Minister Garneau appearance at the Committee of the Whole on the 2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates A on December 9, 2019 : Environment and Climate Change Canada

From: Transport Canada

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Critic biographies

Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey—White Rock) – Conservative Party of Canada Critic for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

  • Kerry-Lynne Findlay is an accomplished parliamentarian, lawyer, and community leader. She has championed professional issues such as the rule of law, equity, and access to justice; advocated for human rights and the dignity of the person; devoted herself to community causes; and is dedicated to the public service of our nation that she loves.
  • She has had a successful private practice law career in civil litigation serving as a trusted advisor, Bar President, Founding Chair of the national Women Lawyers Forum, Administrative Law Judge on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, certified Mediator and Arbitrator, and a mentor to many. She is a Queen's Counsel, representing clients at all levels of Court including the Supreme Court of Canada.
  • Kerry-Lynne also served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Delta-Richmond East in Canada's 41st Parliament, delivering $450+ million in federal government investment. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Justice [2011 to 2013], Associate Minister of National Defence [2013], Minister of National Revenue [2013 to 2015], and to several Cabinet Committees including Treasury Board, Economic Prosperity, Foreign Affairs and Security, and National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Kerry-Lynne headed federal delegations to Taiwan, India, United Kingdom (UK), Chile, and Colombia. She was also: Government Lead, House of Commons (HOC) Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights; Chair, Justice and Human Rights Caucus Advisory Committee; and a member of the 2012 S.C.C. Selection Panel.
  • She has addressed international and domestic (including SBOT) audiences on a variety of legal, equity, political, anti-gang, social, transportation, victims' rights, economic, tax, federal budget, national defence, small business, and red tape reduction topics.
  • After earning her B.A. with Honours, and J.D. at U.B.C. Kerry-Lynne attended Harvard Law and Rotman's School of Business. She has been recognized by a variety of organizations including receipt of the 2015 Golden Scissors Award from CFIB for government leadership in red tape reduction for small business.
  • Kerry-Lynne's husband is a local actor, producer and businessman. They live in White Rock, in the South Surrey-White Rock riding that her family has called home for the past 38 years. They have four children.

Monique Pauzé (Repentigny) – Bloc Québécois Environment Critic

  • Former teacher and trade unionist Monique Pauzé has been MP for Repentigny since 2015. She is the Bloc Québécois's spokesperson for the environment, culture and the status of women, the spokesperson for secularism of the State in the federal parliament and a former party whip.
  • Ms. Pauzé has also distinguished herself by fighting for the safe transportation of dangerous goods by rail.
  • In 2018, she received a Parliamentarians of the Year Award from L'actualité magazine for her collegial spirit, as voted by her peers.
  • During her mandate, Ms. Pauzé introduced Bill C-392, requiring the federal government to adhere to Quebec's environmental and land-use legislation when acting in Quebec.

Kristina Michaud (Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia) – Bloc Québécois Climate Change Critic

  • Kristina Michaud is a political advisor in the office of the interim Parti Québécois leader, Pascal Bérubé. Her mandate is to guide the PQ caucus on issues such as immigration, secularism, health, social services, French, international relations and the status of women. The 26-year-old is completing a master's degree in International Relations at Laval University.


Laurel Collins (Victoria) – NDP Caucus Vice Chair, Critic for Environment and Climate Change, Deputy Critic for Infrastructure and Communities

  • Laurel is a community organizer and climate activist. She was an Instructor at the University of Victoria and a city councillor prior to being elected MP for Victoria.
  • She was born in Kispiox, Northern BC, in Gixtzan territory. Her parents split up when she was a baby, and she moved around a lot—the Gulf Islands, Alert Bay, Port Hardy, out to New Brunswick and then back to Vancouver Island.
  • Watching her mom raise three kids, Laurel learned first-hand the value of helping those who need it the most. Her mother always told her, “When someone needs help, you help each other out. This is who we are.”
  • Hard work and support from her community opened up opportunity. Laurel went on to earn a Bachelor's, Masters, and start a PhD. Her work was dedicated to trying to solve the unfairness she saw in the world: poverty, inequality, and conflict.
  • Guided by her Mom's values, Laurel worked to make life better for the people who needed it the most. She volunteered with Education and Literacy Programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. She researched climate migration in her Master's program and then worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Northern Uganda helping people displaced by civil war rebuild their lives. Laurel saw that people all over the world are fighting for the same thing: a better life for themselves and their families.
  • When she returned to her home in Victoria, Laurel worked at Victoria Women in Need to support women who have experienced violence and abuse. And she joined the grassroots environmental movements. She co-founded Divest Victoria and fought along the Shawnigan Lake community to protect their watershed.
  • Laurel poured her time and energy into organizing and fighting for climate action and environmental protection. She taught courses at the University of Victoria in Social Justice, Sociology, and Social Inequality, and explored the connection between the climate crisis and inequality.
  • Laurel understands that climate change is the biggest social justice issue of our time.
  • Rising ocean levels, raging forest fires, and melting ice caps will all hurt vulnerable people the most. It will also destroy this beautiful place we call home. Motivated to tackle climate change, Laurel stepped up and took action. She ran for City Council as a member of Together Victoria, and she won.
  • She also sits on the Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Water Supply Commission, helping protect our region's watersheds and ecosystems, and she is a director on the board of the Green Municipal Fund, a federal body that funds innovative projects that dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in communities across Canada.
  • Laurel works hard to make sure people and the environment are at the heart of local decision-making. And she works in her community to do everything she can to protect the environment and help people get ahead.

Hot issues: Climate change

  • The effects of climate change are already being felt across Canada and around the world. Canadians understand the importance of taking action to address climate change. Canadians have seen in very concrete ways the impacts of climate change which are happening now.
  • The national climate plan we put in place in 2016 was an ambitious, concrete plan. As a result, our emission projections show that for first time in history Canada's emissions are heading on a stable, downward trend.
  • However, we recognize that more action is needed.
  • We are working to meet and exceed our 2030 Paris Agreement target of reducing emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. In the long-term, our goal is to have Canada achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • Net-zero means any greenhouse gases emitted are completely off-set by other actions that remove carbon from the atmosphere, such as planting trees.
  • When it comes to fighting climate change, doing less now ends up costing people more down the road.
  • That is why we will be implementing new climate measures, and appointing experts to provide advice on the best path forward over the longer-term.

New mitigation measures

  • We will help to make energy efficient homes more affordable, and introduce measures to build clean, efficient, and affordable communities.
  • We will make it easier for people to choose zero-emission vehicles;
  • We will also work to make clean, affordable power available in every Canadian community; and
  • Our Government will work with businesses to make Canada the best place to start and grow a clean technology company.
  • We will also use nature-based solutions to fight climate change—including planting two billion trees to clean the air and make our communities greener.

