The much anticipated climate change policy has been released by the province.
Premier Rachel Notley was joined today at a conference by Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips as the two discussed Alberta’s climate change strategy which includes a tax on carbon, a cap on oilsands emissions, a phasing out of coal-fired electricity and an emphasis on wind power.
The carbon tax will be phased in over two years beginning with $20 a tonne of greenhouse gases in 2017 and $30 a tonne the following year.
The province also plans to phase out all pollution created by burning coal and transition to more renewable energy and natural gas generation by 2030.
A cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands will be set at 100 megatonnes, which the New Democrats say leaves plenty of room to expand the industry.
Notley will further discuss the plan with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial and territorial leaders in Ottawa tomorrow before heading to Paris for an international climate conference next week.
(With files from The Canadian Press)
