Proposed G8 energy efficiency target testing Canada’s climate resolve

To bolster enthusiasm for the target of 20 per cent efficiency improvement by 2020, WWF today released a report demonstrating that despite enormous potential to stop energy waste – an action that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the planet from dangerous climate change – the G8 industrialized countries do not have effective policies and measures to tap these savings.

The global conservation organization shows that each of the G8 countries, plus the five developing countries involved in the meeting, can save energy and the climate while promoting their energy security with sustainable economic business opportunities and employment. WWF’s report estimates the efficiency potential for the transport sector at 25-50 per cent, for the building sector at 30-45 per cent, and for the power sector at 4-45 per cent by the year 2030, depending on the country.

“Hundreds of studies prove that boosting energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest, most effective way to fight climate change. But patchy and weak rules keep Canada among the least energy efficient countries on the planet. Let’s turn lemons into lemonade and stop this energy waste and pollution,” says Julia Langer, Director, Global Threats, WWF-Canada. “There is no strategic benefit for Canada to be aligned with climate change laggards and everything to gain by siding with energy efficiency leaders like Germany and the UK.”

The key tools to achieve efficiency improvements are strict, legally-enforceable energy performance standards applied to buildings, transport, equipment and appliances, and power generation; appropriate and effective financial incentives to manufacturers and consumers; and clear information and labelling. Reducing energy demand is the key to meeting Canada’s Kyoto commitments and to further, deeper GHG reductions.

“Signing up for the G8 target to become 20 per cent less of an energy hog would be a good way for Canada to demonstrate commitment to a clean, lean energy strategy,” said Langer. “Efficiency requirements can be the government’s strong suit, like their important initiative to ban inefficient light bulbs. Action to give us a more efficient society, dramatically more energy-efficient homes, appliances, offices and transportation systems is a no-regrets policy.”