Background

  • According to Canada's Changing Climate Report (2019), Canada's climate is warming two times faster than the rest of the world on average, and the North is warming at a faster pace than the rest of the country.
  • The international community recognizes that climate change is an urgent priority. The 2015 Paris Agreement was the result of a consensus that, as a global community, we need to keep the rise in global temperature below a 2°C rise from pre-industrial levels.
  • Commitments made by countries around the world under the Paris Agreement are insufficient. Current commitments will lead to warming of about 3°C by 2100.
  • The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada's National Climate Plan, has four pillars: pricing carbon pollution, complementary actions to reduce emissions, adaptation and climate resilience, and clean technology, innovation and jobs.
  • The Plan is working. In Canada's most recent report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – the 3rd Biennial Report – Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be 583 megatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030, which is 232 megatonnes lower than before implementing the Plan.
  • Inaction would be more expensive than climate action. The costs of climate change in Canada could escalate from an estimated $5 billion per year in 2020, to between $21 billion and $43 billion per year by 2050.

Department: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Name of Privy Council Office (PCO) Policy Analyst:

Secretariat: Economic and Regional Development Policy

Telephone number:

Hot issues: Greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections in Canada

  • The Government of Canada is committed to meeting and exceeding its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, and the Government's climate plan is working. Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are less than they were in 2015, and they are projected to be on a downward trajectory to 2030.
  • In 2017, Canada's emissions were 716 megatonnes, a net decrease of 15 megatonnes from 2005 levels. These results show that greenhouse gas emissions can decline while GDP grows.
  • Canada's emissions are projected to decline to 592 megatonnes in 2030—223 megatonnes less than what was projected prior to adopting and implementing Canada's climate plan in 2016.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to decline further as federal, provincial, and territorial governments continue to take climate action. The latest projections also do not fully account for recent investments in clean technology and public transit.

Background

  • In 2017, the most recent data available, Canada's GHG emissions were 716 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq), a net decrease of 15 Mt or 2.0% from 2005 emissions. During this period, Canada's economy grew more rapidly than its GHG emissions. As a result, the emissions intensity for the entire economy (GHG per GDP) has declined by 36% since 1990 and 20% since 2005.
  • The decline in emissions intensity can be attributed to fuel switching, increases in efficiency, the modernization of industrial processes and structural changes in the economy.
  • From 2016 to 2017, Canada's emissions increased by 8 Mt. This fluctuation is due to the combined effect of multiple factors, some as part of longstanding trends and some more unique, including: an increase in the percentage of non-emitting sources of electricity (-2.6 Mt between 2016 and 2017); events impacting oil sands production, including the 2016 fire in Fort McMurray, Alberta and the resumption of activities in 2017 (+8Mt between 2016 and 2017); variability in winter weather, which influences emissions related to heating (+2.9 Mt between 2016 and 2017); variations in production levels and the use of fossil fuels in industrial sectors (+0.1 Mt between 2016 and 2017).
  • In 2017, the Energy sector (consisting of Stationary Combustion, Transport and Fugitive Sources) emitted 583 Mt of greenhouse gases, or 82% of Canada's total GHG emissions. The remaining emissions were largely generated by the Agriculture and the industrial processes and product use (IPPU) sectors (approximately 8% each), with smaller contributions from the Waste sector (3%). In 2017, the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector removed 24 Mt of CO2 from the atmosphere.
  • The GHG inventory includes emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Canada's emissions profile is similar to that of most industrialized countries, in that CO2 is the largest contributor to total emissions, accounting for 80% of total emissions in 2017. The majority of the CO2 emissions in Canada result from the combustion of fossil fuels. CH4 emissions in 2017 amounted to 93 Mt or 13% of Canada's total. These emissions consist largely of fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas systems, agriculture and landfills. N2O emissions mostly arise from agricultural soil management and transport, and accounted for 38 Mt or 5.3% of Canada's emissions in 2017. Emissions of synthetic gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3) constituted slightly less than 2%.
  • Canada represented approximately 1.6% of global GHG emissions in 2015, and it is one of the highest per capita emitters.

Canada's greenhouse gas emissions projections and progress to Paris target

  • Canada's Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emissions Projections Report—2018 outlines how Canada will progress to its Paris Agreement target.
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) started publishing GHG emissions projections annually in 2011Footnote 1. Since 2015, these projections are reported in stand-alone reports only on years when Canada does not report on its GHG emissions projections to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)Footnote 2. The 2019 update of the projections to 2030 will be published as part of Canada's 4th Biennial Report to the UNFCCC, which is due January 1, 2020.
  • The analysis presented in the 2018 report incorporates the most up-to-date statistics on GHG emissions and energy available at the time that the technical modeling was completed in the summer of 2018, and is based on scenarios of emissions projections using the Energy, Emissions and Economy Model for Canada (E3MC).
  • Provincial/territorial and federal government departments were consulted during the development of the projections and were invited to provide their input by September 2018.
  • The majority of data and assumptions used for the modeled emissions scenarios have been subject to extensive consultations. For example, the Canadian Energy Regulator (formerly the National Energy Board) has extensive consultation processes in place to ensure their projections of energy demand and supply growth are robust; the data they provided to ECCC reflect those consultations.
  • As with all projections, the estimates in this report should be seen as representative of possible outcomes that will, in the end, depend on economic, social and other factors, including future government policies.
  • The report presents Canada's GHG emissions projections under different scenarios.
  • First, a Reference Case scenario shows projected GHG emissions based on federal, provincial and territorial policies and measures that were in place as of September 2018. Under this scenario, emissions are projected to be 701 Mt by 2030 (without LULUCF). Compared to the previous Reference Case scenario published in 2017, the latest shows an improvement of 21 Mt. This progress is driven by measures that were implemented in 2018, including:
    • regulations to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired electricity by 2030;
    • Natural Resources Canada's industrial energy management program; and,
    • actions taken by provinces and territories under the federal Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund.
  • With the contribution from LULUCF accounting, the Reference Case scenario emissions in 2030 are reduced to 677 Mt.
  • The second scenario, the Additional Measures Case, includes federal, provincial and territorial policies and measures that have been announced but not yet fully implemented as of September 2018. This includes, the federal pollution pricing backstop, the Clean Fuel Standard, and the Low Carbon Economy Challenge Fund.
  • Under the Additional Measures scenario, emissions are projected to be 616 Mt by 2030 (without LULUCF). In comparison to Canada's 2017 projections, key changes in the 2018 projections reflect evolving provincial climate policies, most notably Ontario's rollback of its GHG reduction target by 30 Mt and the repeal of its cap-and-trade legislation. Also reflected in this year's report are updated forecasts of population growth, and oil and gas prices and production.
  • With the contribution from LULUCF accounting, the Additional Measures scenario emissions in 2030 are reduced to 592 Mt. This amounts to a 223 Mt improvement in Canada's emissions forecast compared to projections prior to the adoption and implementation of Canada's 2016 climate plan (the Pan-Canadian Framework). This decline, equivalent to approximately 30% of Canada's emissions in 2016, encompasses all economic sectors, demonstrating the effectiveness of Canada's climate plan.

Hot issues: Meeting Canada's 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) target

  • Climate change is the defining challenge of this time. The Government of Canada recognizes the seriousness of the issue and will continue to take ambitious action.
  • The national climate plan we developed in 2016 has bent Canada's emissions curve out to 2030.
  • Our emissions projections indicate that we still have work to do, in achieving our 2030 target. Our goal is to not only meet this target, but to surpass it; putting Canada on a path to net-zero by 2050.
  • We know that additional reductions will come from investments not yet modelled, such as public transit and clean innovation.
  • We will also implement new measures, such as helping to make energy efficient homes more affordable, planting two billion trees, and working to make clean, affordable power available in every Canadian community.
  • Our goal will not be easy. The Government plans on working with experts, as well as with our partners to identify more ways to reduce emissions.
  • We are committed to building on our progress to date and ensuring the path to deeper emissions reduction is sensitive to the needs of our country, grows the economy and makes life more affordable.

Background: Canada's Climate Plan

  • The 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, developed in collaboration with provinces and territories, and in consultation with Indigenous People, is Canada's first climate plan that includes joint and individual federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) action.
  • The plan includes over 50 concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build Canada's resilience to a changing climate and drive clean growth. Key accomplishments include:
    • putting a price on carbon pollution across Canada;
    • regulating methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, which will reduce carbon pollution by about 16.5 million tonnes in 2030;
    • accelerating the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030, as part of our efforts to have 90% of electricity from non-emitting sources, and supporting working and communities in the transition to a low-carbon economy;
    • developing “net-zero energy ready” building codes to be adopted by 2030 for new buildings;
    • increasing the use of zero-emission vehicles though purchase incentives and refueling stations;
    • adopting a Climate Lens to ensure that future climate impacts are considered and addressed in all federally funded infrastructure projects;
    • establishing a new Canadian Centre for Climate Services, giving Canadians better access to climate science and information; and
    • funding adaptation initiatives, like the $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, to increase climate resiliency in Canada.

Department:

Name of PCO Policy Analyst:

Secretariat:

Telephone number:

Hot issues: Will the government be announcing a new climate change target?

  • The effects of climate change are already being felt across Canada and around the world.
  • Right now, we are working to meet and exceed our 2030 Paris Agreement target of reducing emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.
  • This will require new policies, some of which we have already announced. For example, the Government will:
    • help to make energy efficient homes more affordable, and introduce measures to build clean, efficient, and affordable communities;
    • make it easier for people to choose zero-emission vehicles;
    • work to make clean, affordable power available in every Canadian community; and
    • work with businesses to make Canada the best place to start and grow a clean technology company.
  • The Government will also set a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with advice from experts and Canadians. This goal is ambitious, but necessary—consistent with what science requires but also necessary for economic growth.

Background

  • According to Canada's Changing Climate Report (2019), Canada's climate is warming two times faster than the rest of the world on average, and the North is warming at a faster pace than the rest of the country.
  • The international community recognizes that climate change is an urgent priority. The 2015 Paris Agreement was the result of a consensus that, as a global community, we need to keep the rise in global temperature below a 2°C rise from pre-industrial levels.
  • Commitments made by countries around the world under the Paris Agreement are insufficient. Current commitments will lead to warming of about 3°C by 2100.
  • The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada's National Climate Plan, has four pillars: pricing carbon pollution, complementary actions to reduce emissions, adaptation and climate resilience, and clean technology, innovation and jobs.
  • The Plan is working. In Canada's most recent report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—the 3rd Biennial Report—Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be 583 megatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030, which is 232 megatonnes lower than before implementing the Plan.
  • Inaction would be more expensive than climate action. The costs of climate change in Canada could escalate from an estimated $5 billion per year in 2020, to between $21 billion and $43 billion per year by 2050.

Department: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Name of PCO Policy Analyst:

Secretariat: Economic and Regional Development Policy

Telephone number:

Hot issues: How will you meet the Net-Zero target?

  • The effects of climate change are already being felt across Canada and around the world. Canadians understand the importance of taking action to address climate change.
  • The science is clear that the effects of climate change are going to continue to worsen. We need to take ambitious action now.
  • Our Government is going to set a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Net-zero means any greenhouse gases emitted are completely off-set by other actions that remove carbon from the atmosphere, such as planting trees.
  • Net-zero does not mean shutting down our economy, it means doing things in a different way. Technology and innovation, including carbon capture and storage, will be a huge part of the solution and also lead to new business opportunities for Canadians.
  • We will appoint experts to provide advice on how to make this transition, in consultation with Canadians. This goal is ambitious, but necessary – consistent with what science requires but also necessary for economic growth.

Background

  • Commitments made by countries around the world under the Paris Agreement are insufficient. Current commitments will lead to warming of about 3°C by 2100.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (October 2018) called for net-zero emissions by 2050 to avoid the worse consequences of climate change.
  • Atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and global warming will continue to increase until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net-zero. Global emissions can reach net-zero by eliminating all GHGs or by removing as many GHGs as are emitted. Currently all technically feasible pathways to net-zero include some degree of carbon-dioxide removal to compensate for ongoing emissions in the sectors that are hardest to decarbonize.
  • 77 countries and over 100 cities have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier (most have not updated their Paris Agreement commitments reflect this increased ambition). To date, no country has a comprehensive plan on how they will achieve net-zero emissions. Many countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, are appointing expert-panels to provide advice on how best to achieve net-zero.
  • The 2019 Liberal Platform committed to appointing a group of scientists, economist and experts to recommend the best path to get to net-zero. The mandate, scope and membership of this net-zero expert panel is still to be determined.
  • Examples of other jurisdictions' net-zero pathways will help inform Canada's approach, but Canada will face unique challenges in achieving net-zero emission by 2050—geography, importance of the resource economy, and shared jurisdiction on energy and the environment.
  • Canada's emissions are on a downward trajectory but transformational change to every sector of society and the economy will be required to achieve net-zero. In Canada's most recent report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—the 3rd Biennial Report—Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be 583 megatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030, which is 232 megatonnes lower than before implementing Canada's climate plan. However, additional mitigation measures will be required to achieve Canada's 2030 target and net-zero.
  • The natural resources sector will play an important role in the transition to net-zero, by providing necessary energy, materials and financing. The Government will invest every dollar earned form the Trans Mountain Expansion project into Canada's net-zero transition, which could be up to $500 million in annual revenue once the project is completed.
  • Canada can achieve net-zero emissions while using fossil fuel fuels by offsetting their emissions through natural solutions (e.g., planting trees or sequestering carbon in agricultural soils),  negative emissions technologies (e.g., direct air carbon dioxide capture), or purchasing carbon offsets (e.g., internationally transferred mitigation outcomes).

Department:

Name of PCO Policy Analyst:

Secretariat:

Telephone number:

Hot issues: International climate change action

Issue

Canada is steadfast in its commitment to play a leadership role in advancing global climate action and implementing our commitments under the Paris Agreement, allowing us to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the global shift towards cleaner growth.

The Paris Agreement

With the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, followed by its entry-into-force on November 4, 2016, the international community committed to increasing the global response to climate change. As part of the agreement, Parties agreed to reach a global peaking of GHG emissions as soon as possible and undertake rapid reduction thereafter, in order to hold the increase in the global average temperatures to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. Achieving this temperature goal will require significant global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon. The Agreement also contains goals to foster climate adaptation and resilience, as well as to make global financial flows consistent with a pathway toward a low-carbon future.

While the Paris Agreement set out these overarching goals and a framework of obligations and principles, the implementation details (also known as the “Rulebook”) for how parties are to meet their obligations have been the subject of negotiations over the past three years. At COP24 (24th meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), held in Poland in December 2018, Parties successfully negotiated and adopted the Paris Agreement rulebook package. This final outcome met Canada's objective of a sufficiently detailed rulebook that enhances overall transparency of action, thereby supporting the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Specifically, the Rulebook provides common guidance for all countries to improve the clarity of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and to report on their greenhouse gas emissions and their progress towards meeting their NDCs. The guidance also requires countries to use common accounting standards to measure progress and to participate in a regular review process designed to improve the transparency of the regime over time. It also includes a suite of other guidance for reporting on adaptation efforts and climate finance flows (past and future).

Although significant progress was made in discussing guidance of the use of market mechanisms, Parties were not successful at COP24 in concluding these negotiations. This work will be taken up in 2019 with a view to concluding guidance at COP25.

Canada is recognized as a leader internationally in helping to establish the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform and adopt the Gender Action Plan under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At COP24, Canada was instrumental in advancing the implementation of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform. The Platform will bring Parties and Indigenous Peoples together to share knowledge and exchanges views that will help inform the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the work of the UNFCCC more broadly. Canada is committed to continue to be a leader on ensuring Indigenous peoples, and their rightful voice, are heard in developing climate policy, as well as promoting gender equality and the role of women in climate action at the global level. Canada is proud to have announced at COP24 a commitment of $800,000 over four years to establish a newly dedicated Indigenous Peoples Focal Point within the UNFCCC Secretariat to support the Platform and lead work on Indigenous peoples and climate change, promote awareness of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, and serve a point of contact and technical expert on Indigenous related issues at the UNFCCC.

Climate finance

Canada's leadership also includes delivering on its five-year, C$2.65 billion commitment to help developing countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, transition to climate-resilient and low carbon economies. This financing supports the collective climate finance goal of donor countries to mobilize US$100 billion per year by 2020 from a variety of public and private financial sources, in order to help achieve the shared goals of the Paris Agreement.

To date, Canada has announced over C$1.45 billion worth of initiatives from our commitment, which are delivered through a variety of bilateral and multilateral initiatives, including the Green Climate Fund under the UNFCCC. Canada's support is targeting sectors such as clean technology and renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and forest management, and risk insurance and capacity building.

As part of its action, Canada is partnering with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank Group to take an innovative approach to leveraging private sector financing by removing barriers to private investment in developing countries. This includes using targeted amounts of concessional finance to demonstrate the commercial viability of projects and unlock future private investments in similar initiatives.

We are also ensuring that our climate investments are in-line with our international development goals, such as promoting gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Environment and climate action is a core action area of Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy.

G7

During its G7 Presidency, Canada demonstrated leadership by advancing ambitious action on climate change, building the resilience of vulnerable countries, and protecting and promoting the health of our oceans. At the Charlevoix Summit, Leaders adopted the Charlevoix Blueprint on Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coastal Communities, which included commitments to support innovative financing for resilience; support better adaptation planning, and recovery, and expand Earth Observation capabilities in developing countries. Canada also spearheaded the development of the Ocean Plastics Charter, which takes a lifecycle approach to prevent plastic pollution and keep a valuable resource in the economy. As of August 2019, 22 countries as well as 64 businesses and organizations including IKEA, Unilever and Volvo have endorsed the Charter.

In September 2018 at the Halifax Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Oceans, and Clean Energy, G7 members agreed on the G7 Innovation Challenge to Address Marine Plastic Litter, and the G7 Initiative on Earth Observation and Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

In support of G7 outcomes, Canada announced:

  • $162 million to support resilient coasts and coastal communities and preserve the health and resilience of our oceans as well as empower women entrepreneurs;
  • $100 million to assist efforts by developing countries to prevent global marine litter and plastic pollution;
  • Over $10 million to invest in made-in-Canada innovative approaches and technologies that help to stop the flow of plastics to the oceans and keep plastics in the economy; and
  • A commitment to reducing plastic waste in government operations, including a waste reduction target to divert 75% of plastic waste by 2030, eliminating unnecessary use of single-use plastics in government operations, meetings and events, and leveraging procurement practices to focus on sustainable plastic products.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada distinguished itself by the inclusiveness of its Presidency, including by advancing gender equality. Canada engaged youth, women, civil society, Indigenous representatives, innovators and business leaders through key engagement events such as the Sustainable Finance Roundtable, the Oceans Partnership Summit and the Oceans Inspiration Expo, as well as by inviting key leaders, including from the developing world, to participate in the Ministerial Meetings in Halifax.

Under France's G7 Presidency in 2019, Canada is continuing to build on the momentum achieved in Charlevoix and Halifax to advance key priorities, in particular by securing further support for the Ocean Plastics Charter from key countries, businesses, and non-governmental organizations, as well as supporting developing countries build resilience to climate change and empower women.

Bilateral engagement

Canada-France Climate and Environment Partnership

In April 2018, Canada and France announced the Canada-France Climate and Environment Partnership. The Partnership represents a shared commitment to increase bilateral cooperation to combat climate change and enhance multilateral areas of cooperation between the two countries (e.g. Paris Agreement, Convention on Biological Diversity).

The partnership includes nine pillars of cooperation and cooperative actions for 2018 to 2019. As part of this Partnership, Canada and France financially supported a French-language training workshop on climate change for 20 French-speaking women negotiators from 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (held 22 to 25 October 2018 in Dakar, Senegal). The Canadian contribution also made it possible to financially support the participation of five of the negotiators at COP24. In addition, a Canada-France seminar on carbon pricing took place on 17 May 2019 in Paris, France, where experts and academics exchanged on various carbon pricing approaches.

Canada-China Joint Statement on Climate Change and Clean Growth

In December 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Li Keqiang issued a Joint Statement on Climate Change and Clean Growth, which underscored Canada's 27-year long environment relationship with China. The Statement affirmed that the “Paris Agreement is irreversible and that it will not be renegotiated”. It welcomed the first Ministerial Dialogue on the Environment, announced the creation of Ministerial Dialogues on Climate Change and Clean Energy, and recognized Canada's continued support for the work of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.

Canada-China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Concerning Environmental Cooperation

The MOU was renewed in Beijing in December 2017. Under the MOU, Canada and China will continue to cooperate on environmental protection and sustainable development through the Canada-China Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation. Canada and China will develop bilateral policy dialogues, and will continue cooperative activities in areas such as air quality, water, soil, and chemicals management, management of environmental emergencies, environmental enforcement, biodiversity conservation, protected areas, green growth and development. A Ministerial-level Dialogue on the Environment has been established which provides direction to the collaboration implemented under the MOU.

Canada-China Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change Cooperation

The MOU, signed in November 2018, seeks to enhance cooperation between Canada and China on climate change issues through the expanded Canada-China Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Change Cooperation. Through this MOU, both countries will encourage and promote comprehensive cooperation and partnership in public and private sectors, including government departments; subnational, regional, and local governments; relevant institutions; research centers; businesses and industries; and civil society. The MOU identifies the following areas of cooperation: climate change; greenhouse gas mitigation; carbon pricing; transition to clean energy; carbon capture, utilization and storage, low-carbon technologies, partnerships in multilateral fora; and any other area they may jointly decide upon.

Canada-China Joint Statement on Marine Litter and Plastics

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Li Keqiang issued the Joint Statement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Marine Litter and Plastics in Singapore on November 14, 2018. Through the Joint Statement, both sides acknowledged that plastic pollution resulting from current practices have negative impacts on ocean health, biodiversity, economic sustainability, and potentially on human health. Both leaders recognized the importance of taking a sustainable lifecycle approach to the management of plastics to reduce the threat to the environment and, particularly, to reduce marine litter in oceans. Both countries agreed to forge a partnership to combat marine litter from plastic waste. Activities under this statement will be implemented under the Canada-China Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Change Cooperation.

Canada-UK Partnership on Clean Growth and Climate Change

Under this Partnership, Canada and the UK have identified seven areas of collaboration: green finance, clean growth, adaptation, Mission Innovation, carbon capture utilization and storage, carbon pricing and the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). Progress has advanced most under Mission Innovation, a global initiative working to accelerate clean energy innovation; and, on the PPCA, launched in December 2017, to bring together a diverse range of governments, businesses and organizations that are united in taking action to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of unabated coal power.

Under Mission Innovation, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced on 23 May 2018 collaboration on a joint challenge through the Impact Canada Initiative, with a focus on smart grid technologies. The $20 million (M) Canada-UK Power Forward Challenge was launched in October 2018 as a joint initiative. It challenges Canadian and UK innovators to design disruptive solutions to harness distributed energy resources (EVs (electric vehicles), batteries, variable renewables, etc.) for more integrated, cleaner, resilient, efficient and flexible power grids. In June 2019, seven finalist teams were announced after 44 project proposals were evaluated through a highly competitive process. The teams will receive up to $3M/£1.8M each to start building their proposed pilot project. An extra $1M will be awarded to the team with the best pilot demonstration, which will be announced in March 2021.

Canada and the UK have been working closely to advance their efforts on climate change adaptation. ECCC and the UK Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Areas (DEFRA), and BEIS have met on several occasions to share information and lessons learned from domestic adaptation activities, including climate change risk assessments, departmental and national adaptation planning, and measuring progress. Subsequent meetings will be focused on climate science and climate services.

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

Agreed in 1994 between Canada, the United States and Mexico, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the parallel environment agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement, aims to support cooperation among the NAFTA partners to address environmental issues of continental concern, including the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade. It also established the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, which facilitates cooperative activities on priority areas of mutual importance. Until such time that the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and new parallel Environmental Cooperation Agreement are ratified, trilateral cooperation will continue under the NAAEC.

Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

Canada and Chile share a history of cooperation in terms of environmental policies and programs. The Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (CCAEC) signed in 1997, has been the building block of this relationship. Collaboration under the CCAEC has addressed key priorities such as Wildlife and Biodiversity, Protected Areas, Chemicals and Waste Management, Information and Indicators and Climate Change. As part of Canada's climate finance contribution, Canada is further working with Chile to address methane emissions in the waste sector.

Canada-Mexico Partnership

Canada and Mexico also cooperate under the Canada-Mexico Partnership, a key forum for bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The Environment Working Group typically meets annually to discuss collaborative activities and the work program. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, in partnership with external experts, are responsible for coordinating the activities of this group. Areas of focus for cooperation include climate change mitigation, carbon pricing, environmental regulation in the mining sector, and biodiversity. Funded through Canada's climate finance, we are also working with Mexico to address methane emissions in the oil and gas sector.

Other bilateral engagement

Canada has negotiated bilateral Environmental Cooperation Agreements (ECAs) with several countries in parallel to free trade agreements. These agreements facilitate bilateral dialogue, public engagement and cooperation on environment and climate change issues. Canada currently has ECAs in place with: Costa Rica (2002); Peru (2009); Colombia (2011); Panama (2013); and, Honduras (2014). Outside of the ECAs, Canada works with the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region on climate change and environmental issues through the Organization of American States (OAS).

Canada undertakes climate and environment cooperation with the European Union (EU) under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a free trade agreement between Canada and the EU, to ensure that trade and environment policies are mutually supportive.

Canada is further engaged with a wide array of countries to advance climate action globally both through Environment and Climate Change Canada and Global Affairs Canada.

Complementary international initiatives

Consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, Canada is also advancing international climate action through other multilateral fora and complementary initiatives, for example:

