- Premier Selinger
Public to be Consulted on System to Reduce Greenhouse-gas Emissions in Manitoba
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Premier Greg Selinger today committed the provincial government to moving forward with legislation enabling the creation of a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Manitoba. He said the system will be subject to public consultations in 2010.
“Manitoba is playing a constructive role in focusing on commitments, goals and targets that we and other leading sub-national governments can take,” Selinger said. “Market mechanisms like cap-and-trade will play a large role in the global effort to address climate change in a cost-effective manner. Cap-and-trade legislation will complement Manitoba’s participation in regional climate-change strategies like the Western Climate Initiative and Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.”
Selinger made the announcement at the Climate Leaders Summit 2009, sponsored by The Climate Group, being held in Copenhagen today as a side-event to the UN Conference on Climate Change. Selinger was invited to participate along with 60 other climate-change leaders from sub-national and local governments, and innovative climate-solution businesses from around the world.
“The Climate Leaders Summit provides an opportunity to share practical strategies related to clean-energy development, low-carbon technology and regional co-operation on climate change,” said Selinger. “These are areas where Manitoba has taken an early leadership role and they are vitally important for creating new green economic opportunities for the future.”
As part of the Climate Leaders Summit, Selinger is also hosting a round-table discussion titled Power to the People: Our Clean Energy Future. The session involves close to 20 government and business participants, speaking on the policies that promote renewable energy development and expand clean-energy technology solutions.
“This panel discussion between business and government leaders will demonstrate how government and industry can work together to build a low-carbon economy of the future,” said Selinger. “These discussions will help to create momentum at the UN Conference and motivation for committed long-term actions to reduce emissions.”
