> Study calls for new emission-reduction policies
Study calls for new emission-reduction policies
- Mark Jaccard, 604.291.4219, mark_jaccard@sfu.ca
- Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 604.291.4323
May 17, 2007
Despite increasing public awareness about climate change, Canada is
still without a fully effective policy response, say the authors of a
new study examining strategies to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Simon Fraser University professor Mark Jaccard and graduate student Nic Rivers say Canada has failed to reduce greenhouse gases because the country “relies primarily on measures that are politically painless but ineffective.”
They say voluntary and subsidy policies have fundamental problems and they are skeptical about the government’s most recent proposal to control large industrial polluter’s emissions.
The researchers recommend:
• A carbon-management standard for fossil fuel producers and importers;
• A zero-emission and ultra-low vehicle standard for vehicle manufacturers; and
• Tighter residential and commercial building codes and appliance and equipment standards.
The researchers say the creation of such policies would help cut Canada’s GHG emissions in half by 2050 and would result in effective environmental protection at the lowest possible cost.
“Canadians have wasted too many years debating greenhouse gas emission targets and implementing climate change policies that don’t work, and the time has come to put in place policies that will,” says Jaccard.
The study, titled Canadian Policies for Deep Greenhouse Gas Reduction, was carried out for the Institute for Research on Public Policy.
For the complete report, see www.irpp.org.
Simon Fraser University professor Mark Jaccard and graduate student Nic Rivers say Canada has failed to reduce greenhouse gases because the country “relies primarily on measures that are politically painless but ineffective.”
They say voluntary and subsidy policies have fundamental problems and they are skeptical about the government’s most recent proposal to control large industrial polluter’s emissions.
The researchers recommend:
• A carbon-management standard for fossil fuel producers and importers;
• A zero-emission and ultra-low vehicle standard for vehicle manufacturers; and
• Tighter residential and commercial building codes and appliance and equipment standards.
The researchers say the creation of such policies would help cut Canada’s GHG emissions in half by 2050 and would result in effective environmental protection at the lowest possible cost.
“Canadians have wasted too many years debating greenhouse gas emission targets and implementing climate change policies that don’t work, and the time has come to put in place policies that will,” says Jaccard.
The study, titled Canadian Policies for Deep Greenhouse Gas Reduction, was carried out for the Institute for Research on Public Policy.
For the complete report, see www.irpp.org.