Attitudes in Manitoba on Climate Change

According to a climate change survey conducted in 2005:

  • the vast majority of Manitobans (84 per cent) were concerned about climate change;
  • more than two-thirds of Manitobans said they were familiar with the Kyoto Protocol
    (71 per cent), significantly more than the national average of 57 per cent and the Prairies average of 44 per cent;
  • three out of five Manitobans surveyed (64 per cent) said they are already seeing the effects of climate change in their own community and a further 12 per cent anticipate seeing effects within the next five years;
  • of those seeing or experiencing effects of climate change, extreme weather (64 per cent) was the most frequently reported, with warmer weather the second-most frequent (35 per cent); and
  • one in four Manitobans noted changing precipitation patterns and an increase in natural disasters like floods.

What’s Underway to ‘Green’ Manitoba?

Clean Energy

  • Completing Manitoba’s first 100-megawatt wind farm.
  • Sending out request for proposals for additional wind projects in Manitoba.
  • Becoming a leader in ground-source heat-pump (geothermal) installations, providing the lowest cost heating and cooling systems on the continent
  • Building the Wuskwatim dam to further develop Manitoba hydroelectric resources.
  • Pursuing aneast-west power grid vision.

Transportation

  • Adopting made-in-Manitoba biodiesel fuel and hybrid buses for transit fleets in cities throughout the province.
  • Developing new, community-based biodiesel plants to complement Manitoba’s biofuels mandate and tax incentives which have resulted in a growthto 130 million litres from
    10 million litres of ethanol production.
  • Combining development of hydrogen technology with Manitoba’s bus manufacturing sector.
  • Introducing Manitoba’s firsthybrid vehicle rebate.
  • Making investments in public transportation and biking and walking trails.

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Policy

  • Introducing nutrient limits on fertilizer applications and bringing in new support programs for sustainable on-farm practices aimed at protecting both the provinces’ water and Manitoba’s climate.
  • Developing climate change legislation to set out the provincialgreenhouse gas reduction target.
  • Expanding protected areas.
  • Working towards an east side UNESCO World Heritage designation.
  • Introducing water protection measures.

Efficiency

  • Establishing Manitoba Hydro’s energy-efficiency Power Smart program.
  • Constructing a new building for Manitoba Hydro which will be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world.
  • Including energy-efficiency provisions in its provincial codes.
  • Requiring all new buildings receiving public money to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards.