If you’ve read my columns before with any degree of regularity, you know that I’m a firm believer in the science behind climate change and the threat it poses to humanity.
Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report indicating that the world must cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent in 12 years to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, we can kiss things like coral reefs, Arctic glaciers and coastal cities goodbye.
Even last week, I read a report that the Yukon glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, and another study that said the oceans are absorbing more CO2 than originally thought, which is swiftly heating the ocean floor.
Thus, there’s a need for ALL countries to make substantive reductions in CO2 emissions. (And no, we can’t give up because China is investing in cheap coal power and Donald Trump is the U.S. President. That’s the political situation now, but things can change.)
So I was all on board with the federal government charging a carbon levy. Choo-choo! What I’m less crazy about, however, is the extent that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to refund a portion of those revenues.
While provinces that implemented a levy will see theirs left alone — thanks for your foresight, Alberta NDP — the Canadian government will give approximately 70 per cent of us more money than we pay out. Only about 30 per cent of Canadians will pay more in a year than they stand to gain from the carbon levy.
On that score, I feel like I kind of have to agree with MP Arnold Viersen. What’s the point in a levy if they’re just taking money out of our pockets and then handing it back to us in the next breath?
That’s not to say I disagree with the concept of a carbon levy rebate; I believe that’s necessary to assist low-income Canadians. What I disagree with is this notion of giving us as much or more money than we pay out.
I wanted a carbon levy that would fund green technology research and mass transit. I wanted a levy that ended with more Canadians putting solar panels on their houses. I wanted a carbon levy that incentivized Canadians to reduce their heating bills.
And sure, Trudeau’s levy will do at least some of those things. But this still doesn’t feel substantive enough. We need transformative change on a grand, extremely rapid scale.
On the other hand, an Angus Reid Institute poll has demonstrated that support for the carbon levy has increased considerably, largely because of the rebates. Support for the levy was just 45 per cent in July, and now 54 per cent of Canadians support Trudeau’s plan.
With provinces gearing for an expensive (and self-destructive) legal battle against the carbon levy, public support for Trudeau’s plan will be crucial.
So maybe the rebates are needed just to sell this thing to everyday Canadians who don’t absorb as much news as I do, and I should shut my big mouth.
I just wish it wasn’t necessary to “sell” something that we may very well need to prevent humanity’s demise.
