Alberta Liberals Release Climate Change Agenda

The Alberta Liberals released their strategy today for reducing greenhouse gases and making Alberta a leader in climate change technology.

“If there is such as thing as an issue of national security for a province, it is climate change,” says Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft. “Climate change threatens virtually everything we value about this province, from its land, air, and water; to the linchpins of our economy: the energy industry, forestry, and agriculture.”

“Climate change is real, and it is bearing down on Alberta like a locomotive. We must act, and we must act urgently.”

The Alberta Liberal climate change strategy would:

• Establish an absolute cap on greenhouse gas emissions from all sources, to take effect five years after forming government, through an active partnership with the energy industry.
• Establish a Premier’s Strategic Council on Climate Change to create and implement a comprehensive climate change policy.
• Ensure that Alberta’s royalty system supports the protection of our air, land and water.
• Improve building code standards to reduce energy use.
• Support increased use of public transportation, recycling and composting.
• Promote cleaner renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and geothermal power.
• Implement appropriate financial and economic incentives to develop carbon capture and storage technology.

“Today, Canada is last among developed nations in addressing climate change, and Alberta is last among provinces,” says Taft. “In twenty years we must be first, and a leader; not just in Canada, but in the world.”

“Our customers are beginning to demand that we do a better job - because of years of government inaction, we are playing catch-up,” adds Taft. “Through taking the lead on climate change, we can secure our long term prosperity. Jobs and the economy are at risk if we don’t act. Protect the environment and we protect jobs. We have a responsibility to the world, and to Alberta, to take action on this critical issue.”