A local environmentalist and member of Decarbonize NL says now is the time for the provincial government to come up with a plan as an alternative to a carbon-based economy.

Brett Favaro says the province is feeling the economic impact of a global oil price war and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He understands the difficulties individuals, businesses and governments are facing at this stressful time, but cautions that the answer can’t be wishful thinking and doubling-down on oil production when things improve.

Favaro says now is the time for governments to come up with ways to transition to other sources of energy production that will benefit the economy and protect the environment.

He says the International Monetary Fund has looked at how much subsidization the oil industry gets, totaling up to $5 trillion dollars a year worldwide.

He questions whether Newfoundland and Labrador is still planning to double oil and gas production if oil collapses, and major projects like Bay du Nord remain on hold.

He says the provincial government is anticipating $3.5-billion in revenue from Bay du Nord with first oil in 2025. If that doesn’t come, he wants to know what alternative plan will be in place, because the answer can’t be “nothing.”