NEWS RELEASE
ANN HOGGARTH, MPP BARRIE
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Ontario is leading the fight against climate change with the release of the province’s Climate Change Action Plan. Through the plan, Ontario will invest up to $8.3 billion in projects in communities across the province that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and help people and businesses transition to a low-carbon economy.
The plan lays out the specific commitments Ontario is making to help meet its near-term 2020 emissions reduction targets, and establishes the framework necessary to meet its targets in 2030 and 2050.
Building on Ontario’s landmark climate change legislation, the plan will ensure proceeds from the province’s recently finalized cap and trade program are invested in a transparent and accountable way back into projects that will help households and businesses reduce emissions and save on their energy costs.
The plan supports actions in communities like Barrie to combat climate change, create good jobs in clean tech and construction, and generate opportunities for investment, including:
- Providing tools and incentives to make new and existing buildings more energy efficient
- Supporting low-income households, vulnerable communities and tenants while helping landlords and social housing operators reduce their emissions and generate savings
- Electric vehicle incentives to purchase and charge electric cars
- Major expansion of electric vehicle charging at workplaces, on highways and in apartment buildings and condos
- Support to municipalities to build commuter cycling networks linked with transit
- Cleaner natural gas fuelled trucks to eliminate dirty diesel soot and greenhouse gas pollution
- Major investments in greening schools, hospitals and heritage buildings
- Land-use planning reforms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Making it easier for homeowners to install or retrofit clean energy systems like solar, battery storage, advanced insulation and geothermal heat
The Climate Change Action Plan and cap and trade program form the backbone of the Ontario’s strategy to cut emissions to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. The government will report on and renew the plan every five years.
The Climate Change Action Plan builds on Ontario’s leadership in the fight against climate change, including setting a 2030 target for greenhouse gas pollution reduction, hosting the successful Climate Summit of the Americas in July 2015, ending coal-fired electricity generation, and electrifying and improving Ontario’s commuter rail network.
Fighting climate change while supporting growth, efficiency and productivity is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
Quotes
“Ontario is proud to be a world leader in the fight against climate change. We are committed to creating a low-carbon economy that will drive innovation, create more opportunities for business and industry, and generate high-value jobs. Our government’s Climate Change Action Plan is laying the foundation for cleaner air, a healthier environment, a stronger economy and a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
~ Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
“Our Climate Change Action Plan will create good jobs, help local citizens and Barrie businesses reduce their carbon footprint, save money and accelerate a shift to a more sustainable society. This is a necessary, but measured response to the global threat that is climate change.”
~ Ann Hoggarth, Barrie MPP
Quick facts
- Ontario expects to generate approximately $1.8 to $1.9 billion per year in proceeds from its cap and trade program, which will be deposited into a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account.
- Every dollar in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account will be responsibly and transparently invested into actions that directly reduce greenhouse gas pollution, create jobs and help people and businesses shift to a low-carbon economy.
- The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account will receive proceeds from auctioning allowances under Ontario’s cap and trade program. The first auction will be held in March 2017.
- Ontario intends to link its cap and trade program with Québec and California’s under the Western Climate Initiative.
- Ontario’s environmental and clean technology sector is made up of 3,000 firms, employs 65,000 people, and is worth an estimated $8 billion in annual revenues and $1 billion in export earnings.
Learn more
Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy
Ontario’s Cap and Trade Program
