Province provides few details for plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions

Province unveils plan to combat climate change Ben Miljure reports on the details lacking from Manitoba's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The Manitoba government unveiled a new climate action plan on Tuesday, but revealed few details on how its new targets will be met.

"We know that where we can get our gains is in transportation, and in construction and green buildings,” said Premier Greg Selinger. “Those are areas where we can make very significant gains at the same time as we create good jobs and have a more sustainable lifestyle."

According to the plan, Manitoba will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one-third below 2005 levels by 2030.

It will cut emissions in half by 2050 and plans for the province to be carbon-neutral by 2080.

Selinger will not bring in a carbon-tax at this time as BC and Alberta have done.

The premier admits the idea of selling a new tax to voters played a role in the decision.

"There's no question I'm sensitive about that,” he said. ”You know that. We all know that. Yes that's a part of it."

The plan calls for a cap and trade system to be set limits on the province’s heaviest emitters of greenhouse gasses, but provides no specifics on what limits would be in place or penalties for polluters who exceed them.

Under a cap and trade system, a cap is set for emissions and companies that remain below the level can then sell their unused emissions to companies having a hard time complying with the cap.

In some systems, companies can also purchase carbon offsets to help them stay below the threshold.

Alex Paterson of the Manitoba Justice Energy Coalition says the devil will be in the details for the new plan.

"So whether or not the government is going to allow offsets to be a major part of the plan will determine whether we see emissions reductions from the large emitters,” said Paterson.

The premier highlighted recent flooding in Manitoba as an effect of climate change in the province – and farmers agree.

"I'm from the southwest part of the province, I've been flooded out in 2011 and 2014,” said Dan Mazier, president of Keystone Agriculture Producers. “And if not myself, many of my neighbours. We've lost millions of acres in production over those two years alone."

Mazier stood with Selinger at the announcement and said his industry has to do its part to reduce emissions.

"In Manitoba, transportation's the number one greenhouse gas emitter but agriculture's number two,” said Mazier.

The province did not set a timeline for when the cap and trade system will be in place.