Ontario’s coal-free future sparks new energy dilemmas
A decade after Ontario’s landmark coal phase-out cleaned up its skies, the province now faces tough questions about how to ditch natural gas, a significant contributor to climate change.
Fatima Syed reports for The Narwhal.
In short:
- Ontario's coal phase-out, completed in 2014, eliminated 17% of the province's emissions and was the largest greenhouse gas reduction initiative in North America at the time.
- Doctors and environmental advocates played key roles in pushing the government to act, citing smog-related health crises that caused thousands of premature deaths and respiratory illnesses annually.
- The province now faces growing calls to transition away from natural gas, but challenges like rising energy demands and political resistance complicate the path forward.
Key quote:
"Phasing out gas is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to reduce our greenhouse gases now."
— Jack Gibbons, Ontario Clean Air Alliance
Why this matters:
Ontario's coal phase-out shows that bold energy transitions are possible with strong public and political will, but relying on natural gas risks undoing hard-won climate and health gains. The question is whether political leaders and energy planners can summon the same resolve they did a decade ago. Read more: Natural gas vs. renewable energy — beware the latest gas industry talking points.
