MARRAKECH, Morocco (November 11, 2016) – In light of the election
of Donald Trump, Canada must be a genuine leader at the international climate negotiations and work to implement every tenet of the Paris Agreement.
At COP21 in Paris, Canada played a critical leadership role in securing a global agreement that seeks to limit the average rise in global temperature to 1.5°C. Countries are now gathering in Marrakech Morocco to get to work implementing the Paris Agreement.
“Meeting the temperature limitation goals in the Paris Agreement requires more ambitious action from everyone. While states, cities, and businesses will continue driving decarbonization of the U.S. economy, there are concerns that the incoming Trump presidency will roll back progress at the federal level, » says Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. « Given this new reality, Canada’s leadership is needed now more than ever. »
International leadership must be consistent with leadership at home. Canada must, at a minimum, stay the course on the national carbon price, methane reduction, and other measures being developed to meet the 2030 targets. Canada’s long-term, mid-century decarbonization strategy will also be critical to setting the stage for near-term action and getting us on track to sticking to our fair share of the global carbon budget.
“With Trump threatening to stall US climate efforts, it’s more critical than ever that Canada pull its weight and get to its fair share of the global effort to combat climate change. Our current 2030 goal to cut climate pollution is insufficient, and our contributions to international climate finance need to increase,” says Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada.
The Prime Minister and the Premiers are meeting in December to develop a Pan Canadian Climate Plan to meet the 2030 targets of 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. CAN-Rac is advocating for building a mechanism into the Pan-Canadian Plan that ensures we are increasing our ambition over time while investing in new low carbon economic development as well as training programs so workers can take advantage of new employment opportunities.
“The election of Donald Trump has shaken the international community gathered at COP22. Our time has all but run out,” says Tina Oh, Canadian Youth Delegate to COP22. “ The true power to drive change lies with grassroots movements, Indigenous land defenders, and those who take to the streets to demand a livable future in the face of cataclysmic climate change”
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BACKGROUND:
CAN-Rac Priorities for Canada at COP22
CAN-Rac Expectations: Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change
Canada, International Climate Finance, and Cooperative Market Mechanisms
CONTACT:
Mitchell Beer, +212 600 740 280 mitchell@smartershift.com