  • Powering Past Coal Alliance (Alliance): The Alliance was jointly launched by Canada and the UK at COP23 in November 2017, bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society groups committed to the sustainable phase-out of unabated coal power. Since its launch, the Alliance has grown to over 80 members and is supporting international climate change efforts, including meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement, through proactive coal phase-out efforts. At COP24 in December 2018, Canada pledged $275 million to fund the Energy Transition and Coal Phase-Out Program at the World Bank. This funding will help developing countries to slow coal production, while scaling up energy efficiency and low-carbon energy alternatives.
  • Ministerial for Climate Action (MOCA): The MOCA was launched in 2017 by Canada, China and the European Union as a forum for over 30 ministers from major economies and key players on climate change to discuss the ambitious implementation and help build common ground on on-going multilateral negotiations. The inaugural MOCA took place in 2017 in Montreal. Since the inaugural meeting, the MOCA has been convened twice in Brussels, once in 2018, and once in 2019.
  • Montreal Protocol: In October 2016, Canada helped secure a global agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol (the Kigali Amendment) to phase down emissions of powerful greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In November 2017, Canada was the 11th country to ratify the Kigali Amendment, which entered into force on January 1, 2019. As of August 2019, 81 Parties had ratified the Kigali Amendment. To further advance a global phase-down of HFCs, Canada is financing bilateral projects in several countries, including Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia and Panama, to support their efforts to develop national HFC strategies and legislation.
  • Climate and Clean Air Coalition: Canada is a founding partner, active participant, and top donor to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), an international, multi-stakeholder framework for concrete action to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), (methane, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), black carbon and tropospheric ozone) that cause significant near-term climate change. Canada completed a two-year term as CCAC Co-Chair, and a third consecutive two-year term on the CCAC Steering Committee in October 2018, and remains a lead partner in working-level initiatives to reduce SLCPs from the agriculture, transportation, cooling, and municipal solid waste sectors.
  • Arctic Council: The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States. Action on climate change mitigation and adaptation is a central theme across the six working groups of the Arctic Council. Canada is one of eight Member States that make up the Arctic Council, along with indigenous Permanent Participants. Of particular interest to the Arctic Council is action on short-lived climate pollutants, specifically black carbon and methane, due to the amplified warming impacts they have on Arctic ecosystems. During Canada's chairmanship in 2015, Arctic Council Ministers adopted the Framework for Action on Enhanced Black Carbon and Methane Emissions Reductions, including biennial production of a “Summary of Progress and Recommendations”. In 2017, Arctic States adopted an aspirational collective goal to reduce emissions of black carbon by 25 to 33% below 2013 levels by 2025. The Expert Group released its latest report, which tracks national and collective emissions and projections of black carbon and methane, and presents a menu of policy options for states to consider to further reduce emissions, in May 2019.
  • Global Methane Initiative (GMI): The GMI is an international partnership of 45 countries dedicated to the abatement, recovery, and use of methane as a valuable clean energy source. Canada has held the position of GMI co-chair, alongside Mexico, since 2016. During its tenure, Canada hosted the second Global Methane Forum in Toronto in April 2018. This was a premiere global event for discussing and advancing methane mitigation, science, policy and technology innovation, and happened jointly with a Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Working Group Meeting (the CCAC and GMI are strategic partners). The event was designed to engage national and local governments and the private sector to discuss sustainable ways to reduce methane emissions from all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, oil and gas, and municipal solid waste. Building on this success, Canada believes more can be done to incentivize scientific and technological innovations on monitoring, measuring and mitigating methane, which is why the GMI has launched the year-long Global Methane Challenge in early 2019 to catalyze ambitious action on methane emissions around the world. The Global Methane Challenge is open to any country, company or organization interested in showcasing their methane mitigation or recovery and use activities.
  • Air/Marine Transportation: Canada advances global action on aviation and shipping emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO).
  • North American Climate Leadership Dialogue (NACLD): The NACLD was launched in November 2017 by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of U.S. governors. NACLD parties committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. At the September 2018 Global Climate Action Summit, Dialogue partners agreed to take action on a range of initiatives, including in the areas of clean transportation, vehicle efficiency, clean technology, supporting clean power while reducing reliance on coal-fired electricity, carbon pricing initiatives, and reducing short-lived climate pollutants. The leaders committed to reporting on progress at the UN Secretary General's Climate summit in September 2019.
  • Oceans' Plastic Charter: Initially developed and adopted under Canada's G7 Presidency in 2018, the Charter includes ambitious targets and actions along the entire lifecycle of plastics from sustainable design, production, collection, to management, as well as actions to advance education, research, innovation, new technologies and make on-the-ground improvements. The Charter also outlines resource efficiency measures, which hold significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We recognize, however, that we need to go beyond the G7 if we are to make concrete progress on this issue. That is why we are active in broadening support for the Charter to other partners. Canada is pleased that, as of August 2019, 22  governments, as well as some 64 organizations including Unilever, Ikea, Nestlé and Volvo, have also endorsed the Charter and committed to taking action to build a world without plastics waste.

Domestic action

The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) was adopted in December 2016 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and short-lived climate pollutants, build resilience to a changing climate and grow the economy. It is the first climate change plan in Canada's history to include joint and individual commitments by federal, provincial and territorial governments, and to have been developed with input from Indigenous peoples, businesses, civil society, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The PCF has four pillars:

  • Pricing carbon pollution;
  • Complementary actions to reduce emissions;
  • Adaptation and climate resilience; and
  • Clean technology, innovation and jobs.

Implementation of the PCF is well underway, with the actions outlined in the framework supported by historic federal investments. Recent actions taken under the PCF include:

  • Implementing a pan-Canadian approach for putting a price on carbon pollution. There is currently carbon pollution pricing in place in all provinces and territories in Canada Provinces and territories had the flexibility to maintain or implement their own system aligned with a benchmark or application of a federal carbon pollution pricing system. The Government of Canada established a federal carbon pricing backstop system, under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act with two components: a regulated charge on fossil fuels and an output-based pricing system (OBPS) for large industry. The federal system applies to provinces and territories that request it or do not have a carbon pollution pricing system that meets the federal benchmark. Direct proceeds from pricing carbon pollution will be returned to the province or territory in which they were collected.
  • Final regulations to accelerate the phase out of traditional coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 and new performance standards for natural gas-fired electricity generation were published in December 2018.
  • Regulations to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45% by 2025 were completed in December 2018;
  • Consultations on a Clean Fuel Standard to increase the use of low-carbon fuels, particularly for buildings and transportation;
  • Historic federal investments in recent years, including: $3 billion in funding for clean technology initiatives; $26.9 billion to support green infrastructure, including support for renewable energy, electric vehicle charging and natural gas and hydrogen refueling stations; $28.7 billion to support public transit; and the $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Fund, a flagship funding initiative under the PCF designed to leverage investments in projects that will generate clean growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, industries, forestry, and agriculture.
  • Budget 2019 proposed additional funding to support Canada's climate plan. This includes strategic investments that will make it easier and more affordable for Canadians to choose zero-emission vehicles, such as $130 million for new recharging and refueling stations, and $300 million for a new federal purchase incentive. It also includes over $1 billion to support energy efficiency for residential, commercial, and multi-unit buildings, and funds to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative technologies and processes that seek to lower the oil and gas industry's environmental impacts.
  • To enhance resilience to the impacts of a changing climate, the Government launched a suite of programs and initiatives. For example, the Canadian Centre for Climate Services was launched in September 2018 to improve access to climate science, serve as the authoritative federal source for climate information and resources, and strengthen capacity to incorporate climate change considerations in adaptation decision-making.
  • Canada is also investing in built and natural infrastructure to increase climate resilience in Canadian communities, include a $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund launched in May 2018.

The Pan-Canadian Framework puts Canada on a path towards meeting the Paris Agreement commitment of a 30% reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Canada's most recent greenhouse gas emissions projections, published in December 2018, show a widespread decline in projected emissions across all economic sectors, reflecting the breadth and depth of the Pan-Canadian Framework.

The Pan-Canadian Framework commits to ongoing monitoring and reporting on results to ensure that policies are effective, take stock of progress achieved, and inform Canada's future national commitments in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This includes annual reporting to the Prime Minister of Canada and provincial and territorial premiers; external assessment and advice by experts; meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples, including through distinction-based tables; and reviews of carbon pricing approaches in 2020 and 2022, as well as expert assessment of stringency and effectiveness that compares carbon pricing systems across Canada. As part of a its comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, the Government is implementing its 2017 Strategy on Short-lived Climate Pollutants, which has 5 pillars for action and includes both near-term and longer-term activities to address SLCPs.

Clean growth

A vision for a clean, innovative economy embraces both economic growth and environmental protection. Supporting our economy for future generations will mean creating jobs and positioning our citizens to take advantage of new opportunities both at home and abroad. The Government of Canada knows that clean, innovative technologies are central to successfully addressing climate change and to growing a clean global economy.

