Follow U.S. lead on climate

U.S. coal cut tests Harper, Editorial June 3

Agreed, it’s time for Canada to take action too, and not continue our vague intention to regulate. Our government’s commitment to the premise of regulating emissions sector by sector seems directly in opposition to traditional conservative values. It requires more legislation to enact, and more bureaucracy to monitor, than any other system for reducing emissions. Economists, environmentalists, even oil firms, as noted in this editorial, all agree that pricing carbon is the correct move.

The carbon fee and dividend system is revenue neutral, would require very little bureaucracy to enforce and would allow the market to power a change. Doesn’t this seem like ideal environmental legislation for a conservative government?

Its enactment would certainly show the U.S. that we’re taking serious action alongside them. Now is the time to get on board with reducing emissions, or soon we’ll be playing catch up in the energy sector, with no one to sell our high-emission oil to.

Jack Morton, Toronto U.S. President Barack Obama’s goal of reducing CO2 from power plants in the U.S. by 30 per cent by 2030 is a good start, however it’s nowhere near where we need to go.

We need to cut fossil fuel dependency by 80 per cent by 2050 — for all sources, not just power plants. We have used up our carbon budget, and the rising temperature of the Earth does threaten the survival of humanity, and many other species.

A fee and dividend carbon pricing system would put a price on the pollution and encourage the development of clean tech, renewables, and conservation. I urge Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair to endorse this approach and then work together on it when a new government is formed. As informed citizens, we must let our politicians know this is what we want them to do.

Lyn Adamson, Toronto