TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper

This consultation background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in December 2014, outlines the context for developing a new provincial climate change and green economy plan for Manitoba. It specifically focuses on the role of peatlands in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and economic development, while reviewing Manitoba's previous emissions performance and comparing climate policies across other jurisdictions.

• Manitoba failed to meet its 2012 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 6 per cent below 1990 levels, although emissions by the end of 2012 were 500 kilotonnes (kt) lower than they were in 2000.
• In 2012, the transportation sector was Manitoba's largest source of GHGs, accounting for 38 per cent of total emissions. The agriculture sector was the second largest contributor, with agriculture soils representing 63 per cent, enteric fermentation 25 per cent, and manure management 10 per cent of the sector's total emissions.
• Manitoba generates approximately 98 per cent of its local electricity from clean, renewable sources. Through electricity exports, Manitoba Hydro contributed to 6,300 kt of GHG emissions reductions in jurisdictions outside the province in 2012 by displacing coal and natural gas-fired electricity.
• Peatlands cover approximately 34 per cent of Manitoba and are critical for carbon storage, biodiversity, and water management. If all current and potential peat leases were in full production, harvesting emissions would account for 0.62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, or 3 per cent of provincial GHG emissions.
• Extreme weather events have caused significant financial losses in Manitoba and Canada. The 2011 flood in Manitoba cost the province an estimated CAD$1.2 billion, while insured losses from extreme weather events across Canada were CAD$1.6 billion in 2011 and CAD$3.2 billion in 2013.
• The Government of Manitoba is developing a Peatlands Stewardship Strategy (PSS) to balance peatland use with conservation. Preliminary actions include the Save Lake Winnipeg Act of 2011, which established a moratorium on new peat quarry leases (extended in 2013), and a 2013 ban on peat harvesting in parks.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2014). TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tomorrow-now-manitoba-green-plan-consultation-paper-peatlands.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper. 2014. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tomorrow-now-manitoba-green-plan-consultation-paper-peatlands.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper |date=December 2014 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tomorrow-now-manitoba-green-plan-consultation-paper-peatlands.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2014tomorrownow, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2014}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tomorrow-now-manitoba-green-plan-consultation-paper-peatlands.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }