Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA], 11 December 2020 :
Canada is finally joining countries representing 50% of global GDP that know strong economic policy hinges on strong environmental policy. With this plan, people and communities across Canada can see themselves joining the huge clean economy that is taking over global markets.
Unfortunately, at a moment where other economies are putting a stop on the expansion of fossil fuel investments, this plan does not change the fact that Canadian governments continue to double down on fossil fuels, subjecting workers and our economy to the ever-increasing volatility of oil and gas markets.
Increasing Canada’s price on carbon is essential to cut carbon emissions over time, make polluters pay and put more money in Canadians’ pockets. Carbon pricing is now a global norm with over 70 jurisdictions around the world operating with a price on pollution. Carbon pricing in Canada is here to stay, and it has to stay to give us any hope of avoiding the most irreversible climate impacts.
It’s good to see policies that can, if implemented quickly and with the greatest stringency possible, take Canada’s climate ambitions further than our current insufficient Paris pledge – reducing emissions up to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. It is also good to see a significant investment of $15B in climate action. However, these numbers pale in comparison to commitments being made by our closest trading partners in the EU and the U.S. (under a new Biden administration).
As we look to the preparation of Canada’s new Paris pledge – to be released in time for the next UN climate negotiations in 2021 (COP26) – provinces and territories have to step up their game to push Canada’s climate ambitions to where they need to be, and all governments need to bring much larger investments to the table to get the transformative changes we need. As well, we look forward to the announcement of Canada’s climate finance pledge.
Finally, acknowledging and being led by Indigenous climate leadership is important – truly supporting Indigenous climate leadership means interweaving it throughout all of Canada’s climate plans
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CONTACT
Catherine Abreu
Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada
+1 902-412-8953
catherineabreu@climateactionnetwork.ca