TORONTO — Today the Ontario Green Party launches Roadmap to Net-Zero: The Ontario Greens’ Climate and Environmental Plan.
“Tackling the climate emergency is the Ontario Greens’ primary priority,” said Ontario Greens’ Leader Mike Schreiner. “It’s probably the most pressing issue facing Ontario and the world. It’s the largest challenge of our lives, and additionally it is the largest opportunity.”
“We’re at a tipping point and want an honest, ambitious and practical plan that matches the urgency of the crisis we’re in and takes advantage of the potential of the green economy to create latest businesses and higher jobs. Our latest Roadmap to Net-Zero does just that.”
The Ontario Greens’ Roadmap to Net-Zero presents a vision for a healthier, greener and more prosperous Ontario that gives good, clean jobs, environmentally responsible and inexpensive housing, inclusive and caring communities, and a greater lifestyle for everybody.
The Ontario Greens’ Roadmap to Net-Zero will:
- Adopt a Zero Carbon Law that sets a Fair Share Carbon Budget for the remaining of the century and can cut Ontario’s climate pollution in half by 2030 and to net-zero every yr from 2045.
- Clean the air by replacing fossil fuel utilized in vehicles in half by 2030 and to net-zero by 2040 with electric vehicles, transit, energetic transportation and connected communities.
- Work with Indigenous Peoples to protect 25% of Ontario by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
- Create latest careers and higher green jobs for tons of of 1000’s of individuals, and improve business opportunities for 1000’s of green entrepreneurs.
- Use energy efficiency upgrades and warmth pumps to replace fossil fuel use in buildings 40% by 2030 and to net-zero by 2040.
“It is simply too late for climate motion to be gradual and incremental,” Ontario Green Deputy Leader and former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Dianne Saxe said.
Ontario Greens recognize that urgency and immediacy is critical to tackling the climate emergency. That’s why Schreiner tabled a bill this week that may set a Carbon Budget. “Climate motion can’t wait,” Schreiner said. “If the opposite parties are in any respect serious about climate, they’ll vote in support of this bill.”
World wide, individuals, firms and countries are turning away from fossil fuels and competing to win in the brand new, green economy. Yet Ontario continues to lag.
“The Ford government is actively worsening the climate crisis with their anti-environment agenda,” Saxe said. “And the incremental half measures and compromises of the NDP and Liberals — like voting for pipelines at Queen’s Park — won’t cut it.”
A big 25% of the general advantages of the Ontario Greens’ climate plan shall be focused on disadvantaged communities.
“Now we have a roadmap for an inclusive, Green transition that leaves nobody behind,” Ontario Green Deputy Leader Abhijeet Manay said. “A good and equitable plan to get us to a zero-waste, net-zero carbon economy — without lining the pockets of the one percent on the expense of Ontario’s most vulnerable.”
“There may be a way forward,” Schreiner concluded. “We want a real plan for real climate motion. Enough with the empty talk and unfulfilled guarantees. Ontario Greens have the vision and a transparent roadmap to construct the world people want so Ontarians is not going to only survive the climate crisis, but will thrive. It could possibly be done, so let’s start.”
To learn more please visit: www.gpo.ca/climate.