News Release

For immediate release
January 16, 2008

ONTARIO ALIGNS WITH LEADING STATES AND PROVINCES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
Province Joins The Climate Registry

TORONTO – The Ontario government is taking another important step in our commitment to fighting climate change and ensuring a cleaner greener Ontario by joining a pre-eminent U.S.-based climate change initiative, The Climate Registry.

“The real action and leadership on climate change is happening at the state and provincial level,” said Environment Minister John Gerretsen. “Ontario is eager to work with those jurisdictions that are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions now and establishing a sustainable green economy.”

Ontario is moving forward with an aggressive and integrated approach to tackling climate change. The government has announced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets of six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014, 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. Ontario will achieve these targets while creating a more diverse, sustainable economy for the province.

Through The Climate Registry, Ontario will work with jurisdictions such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, as well as American tribes and the majority of U.S. States, who are all currently members. This will provide an important foundation for the development of a strong emissions trading system, a key to addressing climate change here in Ontario.

The Climate Registry is a collaboration aimed at developing and managing a common GHG emissions reporting system that will measure, track, verify and publicly report GHG emissions across borders and industry sectors. The Registry will support voluntary, market-based and regulatory reporting programs. It will provide transparent and consistent GHG emissions data from its members, as well as a robust accounting and verification infrastructure.

“As a province, we are putting our name forward to be counted among the leaders in climate change,” said Gerretsen. “These partnerships and affiliations will help us achieve our twin goals of a cleaner environment and a stronger economy.”

Ontario’s Go Green Action Plan includes:

phasing out the use of coal for generating electricity;
investing over $17 billion in public transit initiatives;
establishing a 1.8 million acre greenbelt to protect important natural systems from urban sprawl;
developing the Places to Grow Act which promotes urban intensification and communities connected by public transit;
passing new energy efficiency standards; and,
implementing an aggressive renewable energy policy.

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News Release

ONTARIO ALIGNS WITH LEADING STATES AND PROVINCES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE Province Joins The Climate Registry

ONTARIO ALIGNS WITH LEADING STATES AND PROVINCES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
Province Joins The Climate Registry