NBEN meeting with Minister of Environment and Local Government Jeff Carr
December 20, 2018
I am speaking on behalf of the Sustainable Energy Group and many others here today. But most importantly, I’m speaking for the young people of New Brunswick whose future may be in peril unless real climate mitigation action becomes a priority during the present Legislative Assembly.
The Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), agreed to by the Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, commits to “Reduce GHG emissions by 75 to 85 percent below 2001 levels by 2050.” That was a welcome and ambitious agreement, but unfortunately, it no longer meets the latest warnings issued by leading scientists and climatologists that global warming is on track to reach well above 2ºC by 2100. Most certainly, the intention of your government to end the moratorium on fracking will increase the provincial GHG emissions. The latest warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) state that global emissions must be reduced to 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and then reach zero by 2050.
Fortunately, New Brunswick is well positioned to become the Canadian leader by passing the needed legislation introduced by the previous government that can begin the transition to the Low-Carbon Economy (LCE). This legislation can effectively and affordably help bring about the following positives, and perhaps more:
- Take advantage of federal funding already available, such as the Low Carbon Economy Fund;
- All carbon-pricing funds generated from 2018, 2019 and beyond that is invested and reinvested in clean energy and climate mitigation will firmly establish the LCE in New Brunswick;
- Lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in NB by replacing wherever possible all existing conventional GHG-producing energy sources with renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, tidal, biomass, hydro-electric and geothermal;
- Create many new clean energy-related jobs around the province with renewable energy and efficiency work by retrofitting homes and older buildings to reduce energy costs that will save everyone both heating and cooling costs;
- Protecting and enhancing our vital watersheds and aquifers, coastal areas, and the natural environment;
Storing carbon in our Crown forests and eliminating clear-cutting, thereby reducing flooding while enhancing biodiversity.
The time to transition to the LCE is now ideal following the warnings from the IPCC and COP24 that within 12 years (2030) it may already be too late to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels unless drastic measures are taken immediately. With the new minority PC government getting down to business, passage in the Legislature with the other three parties should not be difficult.
While implementing the LCE may not be easy or harmonious at first, it will, in the longer run, undoubtedly succeed in reducing major climate-related challenges to the province without hurting the economy. This will provide our children and grandchildren with an improved possibility of success and survival in the still uncharted climate change era that is already causing a significant global impact. Transitioning to the Low Carbon Economy right now is a win-win opportunity for New Brunswick.
Sam Arnold (Sustainable Energy Group – Carleton County)