Assessing Canada’s climate policy progress points to key sectors that need to step up

There’s been a lot of sound and fury over the shape of climate policy in Canada lately. While carbon pricing has been the focus of heated debate, it’s important not to lose sight of the many signs of progress we’ve seen across the country. By assessing where Canada has seen the most progress, and which sectors aren’t yet pulling their weight, we can chart a course to accelerating Canada’s clean energy transition and averting catastrophic climate change. In a year where we witnessed Canada’s worst-by-far fire season in recorded history, where global temperatures spiked above any seen in recorded history, and where climate catastrophes around the globe continued to make headlines, it’s clearer than ever that strong policies to reduce climate pollution and protect Canadians from heat-charged extreme weather need to be top of the agenda for all orders of government. This includes provinces and territories, which are currently pulling about half the weight the federal government is on climate action. As climate leaders gather this week in Ottawa to build momentum toward net zero, the stakes have never been higher. Rick Smith is the president of the Canadian Climate Institute. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Climate Institute To get to net zero by 2050, Canada has a clear target to hit by 2030: reduce climate pollution to 440 megatonnes of carbon dioxide—40 per cent below 2005 levels. The good news: Canada has a solid policy framework in place in the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, and has begun to turn the corner, with emissions now 6.4 per cent below 2005 levels. The hard news: now we need to step on the accelerator and drive down emissions by roughly that amount every year between now and the end of the decade. Most sectors are making progress. In a small number of others, however—most notably oil and gas and buildings—emissions continue to rise. Sectors with momentum Catherine Abreu is the founder and executive director of Destination Zero, and a member of the Net-Zero Advisory Body. Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn Since 2005, Canada’s electricity sector has already made the biggest emissions reductions of any sector, cutting carbon pollution by more than half and putting the sector on a clear pathway to 2030. This is very good news, as it’s becoming increasingly clear that clean electricity is the backbone of the clean energy transition, and Canada’s relatively clean grid offers a significant competitive advantage. Of course, electrifying Canada’s economy will require a big increase in the supply of clean electricity. Strong policies like the Clean Electricity Regulations can help build the bigger, cleaner, and smarter electricity systems we need, and can support widespread electrification of transportation and heating. Strong policies are starting to drive down emissions in other sectors, including heavy industry and transportation. Fuelled by significant market shifts towards zero-emission vehicles and clear investment incentives, the transportation sector is starting to see some emissions reductions. Electric vehicle sales continue to surge, and the federal government is working to ensure 60 per cent of new light-duty vehicles are zero emissions by 2030, en route to 100 per cent by 2035. Sectors that need a push For Canada to meet its 2030 climate target, significant progress needs to be made in two sectors: oil and gas, and buildings. Without further action, emissions from the oil and gas sector are expected to rise 15 per cent above 2005 levels by 2030. For the building sector, legislated policies will see the sector fall 1.5 megatonnes short of their 2030 target. Failure to reduce emissions in these two sectors threatens to derail Canada’s economy-wide progress. Both sectors need strong, targeted policies including an oil and gas cap and a Green Buildings Strategy. The forthcoming Green Buildings Strategy, crucially, can lead to cleaner, healthier, more efficient, and more affordable heating and cooling options. It can also protect Canadians from increasingly frequent extreme heatwaves, and make our homes and businesses more resilient to extreme weather. While significant progress has been made, Canada is not yet on track to meet its 2030 target. As climate catastrophes continue to devastate communities across the country and around the world, there is no time to wait. Governments of all orders need to take action now to accelerate Canada’s clean energy transition, help Canadians switch from fossil fuels to clean energy, and protect people and communities from the devastating impacts of a warming and increasingly volatile climate. Rick Smith is the president of the Canadian Climate Institute. Catherine Abreu is the founder and executive director of Destination Zero, and a member of the Net-Zero Advisory Body. The Hill Times

Assessing Canada’s climate policy progress points to key sectors that need to step up

Most sectors have momentum, but in a small number of others—most notably oil and gas and buildings—emissions continue to rise.

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Assessing Canada’s climate policy progress points to key sectors that need to step up

Most sectors have momentum, but in a small number of others—most notably oil and gas and buildings—emissions continue to rise.

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