Prime Minister Trudeau joins clarion call from High Ambition Coalition at COP29 to keep the Paris Agreement alive

Baku, Azerbaijan, 13 November 2024:

Today at COP29, the High Ambition Coalition released a statement clearly setting out what’s at stake and what must be achieved in Baku, signed by Canada alongside 23 other countries.

Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, issued the following statement in response:

“Prime Minister Trudeau just joined small island states and developing countries in a clarion call to keep the Paris Agreement alive – with all its benefits for people, economies and the planet.

“At such a critical moment for climate multilateralism and after Canada’s notable absence from previous High Ambition Coalition statements, this sends a strong signal. It is significant to see Prime Minister Trudeau and other world leaders recognize that trillions are needed for climate finance, and that developed countries must lead on delivering it so it is accessible to those facing the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

“This powerful statement gives Canada a clear work plan as it takes over the G7 Presidency in 2025 – which will determine Prime Minister Trudeau’s legacy on climate justice, sustainable jobs and economic transformation.”

Key highlights from the statement:

• Importantly, the statement acknowledged “the critical importance of grant-based and concessional finance, particularly for adaptation and to respond to loss and damage.” Climate Action Network Canada has emphasized the importance of grant-based and concessional finance, and the need for subgoals within the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. 
• The statement reiterates the need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, as was agreed upon in Dubai last year, and “tackling the trillions in subsidies that currently support fossil fuels.” It’s significant that the statement does not include any weasel words such as “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies, which have often weakened previous statements and allowed room for continued public support to polluting industries. 
• The call for all countries, especially in the G20, to reflect these commitments in 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) “that are economy-wide, cover all sectors and gasses, and have absolute reduction targets” is crucial. Canada’s 2035 climate target must be decided by December 1, 2024, and Climate Action Network Canada has published our expectations for an equitable and achievable NDC.

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