TORONTO

Ontario is heating up faster than the global average but faces an uphill struggle to meet its 2020 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the province’s environmental watchdog says.

Feeling the Heat: Greenhouse Gas Progress Report 2015 says the government is on track to meet current targets thanks in large part to its decision to close coal-fired electricity generation facilities.

The province must reduce emissions by an additional 11% to hit the 2020 target of 155 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think that Ontario can meet it and I think they do want to,” acting environmental commissioner Ellen Schwartzel said during the report’s release Tuesday. “It’s a matter of really making sure that all the ministries involved roll up their sleeves and do it.

“It’s worthwhile doing.”

The province is experiencing temperature increases that are higher than the global average, in large part because northern climates are more vulnerable to climate change, Schwartzel said.

Transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, but the province’s building boom and its reliance on natural gas to heat space and water are growing threats to emission targets, she added.

Ontario government hot on climate change:

“That’s why we’re introducing a cap-and-trade system to limit emissions, make air cleaner, water safer, and grow the economy, creating jobs and boosting innovation — part of our all-of-government climate change strategy which will be released later this year. This is on top of closing our coal plants, unprecedented investments in public transit, and stronger regional planning initiatives.”

— Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray

Turn up the heat on the climate change file:

“Apparently the government has put the climate change file on the back burner for a number of years. It hasn’t been moving forward. It relied on the recession and the reduction of industrial emissions to meet its targets for 2014 ... I call on the government to bring forward a climate action plan that’s aggressive, that’s fair, that’s transparent.”

— NDP MPP Peter Tabuns

Don’t add to the hot air:

“All the hot air from all three parties at Queen’s Park, quite frankly, is leading to the fact that we’re not going to meet our 2020 targets ... electrifying our transportation sector would be a huge first start.”

— Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner