Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently I attended the two-day conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation sponsored by the NWT Association of Communities, Pembina Institute, and Ecology North. I salute that expression of the sense of urgency civil society places upon climate change action and the support NWTAC received from government departments.
I also attended a local consultation on a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy. Attended by a small but dedicated crowd, the meeting spent considerable precious time dwelling on highly outdated goals and objectives of the old plan. Subsequent discussions, though, were more in line with the public’s experience on impressive early impacts of climate change and their expectation of a progressive and meaningful response.
We must show we mean business and take real action to provide the leadership needed to meet our responsibilities. In fact, the Premier and the Minister of ENR have stated that in the absence of progressive work at the national level, the ball is clearly in our court.
We need clear NWT-wide reduction targets consistent with the best science, not just controls on GNWT emissions. We must have a list of clear actions and an implementation plan based upon the estimated achievements possible from each action for meeting targets. Specifically, we need NWT-wide building and appliance standards, and timely adoption of transportation measures, including vehicle emission and mileage standards. We must aggressively install community district heating systems and increase focus on local renewable energy sources like hydro and biomass. We must promote community businesses that meet not just energy, but food, shelter, and cultural needs from local resources. We need a carbon tax that takes a revenue-neutral approach with special consideration for low-income families and rural and remote communities. Specific provisions are required for a few large industries with mandatory requirements to meet carbon targets through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and access to carbon trading markets.
Advancing this initiative requires partnerships with all sectors and with Aboriginal governments. The best science shows that to avert environmental disaster, we need a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and a 90 percent reduction by 2050. Our public understands this and expects an intelligent response. Let’s not fail them.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
