McKenna must herd cats for climate plan, Harper, Jan. 5

Canada is struggling to meet its weak greenhouse-gas-reduction targets. We know that even if it fully achieved its national climate change framework, it will still fall short of reaching them, and that more needs to be done.

We know that carbon pricing, which sends a price signal to find innovative solutions to reduce emissions, plays a significant role in that plan and will help Canada stay competitive in the growing global clean-tech sector. We also know that Canada’s largest greenhouse-gas contributor is the oil and gas industry.

Knowing all this, the fact that Alberta Premier Rachel Notley needs a pipeline victory in support of the oilsands so that her party can be re-elected — so the province can continue to price carbon — is absurd. But politically in Canada, it makes perfect sense.

With international pressure mounting for Canada to keep its climate commitments, and game-changing, cost-competitive innovations in clean tech becoming available, reality is catching up to politics. I hope the Canadian government keeps this in mind when it comes to pipeline approvals.

Cheryl McNamara, Toronto

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the province’s carbon tax will diversify industry, reduce pollution and help Alberta win approval for pipelines. This thinking will not help Canada meet its climate targets.

Although carbon pricing will reduce demand on fossil fuels, it is equally critical for Canada to stop the expansion of fossil-fuel projects, one of Canada’s largest greenhouse-gas emitters, and manage the decline of existing production.

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has committed to a just transition for workers in the oil and gas industry, and the price of clean, safe and renewable energy continues to drop. Another pipeline approval will undermine this progress, threaten local waterways and ecosystems and violate the rights of Indigenous peoples who do not consent to pipelines in their territories.

To show true climate leadership, the federal government must demonstrate to Canadians that the transition to a clean-energy economy is underway and that pipelines are not part of the solution.

Beth Lorimer, ecological justice program co-ordinator, Kairos Canada, Toronto