Minister's Speech

Speaking points for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Smog Summit 2009
Toronto City Hall Council Chamber

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

(Check against delivery)

Thank you, Joe.  (Minister to be introduced by Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone.)

Good morning, everyone.

It’s great to take part in the Smog Summit 2009. 

I am pleased to have an opportunity to address this summit again and I’d like to thank our hosts and organizers — the Clean Air Partnership.

I’d also like to recognize the sponsor, Enbridge Gas Distribution, as well as our partners at the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Toronto Hydro Corporation.

This Smog Summit brings together key players to address some of the most serious environmental challenges of our day, including climate change and smog. 

Our success will go a long way toward determining the quality of life we enjoy today … and the kind of world we leave to future generations.

The Intergovernmental Declaration on Clean Air

What I like most about this forum is the emphasis on concrete action and results.

This is why Premier McGuinty and the Ontario government are committed to this process and to working with everyone here through the GTA Clean Air Council.

As a demonstration of this commitment, on behalf of Ontario, I’m pleased to sign the 2009-2010 Intergovernmental Declaration on Clean Air.

It’s an honour for me to join in this agreement to protect our air … and to create a brighter, healthier and more prosperous future.

These are goals we all share.

Announcing cap and trade

Today, I’m pleased to announce new actions from Ontario that will bring these goals one step closer through the implementation of a cap and trade program for Ontario to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Just last week, I introduced an important piece of legislation — the proposed Environmental Protection Amendment Act on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading.

If passed, the act would provide the authority to make the regulations we need to create a cap and trade program … and take part in the broader North American system for greenhouse gases expected to roll out in 2012.

Announcing ICAP membership

Today, I’d also like to announce that Ontario has joined the International Carbon Action Partnership — or ICAP.

ICAP members include countries and regions that support cap and trade, including the European Union, Australia and New Zealand … as well as representatives from two regional systems that we’re already working with — the Western Climate Initiative and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

It’s a great opportunity for our province to work with other leading jurisdictions to develop, implement and operate cap and trade systems.

ICAP provides an international forum to promote a global cap and trade system for greenhouse gases.  This will help link current and emerging carbon markets by promoting a consistent regulatory framework across national borders.

Climate change and the global economic slowdown

Coordinated effort is absolutely necessary because climate change is a global environmental challenge that threatens our health, our communities, our economy and our way of life.

At the same time, we’re also facing a worldwide economic crisis.

It’s a pivotal time — for our economy, our environment and the future well-being of our people.

We cannot over emphasize the seriousness and complexity of these issues.  At the same time, linking them together presents us with a remarkable opportunity to lay the foundations for a low-carbon recovery and a green economic future

Cap and trade and the low-carbon recovery

“Low-carbon recovery” is not an abstract idea or wishful thinking.  It is already guiding governments around the world.

We’re seeing it in President Obama’s stimulus package with its emphasis on green jobs … in the European Union’s economic recovery plan … in the policies of individual European nations and in countries like Australia, China and Japan.

Our primary goal with cap and trade is to help us meet the ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets set out in our Climate Change Action Plan.

We’ve already been working in partnership with jurisdictions like Quebec, BC, Manitoba and several U.S. states to develop a regional cap and trade system through the Western Climate Initiative.

Like Ontario, Quebec also recently introduced enabling legislation to provide its government with the authority to set up a cap and trade system.

And in the U.S., President Obama and the U.S. Congress are moving quickly to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets and create a cap and trade system.

The President has clearly stated he believes cap and trade will be a big part of both tackling climate change and revitalizing the U.S. economy.
 
Ontario needs to keep pace with our trading partners in the U.S. and in other provinces.  We have to make sure the products we make in Ontario are not subject to punitive border tariffs.

We have too much at stake economically and environmentally.  We cannot sit back and let others set the pace and spell out the rules for us.

The emerging North American system

Ontario is determined to play a leadership role in developing the greenhouse gas cap and trade system that emerges in North America.  We must be able to influence the parameters on which the system is based to ensure a level playing field for our industries.

It is almost certain that a new continental carbon market designed to reduce greenhouse gases will emerge.  Ontario is well-positioned to be a significant player in this market – thanks in large part to the skills and expertise we have in this province and, particularly, here in the GTA.

This city is recognized as a North American financial and economic centre with the potential of becoming a key trading centre.  There are tremendous economic and growth opportunities for those with the special skills and experience who can help implement an effective commercial trading system.

At the same time, cap and trade will help act as a springboard for technological innovations that can help propel us into the cleaner, greener future we all want.

The best possible cap-and-trade system is a totally integrated system, ideally worldwide, but – at a minimum – a North American integrated system where the same rules apply across jurisdictions. 

This broader market will provide a more effective approach to cap and trade and allows industry to achieve the most reductions for the least cost.

Integrated approach to climate change and air pollution

Ontario’s proposed greenhouse gas cap and trade system would build on other actions we’re taking to reduce threats to our health from air pollution.

We emphasize an integrated approach to air pollution and climate change because of the close links between air pollutants and greenhouse gases.  They come from similar emission sources and are affected by the same driving forces – transportation, electricity and energy supply, major and small industrial sectors, household emissions, and land-use changes and practices.

Climate change will affect air quality and vice versa. When temperatures increase, research has shown that many components of smog can also increase and air quality deteriorates. As a result, actions taken to address climate change can also have a benefit for air quality in the province of Ontario.  

Of course, we are also taking actions that specifically target the causes of smog and other air pollution.  Our plan for clean air includes tough limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) – two key pollutants responsible for the formation of smog.

These limits on NOx and SO2 are being applied to more industrial sectors than ever before … and these limits will become more stringent over time.

We’re also setting new standards, some for the first time, for a wide range of airborne pollutants – including carcinogens and toxins that are potential threats to human health.

Within the last two years the ministry has introduced 59 new or updated air standards – it’s the biggest move on airborne toxics in over 30 years.

And we’re protecting our air through our toxics reduction strategy.  It focuses on helping industries transform their processes, find green chemistry alternatives and reduce the use of toxics in their operations.

Air Quality Health Index

In addition to these preventive measures, we continue to use our Air Quality Index to inform Ontarians about the quality of the air they breathe … and to help them make wise decisions about their levels of physical activity and protecting their health.

We believe Ontarians deserve the most accurate and complete information possible on the health impacts of poor air quality … so we are also providing services to support the development and expansion of the new Air Quality Health Index.

Ministry staff are now evaluating the results of the Air Quality Health Index to ensure it will be of value to all Ontarians before we make a decision on adopting it.

Conclusion

There’s no question we face major challenges that threaten our ability to protect our environment and health and create strong, sustainable economic growth.

We need to take bold, decisive and well-coordinated action.

We need to involve governments and businesses and other organizations at all levels and in all sectors.

And we need to move forward now.

With the proposed legislation I introduced last week, Ontario has begun to lay the foundation for a greenhouse gas cap and trade system that will help us achieve our ambitious reduction targets and provide an incentive to industry to make the transition to a greener economy.

Through our membership in the International Carbon Action Partnership, we will benefit from the knowledge and experience of other jurisdictions and participate in the development of a broader cap and trade program.

Our goal is to have a cap and trade system in place in Ontario by 2012.
Once again, I’m pleased to tell you about actions the Ontario government is taking and I’m impressed and encouraged by the work everyone here is doing.

Let’s keep working together to set our economy on a greener path and create a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous future for our communities, our province and our world.

Thank you.

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