Posted March 29, 2018 05:03:50 As temperatures rise, a growing number of Canadians are waking up to the reality that the planet is heading towards an energy shortage and it’s not clear how to adapt.
In recent weeks, the province of Alberta has become the first province to ban carbon emissions.
The province’s move comes after the United States’ Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced a carbon pricing plan that has the potential to be a game-changer for many of Canada’s energy users.
The new rules mean consumers can only pay $15 a tonne for electricity, and they’ll have to pay more for other energy.
Alberta is the first jurisdiction to implement the carbon pricing, but other provinces and territories are expected to follow suit.
“The cost of living has risen, so that means the cost of our energy bills have risen as well,” said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, in a statement.
“If we don’t get on the ground and put our resources in a way that we can meet the needs of Alberta consumers, we’re not going to be able to afford to maintain our economy.”
She added: “This is not an idle threat, it’s real.
We have to find a way to make this transition as simple as possible for our families.”
In Saskatchewan, Premier Brad Wall announced the province would be scrapping its carbon pricing.
“I have to be clear that the cost-of-living is going to skyrocket and the cost to the average Saskatchewan household is going a lot higher than it is in Alberta,” he said.
Saskatchewan has also become the second Canadian province to implement carbon pricing plans.
But many experts say the plan has been an expensive and controversial one.
“Carbon pricing is the worst way to manage climate change,” said Stephen Smith, a professor of environmental law at the University of Saskatchewan.
Climate change experts agree, saying that while carbon pricing is an effective way to mitigate climate change, it is unlikely to be the long-term solution to reducing carbon emissions or dealing with the long term impacts of climate disruption. “
You’re going to have to go in and address those underlying causes.”
Climate change experts agree, saying that while carbon pricing is an effective way to mitigate climate change, it is unlikely to be the long-term solution to reducing carbon emissions or dealing with the long term impacts of climate disruption.
“Climate change is real,” said Smith.
“We have a finite amount of carbon, we have a shortage of carbon.
So, you need to get it to the market.
But the market has to be efficient, it has to have a market-based structure, and the price of carbon has to reflect the value of carbon in the marketplace.”
Smith added that a carbon price plan that was not tied to a particular emissions reduction plan is not a sustainable approach.
“So, the only way to really mitigate climate disruption is to put the market system in place,” he added.
“And that’s going to require a carbon tax and a carbon trading system.”
With files from the Canadian Press.
