NDP Caucus to introduce new environmental targets and energy-efficiency legislation

HALIFAX - The NDP Caucus will introduce two pieces of environmental legislation today designed to address the climate emergency. The first focuses on increasing energy-efficiency targets and reducing energy poverty. The second is an amendment to the Sustainable Development Goals Act, which reintroduces the targets removed by the Liberals in the fall.

“The Liberal government is failing to address the climate emergency,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “In the fall, the Liberals removed almost all the targets from our province’s main climate change law. They simply don’t understand the need to transform the economy to a sustainable foundation.”

The NDP’s legislation would force the government to set targets for new green jobs, local food production, and the electrification of public and personal transportation, among others. It would set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target that represents Nova Scotia’s share of keeping global warming below catastrophic levels.

“Everywhere you go, people are deeply worried about the impacts climate change will have on them, their families and their communities,” said Burrill. “There are very clear steps our province could take to put us in a better position to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It’s time for climate leadership, not more evasion.”

The NDP is focused on proposing solutions to address the climate crisis, including the Green Jobs Act, an Environmental Bill of Rights, and addressing environmental racism.

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