Province Boasts of Aggressive New Green Plan
The Province introduced what was described as an ambitious plan to guide Nova Scotia toward a cleaner, healthier environment.
The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, introduced today, sets 28 new goals, including the strongest 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target in Canada. Nova Scotia is committing to reduce emissions to at least 53 per cent below the levels that were emitted in 2005 by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
The Environment and Climate Change Minister says, “Nova Scotians care deeply about the environment and the changing climate and we have listened to their ideas about greening our economy and protecting the environment.” Tim Halman added, "We are at a pivotal moment and this legislation will showcase Nova Scotia as a world leader in adopting and achieving bold environmental goals.”
The legislation claims solutions that will guide Nova Scotia toward sustainable prosperity over the next 10 years and beyond. It will result in the Province working more closely with partners to encourage the growth of a cleaner economy and greening of traditional industries.
- Some of the goals include:80 per cent of Nova Scotia's energy to be supplied by renewable energy by 2030
- 30 per cent of vehicle sales by 2030 to be zero-emission vehicles
- conserve at least 20 per cent of total land and water mass
- develop a provincial food strategy and support consumption of local food
- modernize the environmental assessment process to include consideration of cumulative impacts; Netukulimk—the traditional Mi'kmaq concept of connection and balance between the natural and human worlds; diversity, equity and inclusion; climate change; and independent review
- reduce solid waste disposal rates to no more than 300 kilograms per person per year by 2030.
The legislation commits the government to releasing annual progress reports. The Minister's Round Table on the Environment and Sustainable Prosperity will also carry out a review of the legislation within five years.
A climate change plan outlining specific actions will follow in the spring.
This legislation builds on the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, which was introduced and passed in 2007. More than 5,600 individual ideas were shared during consultations across the province last summer.
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