The provincial government would like to see more electric vehicles on the road.
It’s one of the goals of its plan to help battle climate change.
Dubbed, “The Way Forward on Climate Change,” the plan includes actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from across the economy, stimulate clean innovation and growth, and build resilience to the effects of climate change.
Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister Graham Letto presented the plan at an ACAP Humber Arm South’s Coastal Matters information session Friday, explaining how Newfoundland and Labrador will address the shared challenge of climate change over the next five years.
It includes 33 actions to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions and 17 actions to build resilience to the impact of climate change.
The province plans to increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings, implement the Made-in-N.L. carbon pricing program, decrease reliance on diesel electricity generation in off-grid communities, support the agriculture, aquaculture and forestry sectors, build climate-resilient infrastructure, address climate change-related health issues, and pursue education and community outreach.
The plan is part of the government’s “The Way Forward” initiative, which is aimed at strengthening the province’s economic foundation and delivering better outcomes for residents.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) commended the government for releasing the plan.
“Knowing the environmental challenges and opportunities that the province is focusing on … allows the private sector to respond in-kind,” NEIA executive director Kieran Hanley said.
He said NEIA members were extremely engaged in the development of the climate change action plan, pointing out that the organization launched an industry engagement campaign in 2016, which offered recommendations to the government.
“We know that years of hard work by our public sector has gone into this plan,” Hanley said.
“NEIA looks forward to studying the result and is eagerly anticipating more information on programming available to help businesses thrive in the lower-carbon economy.”
