The science of climate change is clear. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the leading international body for the assessment of climate change, has projected that an increase in global temperatures of more than 2 ºC will result in irreversible and catastrophic impacts. The current level of greenhouse gas emissions is expected to raise global temperatures by 3.5 ºC before the end of this century. All regions of the planet face this threat. Temperatures in Canada are projected to increase at a rate that is two times faster than the global average. In New Brunswick, climate change is already evident in the form of increased temperatures, increased precipitation and a rising sea level. In the future, New Brunswick can expect an elevated risk of heat-related health concerns, new pests and invasive species, flood damage, coastal erosion, extreme winds and icing of trees and power lines.

The Paris Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, by 195 nations, including Canada, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This first legally binding, global climate deal includes a commitment to take necessary steps to limit this century’s global temperature rise to less than 2 ºC above pre-industrial levels and to make vigorous efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 ºC. Fulfilling this commitment will require substantial changes to the global economy, most notably additional, substantial and permanent reductions to greenhouse gas emissions. In Canada, First Ministers released the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, thereby demonstrating a commitment to a coordinated, national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

At its August 2015 meeting, the Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopted a new regional target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 35% to 45% below 1990 levels by the year 2030 and confirmed the previous regional targets.

All New Brunswickers have a role to play in addressing climate change, including understanding how New Brunswickers contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and changing their behaviour to reduce those emissions. As such, New Brunswick is committed to making its own contributions to these international, national and regional efforts. In December 2016, the Government of New Brunswick released a new Climate Change Action Plan.

The Climate Change Action Plan provides a clear path forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting economic growth and increasing New Brunswick’s resilience to climate change through adaptation. Among other things, the action plan calls for the implementation of a carbon pricing mechanism that takes into account New Brunswick’s unique economic and social circumstances, including trade-exposed, energy-intensive industries, low-income families, consumers and businesses.

Carbon pricing is an efficient and effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will play an important role in New Brunswick’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. However, carbon pricing alone is not expected to be sufficient to meet the Government of New Brunswick’s greenhouse gas emission target levels. Additional actions will be needed. Consequently, the Government of New Brunswick will pursue complementary initiatives to support and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy.