The Ontario government's plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions does not have the tools necessary to meet its GHG emission targets, according to Gord Miller, environmental commissioner of the province.
Miller's report, ‘Finding a Vision for Change: Annual Greenhouse Gas Progress Report 2008/2009,’ states that the government is projecting that it will fall short of its goals, even though the future reductions projected by the government are based on an assumption that all initiatives will be implemented 100% successfully.
‘Having targets is important, but having the tools and techniques to meet those targets is critical,’ says Miller. ‘If I were to give the government of Ontario a grade on this report it would be an 'incomplete.'’
The only opportunity to eliminate the shortfall in meeting the target set for 2020 requires placing considerable faith in the successful and timely implementation of a cap-and-trade system, the report states.
In addition, most of the projected reductions in the short term are expected to come from a single initiative – the phase-out of coal from Ontario's power supply, according to the report. While this will result in substantial reductions in the electricity sector, the government's plan, at present, does not project significant reductions in other sectors such as industry and transportation, nor other fuels such as natural gas.
In 2007, the Ontario government established targets to reduce GHG emissions. Earlier this month, the government reported on steps it has taken to achieve these targets, outlining a range of measures it is taking to reduce GHG emissions, including 14 key initiatives.
SOURCE: Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario
