Building blocks for a greener Manitoba

Opinion

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This article was published 12/09/2023 (744 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the heels of a summer of record-breaking wildfires and air quality warnings, Manitobans will head to the polls this fall. The incoming provincial government has its work cut out for it, with a need to address issues including affordability, housing, and social programs, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent worsening climate impacts. Climate scientists have consistently made it clear that the living integrity of our ecosystems and communities is seriously threatened by a climate crisis, which verges on dangerous tipping points without urgent action.

As Manitoba moves to reduce emissions and ramp up electrification, there will be a surge in energy demand. According to the province’s recently released energy roadmap, Manitoba will likely need to increase its energy supply to two or three times by the early 2040s while simultaneously reducing emissions. This presents a significant challenge for Manitoba that necessitates a swift, ambitious roll out of new energy infrastructure. It not only allows for the development of a clean future, but it opens the door to new job prospects.

There are five key steps Manitoba can take to accelerate a clean energy transition:

Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest

A growing number of governments and organizations around the world have committed to transitioning off fossil fuels and achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2050. This is a widely recognized imperative for preventing catastrophic climate change, and net zero is a target that Manitoba can feasibly reach or exceed with a clear plan. Manitoba organizations like the Climate Action Team and Manitoba Hydro have already started planning for net zero.

Building on our hydroelectricity advantage by seizing wind power opportunities

Manitoba boasts two wind farms that contribute roughly five per cent of our total electricity. In comparison, both North Dakota and Alberta have made significant strides in expanding their wind power infrastructure, resulting in more than 10 times the amount of energy generated from this source. Experts have found that Manitoba’s geography makes the province an ideal candidate to take advantage of wind potential.

Expanding our renewable energy production with wind and other forms of power can diversify our affordable electricity supply and can be brought online fast. Supplementing our hydroelectric advantage with greater investment in other renewable energy sources can not only reduce emissions, but also foster the creation of local jobs.

Tackling emissions in key sectors such as buildings, transportation, and agriculture

Tackling climate change will require a unique approach for each sector in the province with buildings, transportation, and agriculture being among the highest sources of emissions. The transition in the buildings sector provides a huge opportunity for job creation and decreasing the cost of home heating for Manitobans; there is a critical need to scale up financing to support home retrofits and update building codes to make new builds more efficient. For the transportation sector, investments in public and active transport, car sharing networks, EV charging stations and climate-smart city planning could increase public health and reduce air pollution. Emissions reductions options for the agricultural sector include the use of alternative fertilizers, and promoting regenerative agriculture.

Making sure that funds generated from climate policy are used to benefit Manitobans

Carbon pricing is already in place across Canada. Revenues associated with this policy need to be reinvested in ways that support Manitobans. This can come in several forms, including reinvestment in climate change related programming that benefits communities (such as investment in active transit and EV infrastructure), in direct provisions for those most in need of tax relief (such as low-income households) as well as supports to Indigenous communities to lead their own self-determined solutions.

Creating Green and Decent Jobs for Manitobans

Implementing changes that we need to transition off oil and gas will require a substantial amount of work that could create thousands of job opportunities for Manitobans. For example, Winnipeg’s net-zero report estimates that making buildings in the city more sustainable would create 103,000 years of employment between 2020 and 2050.

These policies may sound ambitious, but the long-term costs of inaction would be far greater. As we approach the election and look towards the future, it is imperative for Manitoba to play its part in addressing climate change and embrace the potential advantages that come with a swift, coordinated transition to a sustainable energy future.

Laura Cameron is a policy adviser and Zachary Rempel is a policy analyst for the International Institute for Sustainability.