Ontario Will Spend $7 Billion to Fight Climate Change: Here’s What We’re Reading Today

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Here’s what we’re reading:

1. There are 20 million refugees in the world, yet only 1% have been resettled

“The number of people fleeing war, violence and persecution passed the 20 million mark last year. When factoring in the number of internally displaced people, 2015’s total number of refugees could fill New York, London and Jakarta combined.

“Yet, less than 1% of these refugees were resettled last year. It’s for this very reason that Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, is calling on more countries to shoulder the burden of the seemingly endless refugee crisis.”

2. Climate change can suck it

From the Globe and Mail: “The Ontario government will spend more than $7-billion over four years on a sweeping climate change plan that will affect every aspect of life – from what people drive to how they heat their homes and workplaces – in a bid to slash the province’s carbon footprint.”

This is what you need to know:

  • The spending will largely be paid for by the province’s new cap-and-trade system, expected to be passed  next week
  • Beginning in 2017 the province will begin phasing out natural gas for heating, provide incentives to retrofit buildings and give rebates to drivers who buy electric vehicles
  • The plan was debated by the Provincial cabinet Wednesday, sparking a contentious debate between Environment Minister Glen Murray and his colleagues, like Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid

By 2020, Ontario hopes to reduce its carbon emissions by 15 per cent from 1990 levels.

3. Sadiq Kahn sets sights on affordable housing

London’s new mayor outlined plans today to quadruple the proportion of affordable housing being built in his city, warning he will target “greedy developers.”

“There is no point in building homes if they are bought by investors in the Middle East and Asia,” he told the Guardian. “I don’t want homes being left empty. I don’t want us to be the world’s capital for money laundering. I want to give first dibs to Londoners.”

In March, London was named the sixth most expensive city in the world.

4. The rise of the Christian Left

Donald Trump’s ascension to the top of the Republican party has thrown the religious right into turmoil. Could Democrats become the party of God?

5. Cultural silence

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Cultural Revolution, one of the “most devastating and defining” era in modern Chinese history. The occasion, though, has been marked with silence from the country’s state-run media, which fears coverage may stir up doubts about the strength of the political system.