Thousands of Canadians Demand for Canada
to go Beyond Coal
For Immediate Release, October 27, 2011
(Ottawa) Over 5,000 letters
demanding stricter greenhouse gas regulations for coal power in Canada were
submitted during the public consultation period on federal coal
regulations. Climate Action Network Canada believes that if incorporated
into the proposed regulations, measures proposed in member submissions could insure that these regulations have a meaningful impact
on Canada’s path towards a safer, more sustainable future.
Leading Canadian
organizations are concerned that the proposed regulations, if not strengthened,
will deliver only a 3 per cent improvement towards meeting Canada’s 2020
emissions target, and according to Environment Canada will have a “negligible
impact” on non-polluting electricity generation.
Concerns about
the proposed regulations include a loophole that would allow for the
construction of a new coal plant by Maxim Power Corp. that would not be subject
to federal regulations until 2060. These regulations would also allow coal
power continue to play a role in Canada’s electricity mix until the middle of
the century, a timeline that is inconsistent with the global need for emissions
to peak between 2015 and 2020.
“New dirty coal
is unacceptable today, not after 2025,” said John Bennett, Executive Director
of Sierra Club Canada. “These regulations do very little to cut
emissions, and keep coal powering electricity for the next 45 years.”
“If amended,
these regulations have the potential to get us off coal and cut one tenth of
Canada’s emissions,” said Graham Saul of Climate Action Network Canada.
“Ontario phased out coal in under ten years - if they can do it, the rest of
Canada can.”
“Coal powered
England in the 1800s. It has no place in today’s more enlightened world,” said
Dale Marshall, Climate Change Policy Analyst, David Suzuki Foundation. “It’s
time to move beyond coal. Canada can lead the world, but these regulations fall
far short of what’s needed.”
Proposed federal
coal regulations. Reduction of
Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-Fired Generation of Electricity
Regulations, were released on August 26, 2011 and subject to a 60-day
comment period.
Climate Action Network Canada - Réseau action climat
Canada is a nation-wide coalition of more than 80 environmental, faith,
development, labour, aboriginal, health, and youth organizations committed to
making action on climate change by Canada a reality.