  • Canada is committing significant funding across the innovation spectrum and across the economy.
    • $400 million to support the development and demonstration of pre-commercial cleantech.
    • $1.4 billion funding for equity financing, growth capital and project financing in cleantech.
    • $429 million for cleantech in natural resource sectors, clean energy and clean transportation.
    • $130 million to support development and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
    • $1 billion (B) to help homeowners, businesses and community buildings improve their energy efficiency, and support on-site energy generation.
  • Through the Strategic Innovation Fund, Canada is investing $100 million with the Clean Resource Innovation Network over four years to leverage private sector co-investments in the oil and gas sector.
  • Through Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), companies are teaming up to reduce their environmental impact through collaborative action and innovation.
  • Canadian businesses are on board with clean tech, and taking advantage of the tremendous economic opportunities that await in the field of clean technology and renewable energy—the clean technology market for goods and services is set to exceed $2.5 trillion by 2022.
    • In 2017, clean technology activity contributed $28.4B to Canada's GDP, up 6.6% from 2016. In comparison, the Canadian economy grew approximately 3% over the same period. Clean technology GDP as a percentage of Canada's GDP was 1.41% in 2017, compared to 1.37% in 2016.
    • Clean technology exports for 2017 totaled $9B an increase of $900M from 2016, a growth of 11.1%. Imports increased to $11B, up $1.2B from 2016 levels, a growth of 11.7%. Import growth may indicate stronger clean technology adoption in Canada.
    • There were approximately 183,000 jobs in clean technology jobs in 2017. These are good paying jobs: Compensation levels for clean technology employment increased 6.5% from 2016 levels to $82,000, higher than the economy-wide average of $63,600.

Plastics

Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste and domestic actions

At the 2018 G7 in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada launched the Ocean Plastics Charter. This Charter, which has now been endorsed by 22 governments as well as over 60 businesses and organizations worldwide, sets targets and outlines actions to eradicate plastic waste and marine litter. To support its implementation, the Government of Canada is contributing $100 million towards solutions to prevent plastic waste from entering oceans and for the management of plastics waste in developing countries.

In June 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a number of significant actions that the government is taking to reduce Canada's plastic waste, support innovation, and promote the use of affordable and safe alternatives. Where warranted and based on scientific evidence, the federal government will ban single-use plastics that cause harm as early as 2021. As part of this process, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada are currently working on a science assessment of plastic pollution, which will be made available to the public for comment. This work will complement recent regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that ban the manufacture, sale, and import of all toiletries that contain plastic microbeads.

The federal government is also working with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Together they have launched a Canada-wide Strategy for Zero Plastic Waste and have adopted the first phase of an Action Plan to drive concrete actions across the country. This plan will focus government efforts across a broad range of activities including consistent extended producer responsibility programs, support for recovery infrastructure and standards for recycled content in plastic products.

The federal government is also taking action in other areas: examples include committing to divert at least 75% of plastic waste from federal operations by 2030 and supporting accelerated research to reduce impacts along the lifecycle of plastics. As well, through the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenge, the federal government is helping small businesses across the country find new ways to reduce plastic waste and to turn waste into valuable resources.

Reducing plastic pollution and investing in Canadian innovation are part of the Government of Canada's overall plan to protect the environment and fight climate change in order to build a stronger economy and healthier communities.

Hot issues: International climate change leadership

  • Climate change knows no borders. That is why Canada is working with international partners to ensure the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by providing $2.65 billion in support for developing countries—particularly the poorest and most vulnerable—in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
  • The Government of Canada is also advancing complementary global initiatives that enable the transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable future, such as in the areas of carbon pricing, coal phase-out, and clean technology.
  • Canada recognizes that effective climate action requires a multifaceted approach. The Government of Canada is taking a leadership role internationally on oceans resilience and nature protection by making significant contributions to fighting climate change and adapting to its impacts.
  • The Government of Canada will also continue to ensure that Indigenous People can actively contribute to climate actions at home and internationally, recognizing their unique perspective and traditional knowledge on climate change.

Background

Paris Agreement

  • Addressing climate change requires efforts by the entire international community. Following years of debate centered on securing political commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions, the Paris Agreement was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. In total, the 186 Parties that have ratified the Agreement account for more than 95% of GHG emissions. Under the Agreement countries agreed to collectively strengthen the global response to climate change, including by:
    • Limiting global warming to well below 2°C, while also pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C;
    • Increasing the international communities ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change;
    • Making global financial flows consistent with low-carbon and climate resilient development.
  • The Paris Agreement marked a turning point in multilateral cooperation on climate change and has become the primary driver of global climate action, with commitments from all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given the significance of this Agreement and increasing push for ambition, all major emitters, including Canada, will be looked upon to demonstrate implementation of the Agreement and of their individual obligations.

Key elements of the Paris Agreement in brief

Mitigation of GHGs:
  • All Parties to the Agreement must submit GHG emission reduction targets (referred to as nationally determined contributions or NDCs) and update these targets every five years. Each country determines its own NDC to reflect their most ambitious effort in accordance with their national circumstances. Each successive NDC must also be more ambitious than the previous one. This is the ambition cycle of the Paris Agreement, which will encourage progressively deeper cuts in global emissions over time. Canada's NDC adopts a target to reduce its emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. Canada is legally required to submit its next NDC by 2025.
Adaptation to the impacts of climate change:
  • The Agreement encourages all countries to take steps to build their resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change, reduce their vulnerability, and work collectively to avert, minimize, and address losses and damages resulting from climate impacts.
Support for developing countries:
  • The provision of financial and other support to help developing countries implement climate policies is an issue of central importance in multilateral climate negotiations. In 2009, donor countries from the developed world, including Canada, agreed to a collective climate finance goal of mobilizing US$100 billion per year by 2020 from public and private sources to support climate action in developing countries. The establishment of this finance goal, and the progress demonstrated by donors in achieving it, was critical to achieving political compromise in Paris and securing legally binding commitments from all Parties.
  • Mobilizing additional climate finance beyond current levels will be important for maintaining lasting political support for the implementation of the Agreement among developing countries. As a donor country, Canada will face strong pressures to scale up its current climate finance commitments.
Transparency:
  • The Paris Agreement also requires all countries to regularly report on their GHG emissions, climate action, and progress towards their NDCs. This system will help build trust among countries that each of them is implementing their commitments. This reporting will also be used to track collective progress, collect data to strengthen global climate science, and inform countries' future efforts and NDCs. In addition to common reporting requirements for all, donor countries are required to provide estimates of future climate finance to be provided.
  • In December 2019, COP25 will take place in Madrid, Spain, following the withdrawal from Chile. COP25 will continue to focus on advancing the implementation of the Paris Agreement as well as on enhancing global ambition on climate change. In particular, finalizing guidance on the use of international carbon markets (Article 6 of the Paris Agreement) will be a priority negotiating issue for Parties at COP25. Canada has advocated strongly for robust guidance to ensure that international carbon markets have credibility and can drive further ambition.

