Document de recommandations pour l’atténuation des changements climatiques – Commentaires découlant de la consultation publique

On invite les Insulaires à faire part de leur opinion sur ce à quoi devrait ressembler la recommandations pour l’élaboration d’une stratégie d’atténuation des changements climatiques  (en anglais seulement). La consultation publique en ligne sera ouverte jusqu’au 10 novembre 2016. Les commentaires soumis par les Insulaires à cet égard seront publiés de façon anonyme sur cette page. 

 Les commentaires seront répertoriés par ordre chronologique en commençant par les plus récents. Si vous croyez qu’une erreur a été faite lors de la publication d’une soumission, prière de le signaler par courriel à seledgerwood@gov.pe.ca(link sends e-mail). 

Les commentaires sont publiés dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été soumis.

25 octobre 2016

Présentation #1

Any carbon tax being revenue neutral is imperative. Certainly increasing taxes through carbon taxes will impact prices on goods and services as the cost to deliver goods and services will be passed on to the consumer and I doubt the majority of people can afford an increase in costs through taxes at this time. The taxes should be neutral for everyone, not just lower income People in the middle class may have better incomes but even the middle class is struggling. There is no immediate magical solution to not using fossil fuels. The technology is evolving but it will take time. Going out and purchasing newer fuel efficient vehicles and upgrading heating systems for homes is expensive and I doubt most people can afford it in the short term nor would they be able to trade a newer vehicle. 

This report has some great ideas but the issue is over what time frame and where does the funding come for Islanders to purchase this new technology. Carbon taxes become a penalty for heating a home or driving your vehicle, especially for families with children. You have to have a bigger home and vehicle use more fuel when you have children. If you commute any distance to work you also get penalized as opposed to someone who lives in the cities. Clearly a carbon tax cannot be fair depending on each families circumstances. There is no evidence that I have found that we can switch from fossil fuels in the short term unless you are fortunate to have extra money or can afford a loan. It is reported most people live pay to pay so this report needs to be implemented on a careful timeline and incentives, not taxes, need to be offered to assist
people in switching from fossil fuels to renewable fuels. Any increase costs hurt the majority of citizens. Clearly any carbon tax must be revenue neutral- that is the reason it has not caused major problems in British Columbia.

Présentation #2

First off, it's good to see PEI taking a proactive approach to addressing climate change, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. I'm very surprised there is no mention of an expansion in wind power as a way of reducing the Island's CO2 emissions (and supporting the stated desire to move away from oil heat). Given the fact that 42% of emissions are transportation generated, I'm also surprised that only two pages of the recommendations document are focused on "Moving people and goods," and am likewise surprised that there is no reference to public transportation.

The reference to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles is a positive step, though the Island should also consider the adoption of infrastructure for hydrogen fueled vehicles, generally considered to be a more efficient long-term solution. Also, the document should consider vehicle efficiency, in terms of speed limits: the UK's Energy Saving Trust for example says that the most efficient speed for cars (in terms of achieving the best fuel economy) is 90 - 105 km/h. 

I'm surprised there is no consideration of tree planting (and/or forestry protection) is terms of CO2 absorption and storage. Finally, given the GHG emissions associated with cattle, should the proposed strategy not include some kind of educational campaign to persuade consumers to shift away from the consumption of beef and dairy products, in favor of a higher intake of vegetables?

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment.