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Clean fuel standard one of the most important measures

A letter to the editor of the 100 Mile House Free Press by Dianne Zimmerman

We have to take action on all fronts to find a way to reduce carbon pollution to meet Canada's climate change commitments. For many of us, we don't really think about our individual effect on the climate when we drive to the grocery store, fly to a vacation destination or turn up the heat in our home. But the collective impact of our behaviour adds up.

Recently, the federal government announced they will address one of the roots of the climate problem, through the introduction of a clean fuel standard. Today, most of our energy for transportation and heating comes from fossil fuels — the primary contributor to climate change.

A well-designed clean fuel standard can motivate emissions reductions in the entire fossil fuels supply chain, from processing, transporting and refining. It will also make it easier for us to move to cleaner technologies and alternative fuels like hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels, and electricity from renewable sources. As an individual, you can do your part by buying an electric or hybrid vehicle the next time you buy a car, and look for opportunities to share rides or walk or bike instead of driving on your own.

A performance-based, life-cycle emissions standard is an important tool to reduce carbon pollution across the economy. A similar standard has already reduced GHG emissions in British Columbia — a standard the B.C. government recently committed to continue strengthening. It will address fuel emissions from personal vehicles as well as heavy-duty trucks — the fastest growing source of transportation emissions in the world. Climate change is the biggest threat to our society. A national clean fuel standard is one of the most important measures the country can take to motivate us to change our behaviour and reduce carbon pollution.

Dianne Zimmerman

Transportation and urban solutions policy director,

Pembina Institute