Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars

Description

“A scholarly consensus on science-based, viable solutions for greenhouse gas reduction”. Sixty academics from across Canada combined to urge policymakers to adopt a long-term target of at least an 80 % reduction in emissions by mid-century. “In the short-term, we believe that Canada, in keeping with its historical position of aligning with US targets, could adopt a 2025 target of a 26-28% reduction in GHG emissions relative to our 2005 levels.” Policy recommendations include, most immediately: Either a national carbon tax or a national economy-wide cap and trade program; elimination of subsidies to the fossil fuel industry ; and integration of sustainability and climate change into landscape planning at the regional and city levels so that maintenance and new infrastructure investments contribute to decarbonizing. The paper also advocates establishment of East-West smart grid connections to allow hydro-producing provinces to sell electricity to their neighbours; energy efficiency programs, and a “transportation revolution”. Also available in French, as Agir sur les changements climatiques, http://www.sustainablecanadadialogues.ca/files/PDF_DOCS/FR_15mars_20H_lo...