What Manitoba is Doing

In December 2002, Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which sets a target for achieving a six per cent reduction from 1990 greenhouse gas levels by the period 2008 to 2012. Although the Government of Manitoba can’t be a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, it has committed to working with citizens, communities and businesses to reduce net emissions in Manitoba to below 1990 levels by 2012.

Manitoba has some key advantages in reducing greenhouse gases:

• Our clean hydropower, energy efficiency efforts, and emerging wind and geothermal energy sectors are helping to prevent greenhouse gas production both at home and other jurisdictions that purchase electricity from Manitoba Hydro.
• When managed sustainably, our vast forests and agriculture lands can act as carbon sinks, absorbing harmful emissions before they enter the atmosphere.
• Our citizens are committed to energy efficiency and an innovation, with a business sector that includes North America’s largest manufacturer of hybrid buses, New Flyer Industries.

These natural advantages allow Manitoba to take a leading role in reducing emissions. Although some critics are raising alarming scenarios about the economic effects of implementing the Kyoto Protocol, the truth is that our province and all Canadians can benefit greatly by seizing the opportunities before us.

	1990	1995	2000	2005
Total Emissions (MT)	18 .0	19.0	20.2	20.3
Total Increase since 1990:  2.3 MT
Total increase since 2000:  0.1MT
Source: Environment Canada, National Inventory Report, 1990-2005 – Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

The importance of taking action now

We have the chance within our grasp to take action now in a cost effective way. If we leave this problem for future generations to deal with, the consequences could be devastating.

According to The Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, compiled by Sir Nicholas Stern for the UK government, “No-one can predict the consequences of climate change with complete certainty; but we now know enough to understand the risks. Mitigation – taking strong action to reduce emissions – must be viewed as an investment, a cost incurred now and in the coming few decades to avoid the risks of very severe consequences in the future. If these investments are made wisely, the costs will be manageable, and there will be a wide range of opportunities for growth and development along the way.”

Stern further notes that, “the evidence gathered by the Review leads to a simple conclusion: the benefits of strong, early action considerably outweigh the costs.”

The Manitoba government is committed to slowing climate change, and encourages individual citizens, businesses and organizations to also take up the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. Manitoba will lead by example, exporting our clean energy, reducing energy consumption and innovating in industry and technology.

Taking action now will save Manitoba and future generations tremendous costs and create new opportunities for our economy.

Greenhouse gas emissions by sector

Manitoba emits just over 20 megatonnes of greenhouse gases, which averaged 17.3 tonnes per person in 2005. Manitoba, accounting for 2.7% of Canada’s overall emissions, is the third lowest emitting province in Canada. The transportation sector accounted for the greatest amount, 37 per cent, while agricultural activity was responsible for 30 per cent.

While contributions from the energy sector have been fairly stable over the long term, agricultural emissions have increased significantly since 1990, due primarily to expansion of Manitoba’s hog and cattle industries.

Source: Environment Canada, National Inventory Report, 1990-2005 – Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

Notes: Stationary Combustion includes commercial, institutional and residential heating, manufacturing and construction, etc. See the National Inventory Report, 1990-2005 for more information. Transportation includes road transportation, off-road vehicles, railways, domestic marine and domestic aviation. Fugitive sources include emissions from coal mining, oil and natural gas.

Quick Facts Burning fossil fuel (i.e. heating fuel such as natural gas and oil and gasoline for vehicles) accounts for 75% of the enhanced greenhouse effect on earth to date.

Source: Environment Canada, National Inventory Report, 1990-2005 – Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

Meeting our reduction targets

The Manitoba Government has undertaken a range of efforts in conjunction with businesses, Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including investing in knowledge, promoting technology development and innovation, and encouraging action in all sectors of the Manitoba economy.

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