FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FREDERICTON — Five eastern premiers and six U.S. states agreed to a regional target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 35-45 per cent before 1990 levels by 2030 at the conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) this weekend. Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, issued the following statement:
This is an achievable target that gives us the chance to see the benefits of transitioning to a climate-friendly world.
The commitment of our premier and his colleagues will help us get more solar panels on the roofs of homes and businesses and more young people working to make our houses warm and cozy though energy efficiency.
It’s encouraging to see our region add another ambitious target in the fight against climate change. Other provinces across Canada are stepping up, including Ontario’s latest target of a 37 per cent drop before 1990 levels (on top of its long term goal of 80 per cent reduction by 2050), and this new regional target will set eastern Canada and New England on track to meet the long-term goal of slashing emissions by 75-85 per cent of 2001 levels by 2050.
We’re seeing our leaders respond to people who want their communities protected from increasingly extreme weather and who want some much welcome diversity in their local economies.
The 39th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers was held in St. John’s, NFLD on Monday, Aug. 30. Representatives from the four Atlantic provinces and Quebec, as well as representatives from the six New England states, attended the conference.
The NEG/ECP Climate Change Steering Committee will present a plan on how to advance the 2030 target at next year’s conference.
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To arrange an interview, contact: Jon MacNeill, Communications Officer | 458-8747 | 261-1353 | jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca