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Remarks prepared for:

by

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

“Keeping Watch of Our Earth: A Moral Imperative”

All Saints’ Kingsway Anglican Church
Wednesday, February 14, 2007

(Check against delivery)

 

Thank you for that kind introduction, Reverend Sheldon. I’m very glad to be here.

And I certainly think that each of you deserves “warm” thanks for coming out on such a chilly evening. Saint Valentine is testing us tonight! And not just with Cupid’s bow and arrow!

As you know from Reverend Sheldon’s introduction, I have the privilege of serving as Ontario’s Minister of the Environment. Of course, I was honoured and pleased to have been appointed to this position a year and a half ago. But what a far distance we’ve come in those 18 months!

I have to tell you, there’s been a tremendous – almost palpable – change in the level of awareness of the environment since I first started this job.

I don’t need to explain why. How many of you have seen Al Gore’s film “The Inconvenient Truth”? If you haven’t, you’ve read about it, no doubt … you’ve heard news reports about the polar bears drowning in the Arctic … You’ve noted the curious weather patterns that we now see here regularly... And you most likely saw the news from Paris a couple of weeks ago: the United Nations reported that climate change experts now agree – global warming is unequivocal, and is almost certainly the result of human activities.

Issues of the environment – and especially climate change – are absolutely top of mind right now.

When Reverend Sheldon and I first met we discussed how the work of the church community intersects with environmentalism, how closely connected faith is with keeping watch of the earth.

Well, there may be an increasing awareness in our society of environmental issues. Certainly right now it’s polling as the number one concern of Canadians. But how much of it is really new?

I think it comes down to values. We value our sense of community, we appreciate the gifts we have been given in a great province like Ontario, and we accept our shared responsibility to care for this earth we inherited.

Communities of faith, like yours, recognize that development is not sustainable if it robs our children and grandchildren of their future.

It’s our collective responsibility to reduce our ‘environmental footprint’ and to work together to build a sustainable world.

I hope the Reverend doesn’t mind if I quote some scripture. I’ll invite him to quote legislation later and we can call it even!

Psalm 96 states simply: “Let the Earth be Glad”.

Unfortunately though, when we look around, it seems that the opposite is true.

We haven’t always treated the earth with respect and care. Now we are seeing the results of our actions.

Global climate change is the defining issue of our generation.

Whether you are highly attuned to this subject or only just getting a handle on it, I’m sure you’ll agree we need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – the emissions that cause global warming.

But first it might be helpful to back up.

A lot of people assume that all of our greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution come from the big stacks of heavy industry. The truth — maybe the “inconvenient truth” — is that we ordinary citizens create as much emissions as industry.

Coal-fired power plants create about 17 per cent of Ontario’s GHGs. Various other industry practices generate about 34 per cent. Agriculture adds another five per cent. That adds up to a little more than half of our climate change emissions.

So where does the remaining 44 per cent come from? It’s us. Transportation alone creates almost a third of our GHGs. Our households produce almost 10 per cent. The waste we generate releases methane in landfills that count for another four per cent.

It’s easy to blame industry for all our problems. But the truth is that at least part of the solution lies in what we do at home, what we park in our driveways and what we carry to the curb.

So let’s look at what the science is telling us. Closing Ontario’s coal plants will reduce the province’s collective emissions by 30 megatonnes.

But our science also tells us that closing power plants alone will not be enough. In fact, if nothing else is done, Ontario’s total emissions would continue to rise.

We also need to slow the growth of emissions and ultimately start reducing them. It’s a lot like balancing the budget — we inherited a large deficit. Once we have the carbon deficit under control, we can start actually reducing the debt.

In his film, Al Gore said so vividly: “We are witnessing an unprecedented collision between our civilization and the Earth.”

That’s a very dramatic way of saying: “We need to get ourselves in check.” Let’s look at it this way: what we build, where we live, how we get our fuel and energy — these have changed many times in the history of our civilization. And they will change again.

Viewed through this lens, you can see that this could just as well be a time for hope and opportunity.

As we address climate change, our society and economy will adapt. In fifty years, it will be unrecognizable to someone today — and that will be a good thing.

We have the potential to have an economy based on clean and renewable fuels, on zero-emission transportation, on energy-efficient homes and businesses.

This future can start now, with the knowledge and the technology we already have.

I’m pleased to report that here in Ontario, we are already taking action. We are developing our plan for climate change and clean air.

We’ve met with industry leaders, environmental groups, health experts and representatives from sectors as diverse as manufacturing, transportation and agriculture.

Remarkably, there is a lot of agreement on what to do next. There is a broad sense of shared responsibility. Everyone, including industry, wants certainty so that we can make plans now with a clear sense of direction for the future.

The single largest reduction of greenhouse gases that the province of Ontario will make is to stop burning coal for electricity generation. And much is said in the media about Ontario’s commitment to close the coal plants.

When will they close? Why should they close? What about clean coal?

Well, I can tell you this much – we will close them. Why? Because Ontarians deserve better, cleaner air… Because Ontarians are asking for action. Because it’s the 21st century and science shows us that renewable energy is the way of the future…

While in some places, they are building new coal plants, we are saying no to coal.

But we can’t depend on this action alone. Our efforts must be shared, collective and far-reaching.

That’s why we’ve set targets for renewable energy…

Why we’ve strengthened emissions standards for 40 toxic and carcinogenic substances … why we’re looking at new standards for 15 more — including lead…

And why our government is committed to investing in research and innovation that will help develop new and emerging energy sources.

From curbing urban sprawl to energy conservation, transit investments to educational awareness, Ontario’s integrated approach to climate change and clean air covers a wide range of coordinated actions.

Yes, climate change is a global challenge. But addressing it effectively comes down to the choices we make as individuals.

How can we reduce our environmental footprint and ensure the sustainability of our air, land and water for future generations?

First, we need the ‘best in science’ — the kind of innovative research and breakthrough thinking that will allow us to get results faster.

Scientists and researchers from many different disciplines need to be engaged in the climate change challenge immediately, and begin moving us toward solutions that work.

Our government has committed over half a billion dollars to the Ontario Research Fund to foster technological innovation and environmental solutions.

The second critical element to meeting this challenge is political will.

Governments must be prepared to commit their resources strategically to deal with climate change. And they must be prepared to maintain that commitment until the task is done.

This is an investment in smart choices — not a sacrifice — and the jurisdictions that invest now will soon leave the stragglers behind.

I’m talking about investments in transit to get more cars off the road … the beautiful GreenBelt that protects 1.8 million acres of land from urban sprawl … Smart metering that helps conserve energy — all innovative, exciting ways of preserving our natural resources, and building a cleaner, greener and healthier Ontario.

Number three is moral obligation. Climate change, from an ethical point of view, demands a shared responsibility. This is a global issue and we all share the moral imperative to act.

In fact, I believe we all want to do the right thing. People aren’t actively resisting change; many just don’t know how to change, or understand why.

Fourth, there is personal responsibility. And this touches on the daily choices we each make — not just as leaders and influencers, but as citizens.

We all make choices – whether it’s how and where we live, what kind of vehicle we drive, what products and services we buy or don’t buy.

In this sense, one of the greatest challenges we face is helping people understand that the choices they make every day have an actual impact on climate change, for better or for worse.

How can each of us reduce our environmental footprint?

1. We can take the bus!
2. We can recycle more.
3. We can turn our thermostats down. Even one or two degrees makes a real difference in how much pollution you generate.
4. We should all buy energy-efficient appliances. This is good economic sense as much as anything.
5. We can all buy compact fluorescent bulbs. Count the number of bulbs in your house – it’s probably more than thirty. Changing a few lights makes a big difference.
6. An easy way to cut energy loss is to invest a bit in insulating and weather stripping your home. Again, that saves money and protects our environment.
7. You can buy a hybrid if you’re in the market for a new car. 8. We can idle our cars less. This may not sound too appealing on a cold day but it saves a lot of gas and cuts emissions.
9. And finally, one of the emerging trends is to fly less. Amazingly, if you took one flight to Vancouver and back you’d be personally responsible for as much pollution as driving your car for ten weeks.

You all know that church communities also have a valuable role to play in tackling the issue on a grassroots level.

By learning, sharing information and getting involved in green initiatives, you can as individuals and as a church, create momentum for effective, positive change.

A great first step you can take as a congregation is to get involved in doing an environmental audit of your church.

I know that Reverend Sheldon is going to be following up with more details on what’s involved. But, in short, an audit looks at all the different things you can do to save energy, conserve water, produce less waste and reduce the environmental footprint of this building.

Once you see what’s involved here at All-Saints, I encourage you to consider spearheading the same kind of audit at home — and in your workplace.

There are 12 million people in this great province of ours who could potentially make a difference. But each of those people may also wonder whether their small contributions would matter. We need to convince them that 12 million small contributions add up to a lot.

Above all else, people will put their families first, and their values will reflect their decisions.

Today, many people are willing to pay more for a car with a reputation for safety. Will they do the same for a car that produces fewer emissions? I know I did!

I’ve got twin one year old boys — Ryan and Zachary — and as a mother, I want them to inherit a cleaner, greener, healthier world.

It was a decision based on ethics.

Ethics lie in choice. It is our moral responsibility, no matter who we are, to make choices that contribute to building a better world, not only for our children, but for the generations to come.

People forget too easily that in our lifetimes, we have taken on great challenges and overcome them.

We have virtually eliminated the environmental damage from lead.

We have reversed the effects of acid rain and brought lakes and forests back from the brink.

We have even started the process of mending the ozone layer. These are tremendous victories.

And what did they cost us? We sacrificed nothing, but gained so much.

Yes, climate change is bigger than any of these, but it is not unsurmountable.

I think it’s fitting to leave you with a quote from one of our country’s greatest leaders.

Tommy Douglas, the father of universal healthcare in this country, was not only a great Canadian politician, he was a visionary, a man of strong ethics and beliefs who looked beyond what was, and saw what could be.

He started out as a Baptist Minister and, coincidentally, came from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where I was born.

In Mr. Douglas’ words, “Courage, my friends; ‘tis not too late to build a better world.”

Thank you.

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