Provincial Government Launches Climate Change Action Plan

  • Municipal Affairs and Environment

March 1, 2019

Today, the Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, launched the Provincial Government’s climate change action plan: The Way Forward on Climate Change. The Way Forward on Climate Change contains actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from across the economy, stimulate clean innovation and growth, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Minister Letto presented the plan at an ACAP Humber Arm South’s Coastal Matters information session, speaking about how Newfoundland and Labrador will address the shared challenge of climate change over the next five years.

The plan includes 33 actions to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions and 17 actions to build resilience to climate impacts. Direction is provided on how the Province will:

  • Increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings;
  • Implement the Made-in-NL carbon pricing program;
  • Increase the penetration of electric vehicles;
  • Decrease reliance on diesel electricity generation in off-grid communities;
  • Support the agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry sectors;
  • Build climate resilient infrastructure;
  • Address climate change-related health issues; and
  • Pursue education and community outreach.

A province-wide public and stakeholder consultation process informed the development of The Way Forward on Climate Change. The plan and information about the consultations process is available in the Learn More section below.

The release of the Climate Change Action Plan delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quote
“We are all seeing the impacts of climate change in our daily lives. Through The Way Forward on Climate Change, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better adapt to the impacts of climate change while stimulating innovation and clean growth. Government has set out our long-term plan to minimize the risks and maximize the opportunities as we transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Honourable Graham Letto
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment

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Learn more
The Way Forward on Climate Change

Climate change consultations

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2019 03 01 12:45 pm