Canada sets new target for cutting GHG emissions

TORONTO (ICIS)–Canada on Thursday announced a new target for cutting its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, following a similar announcement in the US by President Joe Biden.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking at a virtual conference hosted by Biden, said that Canada would now aim to reduce GHG emissions by 40-45% by 2030, from 2005 levels.

The previous target was for a 30% reduction, but in its recent federal budget Trudeau’s Liberal-led government suggested 36% as possible.

Commentators noted that Canada’s higher target was still much lower than that of the US, the UK or the EU.

Canada’s Green Party called for a 60% reduction.

Emissions from Canada’s big oil sands sector in Alberta province are seen as a big obstacle to achieving emissions reductions.

In its budget the federal government announced funding and tax breaks for emissions reduction projects and technologies, in particular for carbon capture, utilisation and storage.

Noteworthy in the context of Trudeau’s announcement on Thursday is that a government change could quickly lead to a reversal of the country’s emission policies and targets.

The leader of the Conservative opposition party last week met much resistance from party members when he announced proposals for a carbon tax he would implement if elected.

In 2011, a previous Conservative government even took Canada out of the Kyoto-climate change pact, to which an earlier Liberal government had  signed up.

In other news, President Joe Biden announced at the Leaders Summit on Climate on Thursday that the US will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 50-52% below its 2005 levels by 2030.

The GHG reduction target is the US’ contribution to the Paris Agreement, which Biden reentered at the start of his presidency.

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