Groups Press Ontario to Improve Cross-Border Climate Pact

“The Western Climate Initiative was created because provinces and states on both sides of the border were frustrated with federal inaction,” said Keith Stewart of WWF-Canada. “They now have to ensure that the system they set up fulfills its potential to reduce greenhouse gases and speed the transition to the new green economy.”

While supportive of the Initiative, the groups identified a number of weaknesses in the draft design of the WCI’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program released last week, which would mean unacceptable delays in urgently needed emissions reductions. The groups called on Ontario, and other provinces, to use their seat at the negotiating table to fix these problems, or commit to higher standards for themselves.

“Putting limits and prices on greenhouse gases pollution is a key component of any credible climate plan,” said Mark Lutes of the David Suzuki Foundation. “The Western Climate Initiative could serve as a model for a larger national or even continent-wide system, so it is important we get the details right.”

Based on the experience with cap-and-trade programs in other jurisdictions and in order to ensure that the WCI helps provinces achieve the targets they have set for themselves, the groups said that Ontario and its WCI partners should:

– Advance the start date of the system to 2010.
– Set provincial caps on greenhouse gas emission at levels that are in line with their climate targets.
– Close potential loopholes with respect to the use of credits from outside the capped sectors.
– Auction all greenhouse gas allowances, rather than giving them away for free.

“The Western Climate Initiative has to be a floor, not a ceiling for provincial action,” said Cherise Burda of the Pembina Institute. “British Columbia has already shown that you can have broad carbon reduction measures in place by 2010 and we expect other provinces to follow suit.”