Climate change is fast and federal governments are slow.
Between approving an LNG plant and ratifying the Paris climate change accord, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rolled out a carbon tax.
To our untrained eyes, a price of $10 per tonne of greenhouse gas – starting in 2018 – is both little and late.
But despite its seeming modesty, the tax elicited accusations of betrayal from one premier and implied defiance from another. The Conservative environment critic likened the tax to a sledgehammer, which we found shocking – mainly because we didn’t realize there was a Conservative environment critic.
Not since Han Solo was encased in the stuff has carbon engendered such ill will.
But the whole brouhaha makes West Vancouver council’s pledge to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 40 per cent by the year 2040 all the more crucial.
We normally only extoll the importance of municipal elections right before voting day, but this is a clear example of just how vital local government is. Far too often, federal government is about who we like. Local government is about how we live.
And the unpleasant truth is that too many of us live too large, with houses that are too big and cars that spend too much time on the road.
It may be fair to accuse other countries and other political parties of shirking their duties, but if we aren’t willing to change our own lifestyles we’re part of the problem.
However, while we credit West Vancouver’s council, we also note that 2040 is a long way away. Climate change, on the other hand, is on our doorstep.
Think fast.
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