Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger on Thursday announced that his province would seek to cut its GHG emissions by a third below 2005 levels by 2030, and confirmed that it will use an emissions trading scheme to help it reach its goal.

While a launch date was not set, the market will be Canada’s third outright cap-and-trade system along with Ontario and Quebec’s, and it will likely link to those schemes via WCI – of which Manitoba has been a partner for years.

“Manitoba … will enter into consultations with other sectors on the potential to introduce carbon stewardship, a unique made-in-Manitoba solution for non-capped industries,” the government said, adding that it will also carry out a public consultation process before the ETS’ design is finalised.

In addition, Selinger pledged that Manitoba would aim to be carbon neutral by 2080.

Sources speaking to Carbon Pulse last week said the province’s ETS would likely cover around 13 million tonnes of CO2 annually – two-thirds of Manitoba’s total emissions – making it among the smallest carbon markets in the world.

According to Quebec’s environment minister, four US states have also expressed interest in joining WCI, which links carbon markets in California, Quebec, and soon Ontario.

By Stian Reklev – stian@carbon-pulse.com