The Saskatchewan Environmental Society believes climate change is an issue of national concern, and is an intervenor for the federal government in the Supreme Court carbon tax case from the Saskatchewan government today (Tues) and tomorrow.

Both Saskatchewan and Ontario’s provincial court decisions sided with the federal government, but Alberta’s sided with the province.

SES spokesperson, Peter Prebble, says they are an intervenor along with 10 other groups, arguing that there is a constitutional provision relating to peace, order and good government which states the federal government can take action in cases that are of national concern.

Prebble considers the Sask Party government’s greenhouse gas emissions plan is unambitious.

He explains that Canada’s plan is to reduce GHGs by 30 per cent below 2005 levels in the next 10 years.

In Saskatchewan, that would mean a reduction of 30-million tonnes, but Prebble says the province’s plan only reduces emissions by 12-million tonnes.

Prebble says the impacts of climate change can already be seen through the increase and severity in weather patterns including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes and tornados, but says it’s going to get a lot worse if more significant action isn’t taken.

Prebble contends it’s not really a carbon tax that the federal government is imposing because it’s being rebated back to the province and its residents.

The idea is to change public behaviour by levying a price on carbon pollution sources that are causing the problem.

The U.N. says we need a 45 per cent reduction in worldwide GHG emissions over the next 10 years.

As an example, Prebble says China produces 7 tonnes of emissions per capita and India produces 2 tonnes.

Both would need to reduce emissions by 45 per cent.

In Canada the average GHG emissions is 20 tonnes per capita and in Saskatchewan, it’s 69 tonnes per capita.

He understands than putting a price on emissions is only one of many actions that would be required to reduce emissions.

(CJWW)