Canadian climate change plan

April 27, 2007 12:04 PM

The Canadian government has released its new Turning the Corner plan for regulating greenhouse gases, setting mandatory intensity-based emission targets (18% reduction over three years) for major industrial sectors. Firms exceeding their targets will be required to pay $15/tonne starting in 2010. Expected cost: $7-8B per year, offset by an expected $6B benefit from improved health. Kyoto targets won't be reached until 2020, eight years late. Reaction from industry, Alberta, the Opposition. Previous proposal from Opposition leader Stephane Dion. Previously.
posted by russilwvong (12 comments total)

Thanks, russilvwong. This became news after the Conservatives accidentally faxed it to the Opposition a few days early.
posted by anthill at 12:15 PM on April 27, 2007

I was wondering about that lightbulb ban... since compact fluorescents are contraindicated for use in dimmer switched sockets...
posted by acro at 12:27 PM on April 27, 2007

Plus, there's a minimum number of hours per week you need to use a bulb to justify the manufacturing cost of a CFL... for something in a basement cold store, incandescent might be the most ecological choice. But try and design a public awareness campaign around that message.
posted by anthill at 12:38 PM on April 27, 2007

compact fluorescents are contraindicated for use in dimmer switched sockets

I've purchased dimmer-rated compact fluorescents and used them for over two years now. They do have a shorter lifespan than advertised, however I find that with ALL of my compact fluorescents.
posted by jkaczor at 12:48 PM on April 27, 2007

These [intensity] targets will result in absolute reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases from industry as early as 2010 and no later than 2012, even if the economy grows as expected. (second link)

Is there any basis at all for a claim like this?
posted by Adam_S at 12:54 PM on April 27, 2007

Baird forgot to wipe the shit off his grin when he said meeting Kyoto would cost Canada 245,000 jobs.
posted by furtive at 1:10 PM on April 27, 2007

I expect the retail price of CF lightbulbs to skyrocket now that the govt has banned their much cheaper alternative.
posted by rocket88 at 1:19 PM on April 27, 2007

The conservative's plan is crap, but I have to admit it's more substantial than anything the liberals put out during their tenure. I don't understand why the government doesn't just go with a revenue-neutral carbon tax and be done with it.
posted by Popular Ethics at 1:43 PM on April 27, 2007

I expect the retail price of CF lightbulbs to skyrocket now that the govt has banned their much cheaper alternative.

Maybe. I expect the black market price of incandescent light bulbs to skyrocket once they're banned. Time to stock up!

I bought some CF lights recently, planning to use them in the summer. In the winter, CF lightbulbs will increase my CO2 emissions somewhat, since I'll be burning heating oil to replace the heat that would've been generated by light bulbs running on hydroelectric power. Given that the lights are on for much less time in the summer at this latitude, I'm not convinced that switching to them full-time will help anything.

I don't understand why the government doesn't just go with a revenue-neutral carbon tax and be done with it.

That would be too simple and effective. Much better to have dozens of different rules and regulations for cars, households, light bulbs, oil companies, and so on. Maybe if they make the plan complicated enough, nobody will be able to argue with it.
posted by sfenders at 3:40 PM on April 27, 2007

So now Canadians will return home from the states carrying their 2 bottles of wine, carton of cigarettes, and a 12 pack of incandescents.
posted by Eekacat at 5:14 PM on April 27, 2007

Eekacat, I don't think anyone in government has even thought of that, possibly because so many government members and staff members come from parts of the country where people don't/can't casually cross-border shop. After all, who in Calgary is going to drive to Great Falls, Montana (a thirteen-hour round trip) to buy lightbulbs?
posted by watsondog at 12:56 AM on April 28, 2007

Suzuki confronts environment minister over green plan

"What the government is trying to do is give the illusion of movement by talking about reducing the intensity, and hard targets," he said. "The reality is it's really a cover for allowing industry to increase its pollution, so it's not seriously addressing the emissions problem."
posted by dreamsign at 2:51 AM on April 28, 2007