Carbon Tax and the Apocalypse

 

The end is nigh, the end is nigh! The apocalypse is upon us! That's the impression you might have this morning because of a newly imposed carbon tax imposed on provinces, including Ontario, by the federal government here in Canada. Those provinces had the opportunity to come up with their own plans to reduce carbon emissions but chose instead to come up with platitudes about the importance of addressing climate change and doing nothing. 

The Conservative government in Ontario decided to dismantle the cap and trade program and agreement with Quebec and California when it slithered into power, even though the economy was ticking along nicely. Premier Ford has ranted about the job-killing carbon tax the feds are putting in its place and he barks away in rallies without offering a shred of evidence to support his false-prophet claims. The federal Conservatives aren't any better. 




I have no idea whether the federal government has the right formula for lowering carbon emissions. What I do believe is that they have the right concept that polluters should pay for attempting to rob our children and our grandchildren of their right to breathe clean air and live in a world which hasn't been crippled by the rash environmental decisions of their forebearers. 

There is overwhelming, undeniable scientific evidence that humans are changing the composition of the Earth's atmosphere for the worse.Vague promises and platitudes about addressing a planetary crisis are not good enough at any level of government. As Christians we can do many things to reduce our carbon footprint, everything from mindful energy use to reducing meat consumption to ending our addiction to plastic. It's essential, though, that we get behind governments which develop practical plans to address the issues around climate change, now. Polluters gotta pay, and we have to desist from aiding and abetting them, even if it costs us something.

Today's introduction of a carbon tax is not the advent of the apocalypse but God help us if we don't wake up to our reckless and selfish assault on the planet.