While I am supportive of…

While I am supportive of winding down programs that have met their objectives, I would urge the Government of Ontario, in winding down the Drive Clean program, to also consider and adopt other more expansive programs to continue to tackle the significant issue of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation writ large. The transportation sector (inclusive of commercial shipping, air travel, and personal vehicle travel) is one of the largest and most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions which are causing catastrophic global climate change. The recently released United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report cited the need to act now to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stem global temperature rise to at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius. We have 12 years to accomplish this. One of the most immediate and effective ways we can contribute to this effort is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

In order to achieve this, the Government of Ontario should consider and adopt measures, working with the transportation sector, to continue to reduce vehicle emissions through new technologies and to encourage the transition to green or electric vehicles. In addition, mush more needs to be done to reduce the number of single-person vehicles on the road. This requires significant actions and investment in public transportation - trains, green buses, etc. - to improve efficiency in travel and reduce the negative environmental impacts of emissions-heavy personal vehicles.

In winding down the Drive Clean program, the Government of Ontario should create new programs designed to take actions to the next level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and to transform Ontario into an efficient, low- or zero-emission transportation society. This would have multiple benefits not only for combating global climate change but would also improve the health, well-being, and productivity of society and make Ontario a place where businesses want to locate and individuals want to settle and grow. It would make Ontario a society of the future - one where transportation is no longer a cause of environmental destruction and frustration, but one where transportation aids in the growth, development and advancement of society.