A column by Becky Kent:

Climate change is an important concern for Nova Scotians. Our province is made up of coastal communities and we have a keen awareness of environmental forces. The government is dedicated to promoting a cleaner, greener future.

There is no quick fix to roll back the clock on global warming. It’s a complex problem, that can only be properly addressed if advocacy groups, governments, the business world and the scientific community come together to share ideas and develop solutions. It’s to that end that world descended on Copenhagen in mid-December for the UN Climate Change Conference. I’m proud to say this included a delegation from Nova Scotia led by our Premier Darrell Dexter and Minister of Environment Sterling Belliveau.

The conference was an opportunity to promote Nova Scotia’s climate change policy on the world stage. We are a leader in reducing green house gas emissions and developing renewable energy sources. Currently, we are the only province in Canada to have placed hard caps on greenhouse-gas emissions in the electricity sector. And to back this up our goal is to acquire 25% of our energy from renewable sources by 2015.

But we’ve done more than just set goals, we’ve also taken action. As I mentioned in my previous column the government recently unveiled the Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation to help households reduce energy consumption while saving money. We have provided funding to make school buses more fuel efficient. We have began to replace heavy duty provincial fleet vehicles with new hybrid machinery. And we continue to help businesses and municipalities invest in technology to reduce harmful air emissions.

Premier Dexter and Minister Belliveau also promoted Nova Scotia’s green industries to the international business community while in Copenhagen. There is huge economic potential for renewable energy in Nova Scotia. Wind farms can transform a strong coastal breeze into valuable kilowatts. A single turbine in the Bay of Fundy can harness enough tidal energy to provide power for over 100,000 households. And with our highly educated and skilled workforce, even greater advances are possible through research and development.

Becoming a global leader on the issue of climate change is a win-win proposition for Nova Scotia. Not only can we help prevent an international environmental crisis, but we can also boost our province’s economy. It’s about creating a sustainable future, which as an MLA I want for all Nova Scotians; and as a mother I want for my children.