Action Alerts

: Posted by Jean Louis Deveau; 14 June 2016; Hits: 5928

Please let Jean Louis Deveau (deveaujl@gmail.com) know if your organization is willing to co-sign this letter.

Dear Chief [_________________]:

We, the undersigned, are requesting that the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq chiefs not support a proposal to develop a snowmobile hub at Mount Carleton Provincial Park. The snowmobile hub is a decoy for a much bigger issue which is that public officials appear not be adhering to Mount Carleton’s previously established and adopted zoning system and the 2014 Parks Act. In 1980, a zoning plan was developed for the park, defining what could and could not be done based on the level of protection needed for each of the five zones attributed to this park.

: 19 March 2015; Hits: 8157

Climate Action Alert is encouraging provincial groups to write/meet with their premiers in advance of the upcoming Climate Summit in Quebec in April. This letter was sent to Premier Gallant. You can use the letter they used as a template for your own letters.

TEMPLATE:

February 16, 2015

Honourable Brian Gallant

Premier of New Brunswick
Centennial Building
PO Box 6000
Fredericton NB, E3B 5H1
premier@gnb.ca

Dear Premier Gallant:

As you prepare to attend the April 14, 2015 Climate Summit in Quebec City, Climate Action Network Canada would like to meet with you to talk about how a strong commitment to greenhouse gas emissions reductions can accelerate the transition to a clean energy system in New Brunswick.

There is now an overwhelming consensus that climate protection is affordable and achievable with already-available technology and modest lifestyle changes. To get there, we must transform our energy system, change the way we build our communities, manufacture equipment and appliances, and develop our natural resources. The key to unlocking this climate-protection potential is to respect that there are limits to how much carbon pollution we can put into the air, commit to help by doing our fair share and saying “YES” to clean energy fueled by the sun, water and wind.

The next ten years are critical. We must break our addiction to dirty energy – coal, oil and gas because that is where most of the carbon pollution comes from that is changing the climate. Growth in dirty energy supply and pipelines must be halted now because climate disruption puts the health and well-being of families and communities – here at home and around the world – at risk by making weather more extreme and varied. Climate disruption makes it more difficult to be safe from flooding or to keep the lights or heat on in an intense rain or ice storm; it can affect how we grow food, manage our forests, and sustain our economy. We also need to reform agriculture, forestry and mining so that less carbon pollution is created from the way we use fertilizers, raise animals, and disrupt the soil and landscape.

The good news is that we know how to manufacture our homes, buildings, vehicles and equipment so that they perform the way we want them to while using less energy. We know how to build, at increasingly affordable rates, renewable energy technologies that can generate the electricity we need to run our electronics, lights, equipment and vehicles, and to heat our water and homes using the power of the wind, sun and water. We know how to develop our cities and towns so that they are less car-dependent and give us more options for walking, cycling and using public transit. We know how to grow food closer to home using fewer or no chemicals. What we need now is to accelerate these trends. We need the moral commitment of premiers to say yes to the changes that we need to make to keep our children, communities and the environment that sustains us safe – here at home and around the world.

Climate disruption is happening now, the need for a response is urgent, and the opportunities to phase out oil, coal and gas and phase in clean energy are plentiful. We look to you for ongoing leadership in protecting the climate. Your commitment to climate protection is critical to advancing a national climate action strategy in Canada. As you prepare to discuss climate protection and the Canadian energy strategy at the upcoming Council of the Federation meetings, Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada believes that New Brunswick can:

1.      Meet the 2020 target of 10 percent below 1990 levels by taking actions that make up the 2 million tonne shortfall (to meet 2020 target) and that eliminates all projected greenhouse gas associated with the Energy East Pipeline (50,000 additional tonnes).

2.      Set a legally binding 2025 target that is reviewed and increased in five-year increments to set the province on course to exceeding its 75 to 85% reduction below 2001 levels by 2050.

3.      Phase out fossil fuels from the electricity sector while meeting the goal of over 600 MW of reduce and shift demand savings in part by:

a.       Establishing time of use rates and net metering that compensates rate payers for their net contribution to the grid on an annual basis.

b.      Phasing out Belledune and Coleson Cove thermal plants if conversion to biomass is not practical. This measure alone could generate almost 2.7 million tonnes in greenhouse gas reductions.

4.      Meet the 40% renewable energy portfolio standard by 2020 in New Brunswick by increasing the commitment to community-scale renewable energy in the Integrated Resource Plan from 75 MW and expanding and maintaining cost-effective and environmentally responsible sources of hydroelectricity (i.e., Grand Falls; Mactaquac or equivalent replacement).

5.      Commit to carbon pricing through setting a carbon levy. Even a levy of $10/tonne could generate more than $160 million a year that could be directed to a Climate Care Fund that invests in:

a.       province-wide investments in conservation and efficiency in buildings and homes;

b.      infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase capacity for adaptation;

c.       public transit/intercity transit/rail;

d.      renewable energy deployment and clean energy research and development;

e.       protection of low-income/fixed income households; and

f.       deficit reduction.

We believe that a commitment to an ambitious climate plan is consistent with stimulating a vibrant economy with jobs for all New Brunswickers. Premier, we look forward to working with you to advance effective climate protection efforts here at home, throughout the Atlantic region through the New England Governors and Eastern Premiers Conference, and across Canada through the Council of the Federation. We urge you to consider our plan of action as the minimum required for New Brunswick as it heads to the Climate Summit in April 2015. The province could commit to a provincial process at or in advance of the April Summit that would have a mandate to analyze these options as part of the province’s efforts to update its climate plan. The analysis should be complete in time for New Brunswick to present its plan to the next meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Premiers as directed in NEG-ECP Resolution 37-4 (attached). We look forward to scheduling a time to discuss these opportunities with you in advance of the Quebec meeting.

Sincerely,

Louise Comeau

Executive Director

Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada (CAN-Rac Canada)

cc.        Hon. Brian Kenney, Minister Environment and Local Government

            Hon. Donald Arseneault, Minister Energy and Mines

Darwin Curtis, Climate Change Secretariat

Who we are

Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada (CAN-Rac Canada) is a non-partisan coalitionof morethan 100 organizationsfromacrossthecountry that cares about how a changing climate affects people, plants and wildlife. Our Network believes that it is reckless not to invest now to keep our families and communities safe, especially when solutions are affordable. We are workingtogetherto advance solutions to managing our carbon pollution through sustainableandequitable development.

: Posted by Caroline Lubbe-D'Arcy; 27 January 2016; Hits: 8746

Stop Spraying in New Brunswick (SSNB) is a group focused on stopping the spraying of Glyphosate and other herbicides on public land, which includes forest spraying and NB Power spraying in New Brunswick. This includes raising awareness of the harmful effects of Glyphosate on eco-systems and animals in New Brunswick. ( TWITTER: @StopSprayingNB )

Stop Spraying Petition DEADLINE EXTENDED:

Action Alerts

Would you consider having your group co-sign the letter below to the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet Chiefs

SSNB (StopSprayingNB) Petition Submission/ Présentation de la pétition SSNB

Write to the premier in advance of the upcoming Climate Summit

Stop Spraying in New Brunswick-Sign the petition - DEADLINE EXTENDED

Send a letter to your MLA and Premier Brian Gallant on protecting our Acadian forest

Click here to download the nomination form!