Minister's Speech

Remarks prepared for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

The Business of Climate Change Conference
The Design Exchange, Toronto

(Check against delivery)

Thanks very much for that kind introduction. 

I’m pleased to be here this morning.

On behalf of Premier McGuinty, I want to welcome everyone and extend special greetings to those of you who have traveled a long distance to be here.

Forums like this one on the Business of Climate Change are essential.

Here, you have the opportunity to hear from some of the world’s leading experts, share best practices, learn about ways of responding to climate change and find opportunities to succeed in the process. 

These days, the economy is very much on everyone’s mind. 

Well, time was when progress on the environment was halted at any hint of economic trouble.  The two were considered incompatible.

Those times and that way of thinking is passé.

It’s not the economy versus the environment but the economy AND the environment.

To me, that’s what the Business of Climate Change is really all about.   

Premier McGuinty is passionate about building a green economy here in Ontario. 

He is making it the centerpiece of our government’s efforts going forward.  He’s just created a new Cabinet Committee on Ontario’s Economic Future that will place a renewed focus on opportunities in the green economy.

So, this morning I want to talk about:

1. How we are addressing climate change and working to create a successful, low-carbon economy and,
2. Why smart business leaders, here and around the globe, are planning on green initiatives to help build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future.

Clearly, climate change is the most critical environmental challenge of our generation.

The debate is over.  Climate change is here and we better deal with it ASAP. 

It’s widely accepted by scientists that the effects are being felt most profoundly in the north, in Canada’s arctic.

Climate change will affect our forests and our wetlands … our farmers’ fields and our factory floors.  It poses a real threat to our quality of life.

Taking action is imperative.  For our health and for our economic future.

We know this in part thanks to the landmark review on climate change by the British economist, Sir Nicholas Stern — whom I had the pleasure of meeting last December.

Stern’s 2006 report is considered definitive by many experts. 

He stated that doing nothing to address climate change is actually harmful to economic growth. 

Tackling climate change is a long-term pro-growth strategy — one that’s available to all economies, both in the developed and developing worlds.

In 2006, the Washington Post reported that the green business movement in the U.S. was worth an estimated $228 billion. 

Just consider — that was at a time when the U.S. government under George W. Bush was in adamant denial over the existence of climate change.

No matter if Senator Obama or Senator McCain is the next President of the United States  — one thing is certain — they are going to be moving forward quickly to catch-up with the rest of the world when it comes to taking action on climate change.

Climate change is going to affect every country on earth.  People everywhere are recognizing we have a shared responsibility to act.  They are willing to do their part.

And they are, or will be, demanding business and government respond with green products and environmental initiatives.

All governments are being judged on their understanding of this crisis … their ability to see the opportunities … and on their ability to deliver on the promise of a new low-carbon future.

In Ontario, we get it. 

We understand that the health of the environment and the strength of our economy go hand in hand. 

As our Premier states “to get green – we have to go green.”

We know greening Ontario’s economy will provide our people with a healthier environment, new jobs and a better quality of life. 

Governments can either lead, or they can fall behind.

In Ontario, we have chosen to lead.

Building on forward-thinking environmental actions like our Greenbelt … closing coal and a Standard Offer program for renewable energy, we brought forward a sweeping action plan on climate change called Go Green.

Go Green is a five-point plan that gives us a comprehensive framework for action. 

It starts with greenhouse gas reduction targets that will take us to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014 … to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

These targets are ambitious but realistic — they put Ontario among the leading jurisdictions in North America in addressing climate change.

This includes a complete phase-out of coal-fired electricity by 2014 — which represents the largest single GHG reduction measure in North America.

Closing coal helps us make real progress on reducing CO2 emissions.

At the same time, it’s going to make our people healthier and our communities more sustainable by reducing smog and giving us cleaner air to breathe.

The plan also calls for investments of $17.5 billion in approximately 900 kilometres of new or improved public transit across the GTA. 

Building better and more efficient transit is a winning formula all around. 

It keeps people and goods moving across our province … reduces GHGs from transportation and helps create thousands of jobs for Ontarians.

The third point under our Go Green action plan is a 1.15 billion dollar investment in the Next Generation of Jobs Fund.

This underscores the importance of new technologies in building a low-carbon, green-tech economy.

We want to support innovative companies that are developing new, green products and services that will help provide a foundation for a greener, more dynamic economy.

The fourth point in our action plan involves clean energy. 

Ontario’s long-term energy plans calls for an $18 billion investment in renewable energy, and we have set a target to double the amount of clean, renewable energy in our grid by 2025.

Our plan is right on target.  By the end of this year, we’ll have nearly 4,000 Megawatts of new, renewable energy projects either completed, under way or contracted.

We know Ontario offers what the world is looking for … and in the coming decades our population is going to continue to expand dramatically. 

We have to balance that growth with environmentally sustainable communities and infrastructure.

Our Go Green action plan recognizes that we need policies and plans in place today that will shape Ontario’s future growth in ways that are both sensible and sustainable.

