Executive Council
September 4, 2014
Strengthening Resilience to Climate Change
Provincial Government Provides Update on Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Action Plans
The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, today released a mid-way progress report on the province’s Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Action Plans.
“These action plans help us to understand how the province has to adapt to climate change and guide us towards becoming more resilient to its impacts. Since the action plans were released in 2011, significant progress has been made and 64 of the 75 commitments have been completed or are currently underway. The Provincial Government recognizes climate change is a challenging, long-term issue which impacts all sectors of our economy.”
- The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
The action plans - Charting Our Course: Climate Change Action Plan and Moving Forward: Energy Efficiency Action Plan - established the Provincial Government’s strategic approach to climate change and energy efficiency with 75 commitments for action over a five-year period.
Highlights of the progress report include:
- By the end of 2014-15, approximately $16 million will be spent on energy efficiency retrofits for low-income households that lower energy bills by an average of $735 per year.
- Work is underway with large industrial companies to identify cost-effective greenhouse gas reduction opportunities and work towards a formal framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large industry.
- Across the province 104 sites are used to monitor coastal erosion to inform planning and development decisions.
- A Hurricane Alert System is available for 45 communities/areas throughout the province.
- Adopting energy codes for homes and small buildings and raising awareness and understanding of these new provisions.
The progress report can be found online at: //www.exec.gov.nl.ca/exec/ccee/publications/progress-report.pdf
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government released a Progress Report today updating two Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Action Plans.
- Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook provided approximately $9.3 million into energy conservation and environmental protection.
- For more information on how to be more energy efficient and lower greenhouse gas emissions, visit the Turn Back the Tide website //ow.ly/AZPMC
- 30 -
Media contact:
| Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 709-729-2575, 728-8092 deborahthomas@gov.nl.ca |
2014 09 04 3:20 p.m.