Environmental Minister Dustin Duncan was in Moose Jaw to make a major announcement this week. On behalf of the province, Duncan unveiled the new Prairie Resilience strategy to combat climate change in Saskatchewan.

The plan will see major reductions to emissions in three key sectors. The expected result is to see a 10 percent cut to greenhouse gases by 2030. Or, a cut of roughly 12 million megatonnes of carbon emissions.

Duncan and the government believe this new approach will keep Saskatchewan strong both financially and environmentally.

“Saskatchewan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while remaining economically competitive. Prairie Resilience is the platform we’ll use to accomplish these goals,” the minister said.

The move is a response to the federal Liberal government’s push to a nationwide carbon tax. Duncan and his party remained firm in their stance against the federal climate change policy.

“We’ll advise the federal government before September 1 of our significant work to reduce emissions, and create a resilient province. We’ve made it clear the federal carbon tax is ineffective and will not reduce emissions in Saskatchewan,” Duncan stated.

The exact structure of the plan is to set sector-specific standards that are expected to be met in the province. The standards will increase over the course of the next 12 years, continually reducing emissions, before reaching the end goal in 2030.

Potash, coal and uranium mining will cut five percent. Iron and steel mills will have to meet the same criteria, as well as pulp mills and ethanol production. Refining and upgrading will have to reduce 10 percent of emissions, while combustion only upstream oil and gas must deduct 15 percent.

“We’ve accomplished a lot and we’ve made significant progress on our commitment to address climate change,” Duncan said. “Our innovative, progressive and productive climate change strategy shows exactly why the federal backstop should not be imposed on Saskatchewan,” he said.

Saskatchewan facilities will be able to choose from a wide array of compliance options including, offset credits, best performance credits and a technology fund.

These new stipulations will take effect on September 1, 2018.