.4 billion. Here is their review of the amount of money lost due to falling oil and coal prices from June to December 2014:
  • Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan: $1.77 billion
  • Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System: $192 million
  • Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan: $53 million
  • Ontario Pension Plan: $154 million
  • Ontario Public Service Employees Union Pension Trust: $188 million
California pension funds have been decimated by the declining price of fossil fuels. This has caused the state to pass legislation forbidding big pension funds from investing in coal. Others institutions are getting out of fossil fuels altogether. A recent report from consultancy Arabella Advisors found that 430 institutions, including the Canadian Medical Association, have committed to phasing out their fossil-fuel investments.

A Corporate Knights Capital report estimated that the CPPIB has lost $7 billion (US) in value since 2012 due to the decline in the values of carbon intensive industries. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust Endowment have lost $1.9 billion, and the University of Toronto pension and endowment fund lost $419 million.

More than 100 institutional investors representing $8 trillion in assets have signed the one-year-old Montreal Carbon Pledge. Those that took the pledge have committed to “measure, disclose and reduce portfolio carbon footprints.” Signatories include Addenda Capital, The Co-operators and the United Church.

“If they’re putting money into fossil-fuel stocks, it should be incumbent on managers and trustees to justify why they’re doing that,” said Marc Lee, a senior economist with Policy Alternatives.  

Related
Diminishing Profits Signal the Beginning of the End of Oil
Falling oil Prices Make Fossil Fuels a High Risk Investment
Oil is a Bad Investment
Low Oil Prices Offer an Opportunity to Combat Climate Change
The Upside to Low Oil Prices
Climate Pros and Cons of Low Oil Prices
Falling Oil Prices and a Global Climate Agreement
Cheap Oil Will Not Stop Renewables
Why Oil Prices Matter for Renewable Energy
An Upside to Low Oil Prices?
Video - Why Oil Prices Will Keep Falling