I am writing in the days…

I am writing in the days following the publishing of the stark IPCC report of October 8, 2018, and following the announcement of the 2018 Nobel prize in Economics. The IPCC report warns of the urgent need to keep global warming below 1.5ºC, and is clear that putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions, whether by direct taxes on fossil fuels, or by cap-and-trade, is central to our effort to keep global warming under control. Carbon pricing was further supported by those awarding the Nobel Prize as they named William Nordhaus for making the case that "the most efficient remedy for the problems caused by greenhouse gas emissions would be a global scheme of carbon taxes that are uniformly imposed on all countries."

It is completely retrograde to dismantle the very policy that effectively signalled to our business community that there was a descending cap on emissions, and a price on carbon pollution, that in turn generated funds for schools, hospitals, residences and more to retrofit for energy efficiency. In our own community, building upon years of volunteer work by concerned citizens to educate fellow residents about energy efficiency, we had begun serious outreach to inform our neighbours, both in our ward and beyond, of the attractive incentives offered through GreenON (funded by proceeds of Cap and Trade) and through the Electric Vehicle Incentives Program. Hundreds of hours of work by our volunteer team went into designing the materials we would use in our outreach. All for nought - as they had to be redesigned upon the incomprehensible news of the termination of these programs and incentives. We know the future of cars is electric, that jurisdictions elsewhere are planning for the end of cars powered by fossil fuels (China, India, France, England, Norway), and that Ontario has an ideal source of low carbon energy to power electric vehicles.
Eliminating the Cap & Trade program has already has a negative impact on the economy in the form of the loss of local contractor jobs supported by home energy retrofit programs.
The end of GreenON particularly knocks the wind out of residential incentives to insulate homes, replace windows, install air source heat pumps, geothermal systems, air sealing, smart thermostats. This abrupt termination of the GreenON program has resulted in great confusion among members of the public - few people know whether any incentives remain to improve household energy efficiency. Families are earnest in their desire to cut their household energy costs, enhance the level of comfort in their home, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and give our children a chance at a better future than that signaled by the climate destabilization we see now in this warming world.
About 40% of our greenhouse gases come from home heating and 30% from transportation, mostly gas cars. We have to reduce these to reach our current target of 30% below 2010 levels by 2030. What is the plan by this administration?

The Cap and Trade Cancellation Act sows chaos, at a time when, instead, we need a very disciplined, concerted, stringent effort to rein in Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions. And, now that we have before us the IPCC report "Global Warming of 1.5ºC", anything short of this disciplined, concerted, stringent and urgent effort to confront our climate crisis is nothing short of willful negligence.

In the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, the Ontario government has committed to establishing targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario, and a climate change plan to achieve these targets. I urge you to support Ontario’s current science-based pollution reduction targets. Those targets set the province on track to be nearly carbon neutral by mid-century, which is what is required if we hope to limit global warming to 1.5. degrees, as agreed to by 195 countries in Paris.

Ontarians are already facing the growing impacts of extreme weather: flooded basements, forest fires, and health impacts from polluted air and extreme heat. Backing away from Ontario’s pollution reduction targets will threaten future generations’ ability to enjoy a safe climate.

Ontario needs to develop and launch an effective plan to fight climate change as soon as possible. A good first step would be to begin consultations with businesses, economists, scientists and other climate change experts to forge a cost-effective and ambitious way forward.

An effective, made-in-Ontario climate change plan must tackle the major sources of carbon pollution in Ontario including transportation, industry, buildings and waste. Without strong action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from these sources, the people of Ontario will face serious consequences to our health and our environment.

The plan must also include adequate funding for pollution reduction programs, transparency mechanisms to show Ontarians how this funding will be spent, and firm commitments and timelines for regular reporting on the plan’s progress.

Ontarians look forward to a plan that will transition Ontario to a healthier and more competitive province, create new jobs in many industries, and address the root cause of climate change by reducing carbon pollution, by decarbonizing.

Distraught Ontarian parent