Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], July 15, 2024:
As leaders of Canada’s provincial and territorial governments gather tomorrow in Halifax, Climate Action Network Canada urges premiers to ensure climate action is high on the agenda.
“Climate action must be an all-hands-on-deck effort from every level of government,” said Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada. “People in every province and territory are already grappling with unnatural disasters caused by climate change, from hurricanes to heat waves to wildfires.”
“You cannot address affordability, housing, health—any of the issues the premiers are set to discuss—without ambitious and inclusive climate action. Yet some premiers, while quick to assert jurisdiction, have been slow to take responsibility, and to show they have a better plan to combat climate change and protect Canadians.”
A recent report from Clean Energy Canada notes that Canada is experiencing a heavily fragmented energy transition, with consequences for household affordability and economic development. It finds that 80% of climate spending in Canada since 2016 has been at the federal level, despite the fact that the federal government is responsible for roughly 20% of all public spending.
Analysis from the Pembina Institute, meanwhile, shows that while the federal government, British Columbia, and Quebec are making progress on climate policy—though imperfect—other provinces are falling behind. The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan are the worst performers, but are together responsible for nearly half of all Canada’s emissions.
“Premiers who have been leading more ambitious climate policy must urge their counterparts to step up,” added Leïla Cantave, Quebec Lead at Climate Action Network Canada. “At COP28, Quebec became a co-chair of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – an international coalition recognizing that protecting workers, the economy, and our shared climate requires proactive planning to transition away from all fossil fuels. Will Premier Legault prove himself the national leader he claims to be, and use this meeting to encourage other provinces to join the alliance?”
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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of 150 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Vicky Coo, Communications Manager
comms@climateactionnetwork.ca