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ARTICLE · 08 AUGUST 2014

Minister Receptive To Commissioner’s Climate Report

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Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner issued his annual Climate Change report last month, as usual scolding the provincial government for its inaction on both mitigation and adaptation.

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Ontario's Environmental Commissioner issued his annual Climate Change report last month, as usual scolding the provincial government for its inaction on both mitigation and adaptation. But this year, the report got an unusual reception: the new Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Glen Murray, attended the announcement, and seems to be receptive to its message.

The Commissioner's climate report, Looking for Leadership, calls especially for urgent action on greenhouse gases from transportation, mainly cars and trucks, the  biggest source of GHG emissions in the province. According to Commissioner Miller, "The 2007 Action Plan said the government would reduce transportation emissions by 19 megatonnes (Mt) by 2020. That goal, unfortunately, has now been cut by almost 80%. I have been given no reason why, and no explanation about what the Ontario government plans to do instead."

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