All NDP MLA Candidates who participated in our climate survey responded with the same answers, except for two.

The following responses belong to these candidates: 

1) Do you acknowledge the global scientific consensus on the facts of Climate Change?

Alberta deserves a leader who fights for what matters for the future of our province, and who honestly takes concrete action to address real challenges. Rachel Notley and the Alberta NDP fully accept the global scientific consensus on human-induced climate change, and we are fully committed to taking continued action to address challenge.

2) Do you agree with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 to ensure we keep global warming to 1.5^OC above pre-industrial levels? https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/  What is your plan to achieve this?

We fully accept the IPCC conclusions on the impacts of climate change, and the need to take immediate action to reduce GHG emissions. A re-elected government under the leadership of Rachel Notley will continue with our Climate Leadership Plan (CLP), the most ambitious effort in North America to address the realities of global climate change. We have already seen a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector, in large part through our phase-out of coal. Through our CLP, we are phasing out coal-fired power, investing in public transportation projects like the Green Line, and upgrading our schools, universities, and hospitals to cut operating costs and reduce emissions. We are also helping Albertans transition to greener and lower cost energy options through the newly created Energy Efficiency Alberta, which has now saved families $510 million in lower household costs.

3) According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, climate change will cause increased damage from floods, wildfires, heat and droughts. What specific actions would you take to mitigate and adapt to these risks in order to protect the province we love?

Rachel Notley is committed to addressing the real impacts of climate change, and that means taking decisive action to adapt to a changing climate right here in Alberta. A re-elected government would continue with the Climate Leadership Plan (CLP), which is funding major new climate change adaptation projects. We know it is a social and economic imperative to protect Calgary from future flooding, as climate change is increasing the likelihood of more extreme whether events. We will continue to build the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir on the Elbow River, and we have committed $1 billion from the CLP for a major new upstream project on the Bow River. We are the only party that has committed to protecting Calgary from a 2013 type flood, with flood protection built on both rivers. We are also supporting rural communities with flood and drought mitigation measures.

4) Are you supportive of a provincial carbon levy as a tool to reduce emissions, and fund public infrastructure and energy innovation? If not, what other policy/policies would you propose in its place to achieve similar goals?

Our Climate Leadership Plan includes a price on carbon, and has placed our energy economy in the ranks of the world’s most environmentally progressive energy producers. Through the Plan, we are investing in innovation within our energy sector, and in important public infrastructure. We are investing $1.5 billion in Calgary’s Green Line, expanding the network and making the daily transit commute a more appealing option. We supporting the City of Calgary to buy cleaner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, so they can progressively eliminate the diesel fleet, while improving the rider experience. Leadership on climate change also means diversifying within the energy sector. We are proud of our support of the solar industry in Alberta, which has grown by more than 800%. More than 3100 solar installations have been completed across the province, and we have conserved nearly enough energy through solar to power two cities the size of Chestermere.

5) As the world economy transitions toward cleaner energy sources, what would you/your government do to protect and assist workers in current fossil fuel industries as we diversify our economy?

Taking action on climate change means we need to progressively transition towards cleaner energy sources. For example, we are phasing out coal fired power by 2030, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in Alberta. As this transition occurs, we are committed ensuring a just transition for workers and communities affected. For example, we created a $40 million Coal Workforce Transition Fund to provide working families assistance for re-employment, retirement, relocation and education as workers retool to start new jobs and careers. Funding for our commitment to a just transition for effected workers and communities comes from the Climate Leadership Plan. As we continue to transition towards cleaner energy sources, we will be steadfast in our commitment to supporting the effected workers, and their families.

Responses from Hafeez Chishti (Calgary North-West): 

1) There is a reason that all 195 countries on this planet are signatories of Paris Climate Accord. Putting a price on carbon is like putting a price on plastic bags, though the price on carbon is many times more important and urgent since it is directly related to human health and planet’s health. Denial of this concept is denial of science and violence against our own planet … it is denial of progress and denial of wisdom.

2) IPCC recommendations come from a very strong scientific background, and IPCC and science are both non-partisan. Individuals cannot conduct the credible level of research that IPCC hasconducted. It is important to respect and follow IPCC recommendations.

3) We need to promote awareness and education about it.  Unfortunately, such education and awareness has suffered at the hands of environmental groups who have become part of the corporate lobbies. 

4)  Yes, I am supportive of provincial levy for the rationale described above.  It is for the right reasons.

5) The best governments can do is to transition economy towards carbon free energy.   

Responses from Gulshan Akter (Calgary West):

1) Yes, I do acknowledge the global scientific consensus on the facts of Climate Change: as per the recent report of globeandmail.com Report on climate change shows- Canada is warming at twice the rate of rest of world. The report is the latest to warn of potentially devastating effects from global warming and comes amid a pitched battle over Canada’s climate-change policies.

2) I do agree with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to reduce greenhouse gas emission by pricing on the degree of carbon particles they are emitting. 

3) Hotter weather has serious weather risks, our weather is changing. Flood and draught have hit Alberta hard and for that we are losing our crops, cattles and accessories that put us in a serious position to over come our nutrition deficit by importing a lot either from other provinces or countries, it’s creating a huge negative impact into our provicianl budget, due to 2013 Calgary flooding, the insurance companies had to tackle on to build tens and thousands of new houses and ever since the insurance costs are skyrocketing and repeated BC wildfires, FortMcMurry wildfire have been polluting our air, ruining our summers and harming our health. So we need to work collectively to keep our national air quality as standard as we can. The global warming will make that fight even more challenging.

4) Yes, tackling climate change is not easy and we should shuffle things to prioritize our needs, should add some value and spend our budget wisely; I absolutely support Carbon Levy as I believe that pollution should not be free; if we become the contributors of global warming to damage our environment, our health as carbon particles are the worst enemy to cause many airborne diseases including Asthma, other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, vector borne diseases, diseases due to extreme climate changes, for malnutrition, undernutrion, ragweed pollen related diseases; if we are harming and destroying the climate resilience and disrupt the global harmony, We should pay to fix those disruptions to make us safe, affordable and healthy. The question now is less about whether the carbon price is going to be implemented, and more about what the revenue — $3.85 billion over three years — is actually going to pay for. There are 10 ways carbon levy revenues are being used to create a better quality of life and lower emissions in Alberta.

5) Coal is one of the worst-polluting forms of energy on the planet, so the Alberta government introduced new rules requiring all coal-fired power plants to shut down by 2030. Predictably, the owners of the half-dozen facilities weren’t pleased, contending they deserved compensation. A 2015 Pembina Institute report concluded this action was by no means legally necessary, nor would it result in an unfair economic burden on the companies. But like it or not, the Alberta government decided to hand over $1.1 billion to the three companies (TransAlta, Capital Power and ATCO) to “provide investor confidence.” All that revenue will come from the levy on large industrial emitters, as opposed to the levy administered on regular Albertans.