On Thursday, February 12, 2015, Ontario released a discussion paper regarding Ontario's
strategy for addressing climate change. The paper is another
milestone on Ontario's long road to implementing its 2007
Climate Action Plan. Covering everything from urban planning
to carbon pricing, the paper is ambitious in tone and broad in
scope. What remains to be seen is whether the Ministry can
move from a general discussion to specific policy recommendations
in 2015.
Let the Climate Change Consultations Begin – Again
Ontario set ambitious emissions reductions goals for itself in
the 2007 Climate Action Plan. The province
was expected to achieve its first goal, reducing emissions by 6%
below 1990 levels by 2014, largely as a result of the successful
closure of coal-fired electricity generation in Ontario. The
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario doubts that current policies
will allow the province to achieve the next goal of reducing
emissions by 15% below 1990
