As climate change attains unprecedented prominence as a global public issue, we face a further test of humankind’s ability and willingness to do something about it. The countries participating in the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) are set to…
Air quality, Carbon tax, Clean air, Climate change, Electricity, Greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Nuclear, Ontario, Political communication
“Made in Canada” Kyoto plan takes shape as Quebec initiative lays out political gains
Stephen Harper’s Kyoto dilemma (see my June 18 post) might be transforming into a glorious electoral opportunity, thanks to an initiative coming from the Prime Minister’s favourite province. Quebec Sustainable Development minister Claude Bechard told Broadcast News today he wants…
Air quality, Clean air, Climate change, Electricity, Greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Nuclear, Ontario, Political communication
Harper’s Kyoto dilemma: big city blues
We’re heading into what could be a long and hot summer. It might come with more of the climate-related craziness that accompanied last summer. Against this backdrop, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are busy working on a new climate change plan for…
Air quality, Clean air, Climate change, Electricity, Greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Nuclear, Ontario, Ontario Power Generation, OPG, Political communication
Ontario Liberals go nuclear, Greenpeace vows to go to the mattresses
The McGuinty government yesterday announced it would address the power supply problem by taking the only sensible course of action available to it: refurbishing laid-up reactors at the Bruce nuclear plant, and building two new reactors at an existing site,…
Air quality, Clean air, Climate change, Electricity, Greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Ontario, Political communication
Ontario Liberals indefinitely postpone coal shut-down
Surprise, surprise. The Ontario Liberals announced Friday they were delaying—yet again—the closure of the provincial coal-fired generating plants. They are thereby violating the letter of one of their major election promises. The opposition is scrambling to make hay out of…
Clean air, Climate change, Electricity, Greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Nuclear, Ontario, Political communication
McGuinty’s Kyoto opportunity: a recap
Ontario could easily achieve Kyoto targets in its electricity generating sector, by refurbishing or replacing the laid-up nuclear units at the Pickering and Bruce generating stations. To make my case, I’m going to backhoe some of the historical numbers. Please…