WHEREAS the Scientists of…

WHEREAS the Scientists of the U.N.’s IPCC confirm the clear human cause of climate change with climate change pollution now highest in history, resulting in major impacts on human and natural systems, and WHEREAS continuation of this climate pollution will cause more warming and change of the climate system “increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and nature”, and WHEREAS limiting climate change and its risks will require substantial and sustained reductions in our climate change carbon pollution/emissions;

We the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
Working cooperatively with the other Assembly parties and governments, the Ontario government must not cancel current programs before soon preparing the best short/long term climate action plan with clear targets to reduce climate change pollution. That plan must include public education of climate change as well as the frameworks for improving energy conservation and speeding the clean energy transition. The key is to quickly move to smarter, practical carbon pricing emissions policy which is the most cost effective and successful way to reduce pollution. Other incentives and public investment are also needed to help the public, industry and governments bring climate disruption under control for a favourable future climate for youth and upcoming generations, as well as the natural world.

Rolling back environmental laws like Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, Green Energy Act, 2009, and Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation (Ontario Regulation 359/09) does not create a more inclusive, equitable, prosperous, and sustainable future for young Ontarians. The Cap and Trade law should not be repealed unless and until it is replaced by an equally effective climate change law in an orderly manner. Polluters should pay as much as they pollute, not cleaned up by the rest of us. Returning the price on carbon pollution to taxpayers would make us more prosperous, encourage polluting less, drive innovation, and create high quality employment in Ontario together with export communities. Pricing polluters to drive energy conservation, energy efficiency, zero emissions driving, and renewable energy is the future we want for ourselves and future generations to create more inclusive, equitable, prosperous, and sustainable Ontario.