Watch above: A Saskatchewan expert believes leaders at the G7 summit have set lofty goals when it comes to phasing out carbon emissions. Joel Senick talks those in favour of the move and those who believe the commitment is too difficult to meet.
SASKATOON – A recent G7 commitment to end the use of fossil fuels is an important step in the fight against climate change, according to a Saskatoon-based environmentalist.
“This is the first time that global leaders are acknowledging that fossil fuels actually need to be phased out to fix the problem of climate change,” said Peter Prebble, director of environmental policy for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.
The group of leaders, which includes Prime Minister Stephen Harper, pledged to phase out their nation’s use of fossil fuels by the year 2100 and cut back on green house emissions by 2050.
READ MORE: G7 leaders agree to phase out fossil fuel use, but not until 2100
“The agreement made at yesterday’s G7 regarding the 2100 goal will surely influence policy for all jurisdictions in the coming decades,” read a statement released by the Saskatchewan government in reaction to the pledge.
“Since taking office, this government has invested approximately $70 million in Go Green funding to support environmentally-friendly projects, including those aimed at carbon reduction as well as conserving water and supporting recycling.”
Prebble said he believes a no-carbon goal won’t be easy for a province like Saskatchewan to commit too, but if it does, it could bring benefits.
“I don’t want to suggest that the transition won’t be challenging, it will be,” said Prebble.
“But we will create many new jobs in solar, wind, biomass hydro, small scale hydro, co-generation, using energy in more efficient ways.”
Saskatchewan has an enormous amount of renewable energy, according to Prebble. This sentiment is echoed by those who make a living in the renewable energy business.
“We’re not there yet, but we are starting to certainly see that growth,” added Ritchat.
Not everyone is as optimistic about the G7 commitment. University of Saskatchewan resource economy professor Joel Bruneau said the agreement “sounded like chatter.”
“It’s a commitment to a goal so far in the future that it was hard to believe that they’re really serious about this,” said Bruneau.
If leaders are serious, Bruneau said eliminating fossil fuel use isn’t impossible, but would be especially hard in Saskatchewan.
“We have things that the world needs,” said Bruneau of the province’s resources.
“If it takes carbon to get it out of the ground or if it takes carbon to grow these things, I think we’re going to figure that out and we’re going to do it.”
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