All in the same boat

By Stephen Hawboldt

In June 2007, the Nova Scotia government proclaimed legislation aimed at making the province one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by 2020. Supported by all parties in the Legislative Assembly, this act legislates some very demanding targets that the current and subsequent governments are required, by law, to achieve.

By the year 2020, Nova Scotians are required by their own laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 10 per cent below the levels that were emitted in 1990. Since current greenhouse gas emissions are likely about 30 per cent above 1990 levels, this could mean a whopping 40 per cent drop.

While these percentages are only approximations, they do highlight the immensity of the challenge facing Nova Scotians. Each year we wait, the challenge gets bigger.

Climate change is without question the greatest threat to the world as we know it. Without strong interventions, leading international economists have predicted that the global economy will shrink by at least 20 per cent due to the costs arising from the impacts of a changed and unstable climate.

In 2007, our elected leaders took a brave step for the future of Nova Scotians by enshrining hard targets tied to specific time lines for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. They also recognized that since most greenhouse gases arise from inefficiency and waste, a green economy is an efficient economy.

Each year, the Minister of the Environment is required to report to the Legislative Assembly on progress in achieving the enshrined goals. It is exceedingly difficult for the Minister to hide behind empty platitudes.

In order to meet these aggressive targets on greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that there be a comprehensive plan. Responsibility for the development of the plan was moved from the Energy Department to NS Environment some months ago.

It would appear that the current government is finding the task of developing a defensible plan a tad challenging. Any plan must use our market economy to send the appropriate signals to users that will encourage them to move away from fossil fuels.

The issue has been complicated by the inability of federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion to sell the idea of a carbon tax and the politically motivated attack by Nova Scotia’s Premier on the utility of such a tax. Without using all of the available policy tools, it will be extremely difficult, or impossible, to achieve the goals enshrined in the legislation adopted by all political parties.

Since all three political parties in Nova Scotia supported the passage of the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, perhaps they should be working together to develop our climate change plan.

Most observers expect a provincial election within a year. Whatever the outcome, any new government will still be required to meet the targets that all parties agreed were appropriate when they passed the legislation in 2007.

It could be that not all members of the Legislative Assembly fully appreciate that they have a direct and immediate interest in a climate change plan that will meet the goals that they have legislated. Regardless of political affiliations, they are all in the same boat.

Comments are always welcome and can be addressed to stephenhawboldt@annapolisriver.ca