Nova Scotia joins Western Climate Initiative for tech support for emissions plan
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is yet to set targets for its new cap and trade regime to reduce greenhouse gases, but the province announced Monday that it has joined the Western Climate Initiative Inc. — a non-profit corporation formed to provide administrative and technical services to states and provinces with emissions trading programs.
Environment Minister Iain Rankin said joining the initiative would allow the province to use its IT system to manage and track its new cap and trade program.
Rankin said the province can join without trading greenhouse gas emission allowances with other jurisdictions — California, Quebec, and Ontario are currently linked through the program. Nova Scotia currently has no plans to trade outside the province as it works on emissions caps Rankin said will be ready sometime in June.
“By keeping our system internal it ensures that our greenhouse gas reductions are happening within our province,” said Rankin. “But we do have that opportunity (to join) and if there are new entrants or we need more access to credits then that may shift our strategy.”