The Province of Prince Edward Island has released the first of a series of business plans outlining its commitment to address climate change.
Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment Chester Gillan and Minister of Development and Technology Mike Currie announced the publication of the document entitled Curbing Climate Change: Prince Edward Island Climate Change First Business Plan.
"Prince Edward Island produces only 0.3 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, a major contributor to global warming. However, we are certainly not immune to the effects of climate change," said Minister Gillan.
"Potential impacts such as rising sea levels, increased storm frequency, and loss of fish habitat would have a severe effect on Prince Edward Island. So, it is vital that we do our part to help curb climate change."
PEI 's First Climate Change Business Plan contains several initiatives that fall under the broad themes of promoting technology development and innovation, investing in knowledge, governments leading by example and encouraging action. They include: installing Green Power capacity by establishing a wind energy generation site at North Cape; purchasing Green Power for provincial government buildings; developing energy information materials to assist the manufacturing and processing sectors to reduce energy consumption; promoting ride-sharing programs such as PEI Enerpool; and concrete measures related to agriculture, forestry, electricity, transportation and industry.
Minister Currie said while climate change presents many challenges, it also presents opportunities. And, he added, Prince Edward Island is well-positioned to take advantage of those opportunities.
"This province has years of experience in developing alternate energy and energy efficiency programs such as the district heating system in Charlottetown. Another more recent example is the development by the provincial government of the 5.28 megawatt wind farm at North Cape," the Minister said.
"This strategy will build on that experience, encouraging the further development of environmentally friendly sources of energy and other technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Curbing Climate Change: Prince Edward Island Climate Change First Business Plan is the first of what will be a series of business plans addressing climate change. It covers the period through 2003.
The publication is available at Island Information Service and online at http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/fae_climatepei.pdf
BACKGROUNDER
Curbing Climate Change
Prince Edward Island Climate Change First Business Plan
Through the national Joint Ministers of Energy and Environment, Prince Edward Island has been working with the other provinces and territories and the federal government since 1997 to develop a domestic policy to address the issue of climate change.
In October 2000, a National Implementation Strategy and the the First National Business Plan were finalized. The National Implementation Strategy will be implemented through a series of three-year business plans which will outline individual and coordinated actions to be taken by federal, provincial and territorial governments to address climate change. As part of the national business plan, provinces and territories are developing their own business plans.
PEI 's First Climate Change Business Plan adopts the five broad themes in the national business plan: enhancing awareness and understanding, promoting technology development and innovation, investing in knowledge/building the foundation; governments leading by example, and encouraging action.
Following are actions identified in each of the five themes.
Enhancing Awareness and Understanding:
The province has limited input into this theme in the early years of the business plan but may promote its energy efficiency, alternate energy and environmental programs in the final year of this business plan and in future business plans.
Promoting Technology Development and Innovation:
Continue to support the research of wind power technologies at the Atlantic Wind Test Site. Investigate intelligent transportation systems in road design and incorporate Global Positioning Systems in highway maintenance activities (pending funding from Transport Canada).
Investing in Knowledge/Building the Foundation:
Complete land use inventory of agriculture and forest plots that will provide baseline data on several soil parameters including organic carbon content. Develop and distribute energy information materials through the $MART Energy Management Workshops, on-site consultation and an interactive $MART Energy Management CD-ROM that will allow manufacturers and processors to begin the analysis and reduction of energy consumption in their facilities. Respond to telephone inquiries from the general public and distribute Comfort-Plus home energy information materials.
Governments Leading by Example:
Continue to promote ride-sharing programs such as PEI Enerpool. Develop and promote the $MART Energy Management CD-ROM. Promote teleworking for provincial employees. Install Green Power capacity by establishing a wind energy generation site through the PEI Energy Corporation (provincial crown agency) in cooperation with the Atlantic Wind Test Site. Purchase Green Power for some provincial government buildings. Pursue the accessibility of natural gas (a lower emitting alternate to other fossil fuels). Continue with implementation of the Waste Watch program.
Encouraging Action:
Agriculture/Forestry
Land Use Inventory Plots - monitor and provide baseline soil parameters. Livestock Management and Grazing Management - provide technical advice to mitigate methane and nitrous oxide. Planting Hedgerows, Shelter Belts - sequester carbon in living trees. Soil Nutrient Efficiency - mitigate nitrous oxide emissions through best management practices in applying fertilizers. Agriculture and Environment Resource Conservation Program (AERC) - continue this comprehensive program that provides technical and financial assistance for soil conservation, hedgerow planting, manure storage, etc.
Electricity
Expansion of the generation capacity at the Atlantic Wind Test Site and purchase of some of this power for federal and provincial government buildings. Pursue access to natural gas for the province to enable on-Island electrical generation.
Transportation
Synchronized Traffic Signals on entire perimeter highway in Charlottetown. (Pending cooperation from the City of Charlottetown and possible funding from Transport Canada.) Adaptive traffic signals for Charlottetown. (Pending possible funding from Transport Canada.) Advanced Traveller Information to alert travelling public to construction zones, detour routes, weather and road conditions. (Pending possible funding from Transport Canada.) Fleet Management for highway maintenance using Graphical Information Systems and Intelligent Transportation Systems. (Pending funding from Transport Canada.) Road Weather Information Systems.
Industry
Capture and utilize methane at agri-food facilities. Continue expansion of the Charlottetown district heating system.