 
KAIROS Factsheet on Renewable Energy
What are Canada’s commitments under the Kyoto Protocol?
Canada must cut average greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to 6%
(240 megatonnes) below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The current
federal plan only covers 180 MT of GHG reductions. Emissions in
2000 exceeded 1990 by 20% and continue to grow at an alarming rate.
Above and beyond the question of meeting Kyoto is the larger issue
of reducing GHG emissions to sustainable levels. A realistic target
to prevent an increase in atmospheric GHGs would put Canada’s
long-term reductions somewhere in the order of 50%.
How can Canada meet its targets and timetables?
Canada must shift from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green energy
economy. To do this, Canada will need to move decisively to renewable
forms of energy. Canada should aim at generating 50-80% of its energy
from low-impact renewable sources. Today, exclusive of mega-hydro
sources, just 1.2% of Canada’s electricity today comes from
renewable sources.
What will it cost?
The 2003 Federal Budget announced $2 billion to meet Kyoto targets
and for provisions dealing with lowering GHG emissions. This included
targets for the Large Final Emitters Sector (LFEs) and Energy. $1
billion of this has been committed for specific items, including
increased investment for renewable energy:
$25 million of federal funding to green heat technologies (eg.
low-impact renewable non-fossil fuel based technologies such as
geo-thermal technology) to reduce GHG emissions;
$142 million to green fuels (eg. hydrogen, ethanol);
$30 million to decentralized energy (eg. Electricity generated
from small hydro installations, tidal and solar power);
$74 million program offering rebates of as much as $1,000 for
Canadians who retrofit their homes to make them more energy-efficient;
$56.6-million to fund the energy-efficient retrofitting of existing
commercial and religious buildings.
What would a national renewable energy program look like?
Governments have regularly intervened in energy markets to support
oil, gas and nuclear power. An equal effort is required to create
a long-term plan for renewable energy and to reduce reliance on
fossil fuels.
To level the playing field and to free up money to finance other
priorities, the government should phase out all preferential tax
treatment for fossil fuel exploration and production over the next
four years. It should also phase out subsidies for nuclear energy
generation, as well as create a package of preferential tax treatment
for investment in energy efficiency, conservation, co-generation
and non-thermal electricity generating renewable energy projects.
Canada needs a national transportation strategy
According to Environment Canada 12% of our GHG emissions come from
cars and light trucks. Automakers have a voluntary agreement in
the Climate Change Plan for Canada to produce 25% more fuel-efficient
cars by 2010, but many are resisting.
Finally, we need a strategy for improving urban transit: for example,
if just 150 buses on the road in Canada today were to be converted
to hybrid and fuel cell engines, Canada would save as much fuel
as all the hybrid passenger cars that have already been sold in
Canada.
QUESTIONS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Will you support a National Renewable Energy Plan?
Will you create a National Transportation Strategy?
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