A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that detrimental impacts of climate change will be felt in Nova Scotia without urgent action from the Houston government.

Above-average sea level rise is expected in Atlantic Canada, lending to severe challenges for the Nova Scotian economy. To combat this, the former Liberal government introduced the Coastal Protection Act to prevent new construction on the province’s coastline.

“Tackling the climate crisis is the economic opportunity of a lifetime,” says Liberal Leader Iain Rankin. “The Houston government cannot claim to be champions for the environment – or the economy – if they don’t take immediate action to protect our coastlines.”

Consultation for regulations to the Coastal Protection Act were completed in September 2021 to define a coastal protection zone in the province.

But, when the Houston government touted an environmental bill in the fall, it made no mention of coastal protection – a glaring oversight in what they considered a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change.

“The findings of the IPCC report should be extremely concerning to the Houston government,” says Rankin. “Protecting our coastlines must be top of mind for this government as we return to the legislature. The economic and environmental impacts are too severe to wait.”