I absolutely disagree with…

I absolutely disagree with the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, proposed by the Ontario Government that would end the current cap and trade sysyem. I fully support the continuation of the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016.

Climate change has been discussed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), world renowned physicist and best-selling author, Stephen Hawking , and the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, among others, as the single greatest natural threat to humanity that we currently face. It is now well understood that the key issue is not a lack of solutions to deal with climate change but, rather, it is a lack of political will to put these solutions into action. Cap and trade has been proven as an effective solution to the problem. This fact cannot and should not be ignored. To do so would be highly unethical and irresponsible. There is far more to be done but repealing this program would be several steps backwards.

Taking immediate action on climate change is imperative. Many climate scientists agree that we have already passed the "point of no return" in terms of reversing the currently trajectory that we are on. In fact, it is well documented that we are already seeing the impacts of climate change the world over, including (but certainly not limited to) extreme heat, drought, and precipitation; worsening forest fires; decreased food and water supply; negative impacts on ecosystems, communities, and individuals; war; and disproportionate impacts on oppressed, vulnerable, and marginalized people and communities.

99% of climate scientists agree that climate change is caused by humans (anthropogenic) and that urgent action is necessary to prevent catastrophic consequences. You almost never see that kind of consensus in the scientific community, which should be cause for anyone with even a basic understanding of science to take pause and sound their internal alarm. If humans are the cause, then the solution lies with us as well. Cap and trade ensures that the largest polluters pay the most, which encourages them to change their ways. This is important given that just 100 companies contribute to 71% of global emissions. These companies produce their products internationally, including here in Ontario, which means we all play are part in upholding this destruction, regardless of where the company's home base is located. That is why we need to take collective action, regardless of where we call home, especially when we come from a far more privileged country that has the means to initiate change globally.

If this Ontario government chooses to scrap cap and trade for opportunistic political gain and/or because they are willfully ignorant to this extremely important issue, it would be equivalent to putting one's head in the sand with a cost that can never be repaid - our world and everything in it that we hold dear.

Do not scrap cap and trade. Keep it and do even more, provided that the "even more" translates to policy that is steeply rooted in evidence backed by the scientific community and not just political ideological beliefs.

Thank-you.

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