October 30, 2008
Province Unveils Green Registry
– – –Website to Showcase Manitoba Action To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Manitoba: Rondeau
News tools are now available to help Manitobans understand and take action on climate change issues, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.
“The Green Registry is a website that helps people understand the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how to measure and reduce these emissions,” said Rondeau. “Through the registry, Manitobans can discover how to plan for and minimize the harmful effects of an already changing climate.”
Rondeau said Manitoba, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Canadian Climate Exchange decided in 2007 to work together to find a way to explain to people the problems arising from climate change.
“CSA is committed to developing climate change standards that help manage, reduce, monitor, report and measure GHG emissions,” said Suzanne Kiraly, president, Standards, Canadian Standards Association. “CSA assisted the Province of Manitoba by developing the conceptual design for innovative solutions to facilitate the public reporting of GHG inventories and emission reducing projects, such as CSA’s GHG Registries.”
“Canadian Climate Exchange and Intercontinental Exchange applaud the Manitoba government on this initiative,” said Brad Vannan, president and chief operating officer of Intercontinental Exchange Futures Canada. “The Green Registry provides the critical building blocks for the eventual development of an emissions marketplace.”
The registry will regularly add to its database of residential and business incentive programs, greenhouse gas protocols, calculators and climate-change service providers.
“This site will showcase the real action taking place in Manitoba to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rondeau.
Rondeau also announced funding of $17,000 to the Manitoba Food Charter for the Manitoba Food Miles Program. The goal of the project is to increase public awareness of the benefits of eating locally grown food, thereby reducing the distance Manitoba food has to travel, resulting in a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
Rondeau noted a number of climate change initiatives the province has supported in the past including:
· Funding of $15,000 to the University of Winnipeg to study establishing a transportation hub that will provide information, secure bicycle storage, repair facilities and other amenities.
· Funding of $100,000 for the Manitoba Organics Transition Program to provide a financial incentive for Manitoba farmers who convert their cropland and pasture to certified organic status. Changing to organic crops would help reduce nitrous oxide emissions from artificial fertilizers and, at the same time, support a burgeoning business opportunity in rural communities.
Rondeau said the Green Registry delivers on the province’s commitment in its memorandums of understanding with British Columbia and California to find ways to share best practices on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The second phase of the Green Registry is expected to be launched in early 2009 when the province intends to implement a carbon credit trading platform for businesses and individuals.
“This is another example of how Manitoba is encouraging a transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Rondeau. “The registry will provide Manitobans and others beyond our borders with a practical tool that will eventually stimulate carbon trading, provide useful information to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare Manitobans for a sustainable future.”
The Green Registry can be found at www.greenregistry.org.
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Backgrounder
Top 10 Actions You Can Take To Reduce Your Personal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2008/2008oct./GreenRegistry2.ST.doc.pdf
Glossary Of Climate Change Terms - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2008/2008oct./GreenRegistry.ST.doc