Ontario Climate Policy Gaps

Transcription

1 Ontario Climate Policy Gaps WEAO Niagara Falls, April 11, 2016 Dianne Saxe Environmental Commissioner 1

2 Overview What is the ECO? Three Climate Policy Gaps: Mitigation: Methane / N2O Adaptation: Stormwater Adaptation: Climate data 2

3 What is the ECO? Guardian of Environmental Bill of Rights Watchdog on: Energy conservation Greenhouse gas emissions (climate) Environmental protection No equivalent in other provinces 3

4 Legislative Officer Impartial Reports to the Legislature through the Speaker One of 8 Legislative Officers Five year term, renewable Unanimous appointment 25 staff 4

5 We re not government What are you going to do about? Save the, stop the! I need help right now with My tools: Flashlight Can opener Megaphone Watchdog, not police dog 5

6 Guardian of EBR Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 Environment is too important: Not just up to government Not just up to MOECC Procedural tools for public participation in significant government decisions by 14 (15?) ministries 6

7 Key EBR tools Right to notice, to information and to comment Right to have comments considered Right to know final decision Limited right to appeal Right to request: Review of law or policy Investigation of non-compliance 7

8 Sharpening the tools #1 Improving gov t compliance with EBR Obsolete proposal notices Overdue Reviews Commitment letters Scorecard 8

9 Sharpening the Tools #2 Improving public use of EBR Awareness Celebrating successes Precedents Skill building 9

10 Sharpening the Tools #3 Alert tool Registry software upgrade Our new website Making our reports searchable EBR review? 10

11 Recent EBR Successes OMAFRA: Soil Health Review MOECC: Water quality alerts during sewage bypasses and stormwater overflows MNRF: Proposal to kill wolves 11

12 Watchdog Reports Mandatory: 3 annual reports: Energy conservation Greenhouse gas emissions (climate) Environmental protection Special reports at our discretion Minister can request our advice 12

13 Annual Reports ENERGY CONSERVATION CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT 13

14 May I assume you know? Climate change is: Real Human-caused Moving incredibly fast Last 12 months off charts Immensely important Trillion dollar financial threat Huge challenge to governments Huge challenge to infrastructure 14

15 Three Climate Policy Gaps Mitigation: Methane /N2O Adaptation: Stormwater Adaptation: Climate data 15

16 Methane /N2O Gas Lifetime Forcing (20 year) (100 year) CO2? 1 1 CH N2O CF4 50, HFC-152a IPCC

17 CH 4 in ppb ky 700ky 600ky 500ky 400ky 300ky 200ky 100ky Today 17

18 Methane More Recently

19 Ozone O3 from the photochemical degradation of methane (CH4) and other VOCs /CO in the presence of nitrogen oxides (NOX) 19

20 Health Consequences? Powerful oxidant causes lung inflammation: o chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath o throat irritation; coughing; chest pain or discomfort o aggravation of asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis o increased susceptibility to lung infection. Impacts: increased cardiovascular mortality in adults < 75 years; increased hospital admissions for COPD and asthma; and heart and respiratory diseases in adults > 65 years; increased school absences Prof. Drew Shindell, Duke U 20

21 Methane reduction benefits Each Mt of avoided emission avoids: ~ premature deaths due to ozone ~186,000 tons of crop yield loss due to ozone ~0.002C warming over 2-4 decades $US societal benefits UNEP/WMO, 2011; Shindell et al., Science, 2012; Shindell, Climatic Change,

22 Yet: little effective regulation Mandatory CH4 capture at some landfills Not in Reg. 419/05, ECAs Not in Ontario s proposed cap and trade system Note exemption for renewable natural gas Otherwise, only voluntary Could be in offsets Why? 22

23 42% Agriculture (~126 Tg) 32% Fossil Fuels (~95 Tg) Human Activities Leading to Methane Emissions 26% Waste Management (~79 Tg) Fires (~35 Tg) source: IPCC AR

24 US: oil/gas methane March : U.S. and Canada commit to regulate methane emissions from oil and gas, to produce cuts between 40% and 45% below 2012 levels by 2025 What will Ontario do about other sources? 24

25 More Policy Gaps Mitigation: Methane /N2O Adaptation: Stormwater Adaptation: Climate data 25

26 Stormwater in a Changing Climate Four Big Ideas 26

27 Hell and High Water? Finch Ave. wash-out: August 19, year storm: ~175mm rain in < one hour Insured losses: $500 million 27

28 ~126mm rain in ~ two hours Insured losses: $940 million 28

29 Private losses Insurance disappearing If basement floods without insurance, who has $20K or more to spare? What will happen to: Those people? Their mortgages? Their homes? 29

30 Policy Gaps: When will Ontario: Assess infrastructure vulnerability (MEDEI)? Strengthen Stormwater Management Planning and Design Manual (MOECC)? Update floodplain mapping (MNRF)? Require identification of vulnerable lands and infrastructure (MMAH)? 30

31 But how without good data? 31

32 Climate data can be: Hard to find Proprietary Expensive Bewildering Hard to evaluate 32

33 Needs are diverse Opportunities are great Quebec has a good system Ouranos 33

34 In Ontario? Status quo not adequate Climate data champion needed One-stop shop for climate data and climate services 34

35 Wrap Up What is the ECO? Three Climate Policy Gaps: Mitigation: Methane / N2O Adaptation: Stormwater Adaptation: Climate data 35

36 Learn More At eco.on.ca: Thank you ECO Reports ECO blog Topic pages Ministry pages Key EBR Posts Scorecard Etc. Dianne Saxe Environmental Commissioner of Ontario 36