Spokespeople available for interview on request
Vancouver, BC – In response to the finalized Canada Green Buildings Strategy, released today by the federal government, 350 Canada Team Lead Atiya Jaffar issued the following statement:
“The fact that heat pumps play a key role in the Green Buildings Strategy is a big win for people across the country who have been pushing for climate action, but the federal government must go further. While the strategy’s focus on phasing out oil-fired heating is a step in the right direction, it fails to target natural gas and propane, which are potent sources of carbon pollution. It also continues to put the needs of homeowners ahead of the needs of millions of tenants in Canada who cannot access heat pumps.
Right now, communities across the country are leading local Heat Pumps for All campaigns pushing their MPs to support a Universal Heat Pump Program. We know that heat pumps save lives in the face of extreme heat, cut our energy bills, and drive down greenhouse gas emissions. During the 2021 Heat Dome, equitable access to cooling through clean and cheap heat pumps could have prevented the tragic loss of 619 lives. We must ensure that every single household has access to this critical, life-saving technology through a universal program administered by a national entity that ensures people’s safety takes priority over corporate profits.”
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Media contact: Chris Gusen | [email protected] | 1-613-305-9795
Learn more about the Heat Pumps for All campaign at 350.org/HeatPumps