Government's new climate plan 'skirts' mining industry pollution, says Yukon Conservation Society

The Yukon Conservation Society says the government's new climate strategy "skirts the issue" of the mining industry'sgreenhouse gasemissions because it encourages mines to be more efficientinstead of directly reducingoverall emissions.

The Yukon government released the final version ofits plan on Monday tocut overallemissions by 30 per cent over the next 10 years.

Part of the plan is setting "intensitytargets" for the mining industry by the end of 2022. These targetswould encourage mines to be more efficient, by settingalevelof emissions mines should produce relative to how much material theyproduce.

But Lewis Rifkind, mining analyst with the Yukon Conservation Society, says thesetargets won't necessarily reduce overall emissions particularly if a large mine starts upin the Yukon. Even a more efficient mine could still produce a lot of emissions, he said.

"One big mine could ruin everything if it goes to a fossil-fuel generated electrical supply," he said.

Rifkind said the territory should focus on mining with renewable energy, and setting targets for the actual amount of emissions mining can produce.

"The climate doesn't care whether we have nice efficient mining projects,"Rifkindsaid.

"If they'restill producing more greenhouse gas emissions than our target levels, we've defeated the whole point."

But Premier Sandy Silver says if a large mine went out of business, for instance,Yukon couldmeet itsemissions targets without changing anything.

"This approachhelpsus to monitor and to reduce on a long term basis, without the companies being able to skew their responsibilities," said Silver at the announcement onMonday.

Rifkind says it doesn't matter how Yukon meets its emissions targets we just needs to reduce emissions.

"If mines start pulling out, that's great," he said."We've got the greenhouse gas emissions down."

Rifkind says there are several good ideas in the report, including electric vehicle subsidies and building efficiencies.

The report says mining emissions ranged from 10 to 15 per cent of Yukon's overall emissions between 2009 and 2017.

The three operating mines in the Yukon are on the grid, said Energy MinisterRanj Pillai.

The government saysnew mines will be required to forecast their greenhouse gas emissions and report each year. This also applies to mines that are re-applying for a permit.