The Manitoba government has set its greenhouse-gas emissions reduction goal for 2018 to 2022, well in advance of the November deadline established in The Climate and Green Plan Implementation Act, based on the independent, scientific recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Council.
“Our government is focused on ‘bending the emission curve’ once and for all, through a results-driven and transparent approach,” Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires said. “We are pleased to have received the report of the Expert Advisory Council which makes a number of recommended actions and initiatives to support our goal of reducing cumulative emissions over time, while continuing to grow the economy. While we know there is a lot of work to be done, we are committed to addressing climate change, and that’s why we are accepting the council’s advice on greenhouse-gas reduction targets and establishing our first carbon savings account.”
Manitoba’s first greenhouse-gas emission reduction goal has been set at one megatonne (MT) of cumulative emissions reductions of carbon dioxide equivalent for the 2018 to 2022 period. Once implemented, this will be the single-largest emissions reduction effort ever undertaken by the Manitoba government, the minister noted. Manitoba’s emissions will be:
- lower than when they started,
- supported by designated policies and actions to meet the goal, and
- measured and reported on regularly.
“We are thrilled to see the government take a leadership role and act so quickly on the creation of a carbon savings account,” said Colleen Sklar, chair of the Expert Advisory Committee. “It has been our goal to establish a practical approach to carbon emissions reductions that bends the emissions curve, ensuring Manitoba emissions continuously decline over time. Our advice reflects ideas and analysis provided to us by over a one hundred key stakeholder organizations, for which we are grateful for their input and enthusiasm.”
This announcement makes Manitoba the first jurisdiction in North America to establish a set emissions reductions goal in rolling five-year periods, based on independent expert advice, through an innovative and transparent carbon savings account, the minister said. It provides a clear focus and pathway for governments, businesses, municipalities and communities and all Manitobans to take action in reducing emissions in a meaningful, practical and measurable way, she added.
The one MT cumulative emissions reduction goal is the first step to reduce carbon over the first five-year carbon savings account period. The Government of Manitoba will track and publically report on progress to the target.
Each carbon savings account period will see a reduction in emissions from what is projected if no climate action was taken.