This is an economy-wide plan.

It includes not only government actions, but actions for every sector of our society. 

All told, we’re implementing more than 80 separate climate change initiatives.

To coordinate our provincewide actions and make sure we stay on track, we have also created a Climate Change Secretariat, reporting directly to the Premier.

We are committed to reporting annually on our progress.

We are also working with Ontario industry in its transformation to cleaner technologies through partnerships with Quebec and with the Western Climate Initiative to move forward with cap and trade.

There’s no time to waste.  Industry in Ontario gets it.

What they are looking for is clear direction and a level playing field.

Cap and trade will assist our transition to a low carbon economy and encourages technological innovation, economic growth and job creation. 

Industry will be looking for cost effective ways to reduce their emissions helping create a strong demand for new technologies.

Business and industry recognize the reality and the responsibility they have to reduce their own carbon footprint — they know that by doing so, they’re going to see long-term benefits. 

That brings me to my second point.

Progressive business leaders recognize that when it comes to the business of climate change, the opportunities available today are already significant. 

And there’s every reason to expect that these opportunities will grow in the future.

In fact, world-wide action on climate change is already creating significant new business opportunities. 

According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization out of Geneva — 2.3 million people worldwide have found new jobs in the renewable energy sector alone.

Today the global market for environmental products and services is $1.4 Trillion dollars U.S.  That number is expected to double by 2020.

We’re seeing markets emerge in new, low-carbon energy technologies, eco-friendly products and low-carbon goods and services. 

By going green, we’re opening up new opportunities and new horizons — and charting a path to a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Yes, we have to plan for change and for the new economy … as business leaders, you know that is a fact of life.

The good news is it’s also going to be profitable.

Ontario’s environmental industry is proof of that.

It’s now an eight billion dollar a year industry employing close to 60,000 people and growing every year.

Ontario's environment businesses account for more than half of Canada's thriving environment industry and generate $700 million in exports annually.

New, innovative green products and services are one part of the equation.

Another involves reducing your company’s environmental footprint.

Finding ways to conserve energy and water, and reduce waste benefit the bottom line, no matter what business you’re in.

More and more of our business leaders are taking the lead in developing a sustainability strategy.

We also want to encourage and recognise Ontario’s businesses and institutions that have found new ways to reduce their footprints by exceeding provincial standards, going beyond compliance and leading by example.   

I'm speaking of the Ontario Environmental Leaders program.

This program is part of our government’s commitment to make Ontario an example to Canada and the world as a place where good business practices and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand. 

At our conference booth we’re showcasing Ontario’s Environmental Leaders — GM Canada, Exhibition Place, Fielding Chemical Technologies, Nalco, Cargill, Teknion, Trillium Health Centre, Rohm and Haas and Steelcase. 

We are proud of the work of our business partners and I want to encourage more Ontario companies to look at joining this unique program.

The fact resonates with everyone — in this environmental challenge, no one can stand alone — we’re all in this together.

Of course, Ontario is not the only jurisdiction that is looking for the silver lining in climate change. 

Some places—particularly in Europe—are already making tremendous progress in reducing their carbon footprints.

For example, the Danish energy technology sector generated record exports last year of approximately 10 billion dollars US — an eight per cent increase on the previous year.  This figure is set to rise even further as sales in this sector continue to blossom.

In total, there are 485 companies operating in these industries in Denmark, employing some 32,000 people.

Many of the world’s most successful businesses are improving their bottom line by pursuing green innovations.

The potential business opportunities arising from climate change and the need for a cleaner, greener future are tremendous.

All the ingredients for success are here in Ontario.  We’ve got a strong resource base …  a highly-skilled work force … unprecedented investments in education.

Ontario is going to continue to attract the best and the brightest from around the world who are looking for what our province can offer … strong healthy communities … high environmental standards, clean air, and clean, safe abundant water.

We need to talk about the quality of what we make.  How that is intrinsically linked to the value we place on our quality of life and our environment.

Every country in the world is going to be looking for solutions to the critical challenges of climate change.

We want them to find those solutions here in Ontario.

And we want Ontario companies taking the lead in responding to these new challenges and prospering in the low-carbon future that lies ahead.

Ontario is determined to be a leader in the green revolution. 

We know that we have a fundamental responsibility to protect and improve the environment — for the sake of our people today and for the sake of future generations. 

Reducing our environmental footprint is the right thing to do for the environment. 

But more than that, it’s simply good business. 

Economist Paul Hawken, author of The Ecology of Commerce puts it simply:

“…more and more businesses really want to do the right thing. They feel better about themselves, their workers feel better, and so do their customers.”

The greening of our economy represents our best hope and our best path forward to a better and more sustainable future — and to the continued prosperity that our people want and deserve.

As you explore the business of climate change at this conference, I hope your discussions are both enjoyable and informative—and that what you learn here will help inspire you to future action.

Because when it comes to addressing climate change, we’re all in this together. 

Our continued commitment and hard work can help ensure a strong and prosperous Ontario and a bright future for us all.

Thank you.

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