Green Party Leader Criticizes Leadership
Candidates' "Do Nothing" Approach
by Green Party of B.C.
 Continued emitting of carbon dioxide will wreak havoc on the planet for the next 1,000 years, says one recent study in the journal Nature Geoscience. Another study in the same journal predicts mountain glaciers and icecaps will shrink by 15 to 27 percent in volume terms on average by 2100.
"But since Liberal leadership candidates Kevin Falcon and George Abbott won't be alive then, they're in favour of the "do nothing" approach to the problem," says Green Party Leader Jane Sterk.
"Only the BC Liberals can take a problem seriously and then call a time-out when it suits their political ambitions to retain power," Sterk added.
"I really wonder if they have children and grandchildren," she said, "because their decisions today will make their children's and
grandchildren's futures terribly difficult."
Green Party Leader Criticizes Leadership Candidates' "Do
Nothing" Approach Pricing carbon an essential part of action on climate
change.
"Responding to leadership candidate George Abbott's suggestion that a vote on the carbon tax be held concurrent with the vote on the HST, Sterk called the idea "absolute nonsense."
"Scientists and economists know that the quickest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to put a price on carbon dioxide," said Sterk. "British Columbia has been a world leader in this regard since the carbon tax was introduced in 2008. It isn't as high as I would like it to be but the proposed plan to introduce a cap and trade program in the province would have gone a long way to clearly spell out to BC industries that they must cut their emissions.
"Now, industry will be more confused than ever about the province's intention related to the climate change problem given that Canada's CEOs have recognized taking action on the issue can have a positive effect on a company's bottom line.
"The Liberal leadership candidates are currying the favour of the Business Council of BC which last year suggested the government "pause and reset" their climate policies.
"What is needed instead is an aggressive program to install solar hot water heating systems on residences throughout the province. Such a program should be twinned with another to retrofit older houses in the province to make them more energy efficient. These programs will employ thousands of people in local communities, reduce electricity and heating bills, increase the resale value of homes, slash carbon emissions and create healthier places to live," concluded Sterk.
for IMMEDIATE RELEASE
About the Green Party of BC
The Green Party of BC is the only major party in BC today with no debt. A
Green economy would run on the principles of triple-bottom-line accounting,
rewarding organizations and individuals that practise environmental, social
and economic sustainability and aligning government expenditure decisions
with citizens' wishes. www.greenparty.bc.ca
Contacts:
Jane Sterk
Leader
250-507-1715
leader@greenparty.bc.ca
Rebecca Helps
Executive Director
250-590-4537
execdirector@greenparty.bc.ca
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