Turn climate-change talk into action

The time has come for Canadians who say they’re against climate change to translate their fine words into stronger action.

In last month’s federal election, the vast majority of voters cast ballots for parties that prioritized fighting global warming — and using carbon taxes as a weapon.

But two new reports show not only how far we have to go to make meaningful progress, but also what we might have to sacrifice to save our planet home from a possible catastrophe.

On Monday, the United Nations Environmental Program’s latest report revealed global carbon dioxide emissions released by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil are not falling. In fact, these emissions, which are dangerously overheating the Earth, are rising.

Meanwhile, unless Canada does something radically different from what it’s doing now, the UN report warns this country will miss its targets for reducing emissions.

More sobering news arrived Wednesday from Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, a group of prominent economists, politicians, business leaders and environmentalists. It said Canada will have to raise its carbon price to $210 a tonne by 2030 — more than 10 times the current rate — or adopt policies that are even more expensive in order to meet the reduction promises it made in the Paris agreement.

The commission estimates such a tax hike would add a whopping 40 cents to a litre of gasoline, a figure that will not pass unnoticed. Indeed, the prospect of such a steep rise will embolden those who argue Canada can’t repair the world’s climate alone and so should not cripple its economy in pointless virtuesignalling.

But those naysayers are a minority. In last month’s general election, two-thirds of Canadian voters supported the Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or the Bloc Québécois — all of whom are committed to carbon taxes. How can those voters deny that this Parliament has a mandate to take tougher action than ever against climate change?

Of course, that tougher action may not result in carbon taxes soaring the way the Ecofiscal Council suggests might be necessary. Other solutions may work better. What Canada’s doing now, however, can’t be the final answer.

It’s simply not good enough to help counter the dangerous temperature increases that have occurred since the Industrial Revolution and which are still on an upward trajectory. We must be ready to accept some short-term economic pain for longterm environmental gain.

Keep in mind the cost of doing nothing would likely exceed the cost of carbon taxes. The floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires increasingly associated with climate change would also leave us with hefty bills to pay.

Keep in mind, too, that even if future federal governments ramp up carbon taxes far beyond what we have so far experienced, individual Canadians will continue receiving annual federal rebates that should exceed what they pay in carbon taxes. And in the next decade, more and more Canadians will buy electric cars, make better use of improved public transit systems and make their homes more energyefficient.

The carbon tax is designed to change behaviour. It will, as people find ways to avoid it.

Yes, the carbon emissions from China and the United States dwarf those coming from Canada. Even so, Canadians are some of the world’s biggest per-capita carbon emitters. Whatever China and the U.S. do or don’t do, Canada can join the responsible nations of the world actively battling climate change.

That cause should be worth some belt-tightening or significant changes in our behaviour — if we have the courage of our convictions.