The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change:

I am pleased to rise to highlight the launch of a public engagement process for two new proposed Climate Change Action Plans for Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2019, we released the first provincial Climate Change Action Plan, and I am pleased to say that we have taken action on all 45 items identified in this plan.

These efforts, together with reduction emissions targets for large industry, have lowered our greenhouse gas emissions to 8.3 million tonnes a year – the second lowest on record and well below the 10 million tonnes per year average of the past decade.

Building on this success, we are now developing two new action plans for the 2025 to 2030 period.

The Climate Change Mitigation Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the province’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target, establish foundational actions for net zero emissions by 2050, and support the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan will focus on actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as increased flooding and wildfires. This will be the first stand-alone climate change adaptation strategy for the province.

Public engagement in developing these plans is important to ensure they reflect the priorities of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in building and supporting resilient and prosperous communities that are sustainable for future generations. I encourage everyone to visit engageNL.ca to participate.

Thank you.