Examples of complementary initiatives

Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC):
  • The CPLC is a group of national and sub-national governments, businesses, and civil society groups working to promote the successful implementation of carbon pricing around the world. CPLC partners share experiences and expand the evidence base for effective carbon pricing systems and policies, holding working groups and regional workshops on specific topics, often on the margins of international meetings. Canada has been a partner since 2015 and Canada has chaired the CPLC in the past.
Ministerial Meetings on Climate Action (MOCA):
  • Ministerial meetings on climate action are co-hosted by Canada, China, and the European Union. They bring together key partners to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement. The MOCA 2019 focused on exploring how to scale-up actions, mobilize investment from the private sector and enhance global ambition. Participants include ministers and other representatives from major economies and key climate change leaders. MOCA also provides a forum to discuss the economic opportunities with global business leaders.
Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA):
  • Building on its domestic leadership on coal phase-out, Canada co-founded the PPCA with the United Kingdom in 2017, the world's first and only government-led initiative focused on accelerating clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of unabated coal power (i.e., coal power generated without operational carbon capture and storage). In close collaboration with its broad membership—which includes national and sub-national governments, businesses and organisations—the PPCA plays a pivotal role in driving global ambition on energy transition needed to meet the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

Hot issues: The 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

  • Canada is participating at the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) to continue advancing Canadian leadership in driving ambitious global climate action.
  • At COP25, we will continue to advocate for strong and common rules for implementing Paris Agreement commitments in a consistent, transparent and fair way. This includes finalizing rules for the use of international carbon markets (Article 6).
  • Canada will also continue to advocate for gender equality and the participation of Indigenous peoples. We will work with international partners to further advance ongoing efforts related to phasing out coal power, driving zero plastic waste, protecting nature and advancing innovative finance for coastal resilience.
  • Canada also remains committed to helping developing countries reduce emissions and build resilient low-carbon economies.
  • In keeping with previous years, Canada's COP25 delegation is diverse and inclusive, with participation by representatives of Indigenous peoples of Canada, youth, provinces and territories, unions, businesses, non-government organizations and Members of Parliament.

Background

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the primary forum for addressing climate change at the global level and has near-universal membership, with 197 countries having ratified its Convention. These countries (known as “Parties”) meet each year at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to advance the implementation of the Convention's objective: to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

At COP21 in December 2015, the international community adopted the Paris Agreement, which committed all countries to take action on climate change. Between 2015 and 2018, Parties negotiated a detailed set of guidelines (referred to as the ‘Paris Rulebook') outlining how countries are to meet their obligations under the Agreement. The completion of the rulebook last year at COP24 marked a shift in discussions towards increasing ambition and the implementation of each Party's commitments.

According to recent scientific assessments, existing global efforts to reduce GHG emissions are largely insufficient to avoid the most serious impacts of climate change. As a result, there is growing international and domestic pressure on national governments to increase their mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement, as demonstrated at the September 2019 Climate Action Summit organized by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In response to the urgency highlighted by the science, the push for ambition will continue to play out at the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25), where some countries may announce new initiatives, more funding for global climate action, and more stringent emission reduction targets.

COP25

From December 2 to 13, 2019, Chile will preside over COP25, which will take place in Madrid, Spain.

As COP president, Chile has outlined several priority areas that they will champion at COP25, including oceans, renewable energy, circular economy, ecosystems, biodiversity, and electro-mobility. As a recognized global leader on some of these themes (e.g. healthy oceans, plastics, nature based solutions, nature conservation and protected areas), Canada will have opportunities to advocate for integrated and holistic efforts to address environmental issues as an essential part of ambitious climate action.

Department: ECCC

Name of PCO Policy Analyst:

Secretariat:

Telephone number:

Hot issues: Pricing carbon pollution

  • Canadians know that climate change has costs both here in Canada and abroad. We're seeing more wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather. The impacts are expected to worsen and become more frequent as the climate continues to change. Canadians—and citizens around the world—are demanding action.
  • It's no longer free to pollute anywhere in Canada. There is a price on carbon pollution in every province and territory.
  • Carbon pricing is cost effective because it reduces pollution at the lowest cost to businesses and consumers
  • It's transparent because everyone sees the price signal.
  • And pricing carbon pollution is fair because it applies throughout the economy.

Proceeds from pricing pollution

  • The federal carbon-pollution pricing system is not about raising revenues. As the Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed, the large majority of households in provinces subject to the federal fuel charge will get more back, through the Climate Action Incentive, than they pay in increased costs.

Background

  • Carbon pricing is a central component of the Pan-Canadian Framework (PCF).

Federal carbon pollution pricing system (backstop)

  • The backstop has two elements: a charge on fossil fuels and an output-based pricing system (OBPS) for industrial facilities. The OBPS is designed to minimize competitiveness and carbon leakage risks in emission intensive and trade exposed industries.
  • The federal backstop applies in jurisdictions that request it or that do not have a carbon pricing system that aligns with the federal standard (or benchmark).
  • All direct proceeds from the backstop will be returned to the jurisdiction of origin.
  • The Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which authorizes the federal government to apply a federal carbon pricing system, received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018.

Industry competitiveness

  • Under the federal approach, the output-based pricing system creates a price incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial facilities while limiting the impacts of carbon pricing on their international competitiveness, particularly on their ability to compete with similar businesses in countries that do not have carbon pricing in place. This approach minimizes the risk that businesses will move from Canada to jurisdictions that do not price carbon.
  • Instead of the fuel charge, an industrial facility in the federal output based system will face a compliance obligation on the portion of emissions that exceed an annual limit.
  • The Government engaged with industries and other stakeholders on the design of this system for more than two years.

Proceeds from pricing pollution

  • The federal carbon pollution pricing system is not about raising revenues. It is about recognizing that pollution has a cost, empowering Canadians, and encouraging cleaner growth and a more sustainable future.
  • Returning proceeds from carbon pollution pricing helps with affordability. It does not change the incentive to pollute less. Every time a consumer or business makes a purchasing decision, they are faced with a financial incentive to choose greener options, regardless of how the proceeds are rebated or returned.
  • All direct proceeds from pricing carbon pollution under the federal system will be returned to the jurisdiction in which they were collected. Provincial and territorial governments that have committed to carbon pollution pricing by voluntarily adopting the federal system will receive these proceeds directly from the federal government and can decide on how to use them. (Yukon, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island).
  • In Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, the Government is returning the majority of proceeds (approximately 90%) from the fuel charge directly to households in those provinces through Climate Action Incentive payments.
  • Climate Action Incentive payments for 2019 were issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the form of a refund or reduced amount payable when households filed their 2018 income tax and benefit returns.
    • These payment amounts included a 10% supplement for residents of small communities and rural areas, in recognition of their specific needs.
  • With the Climate Action Incentive, most households in these jurisdictions received more money back than they pay in increased direct costs.
  • The remainder of fuel charge proceeds from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick are being distributed through the Climate Action Incentive Fund. This fund supports projects that decrease energy usage, save money, and reduce carbon pollution.
  • The Fund consists of three funding streams to support projects and measures undertaken by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations.
  • Proceeds from the output-based pricing system will also be returned to the province or territory of origin to support carbon pollution reductions. In summer 2019, the government published an engagement paper to seek input on the approach for returning proceeds from the OBPS. Further details on how these investments will be allocated will be outlined in 2020.

Hot issues: Alberta pricing system for industrial sectors meets federal benchmark

  • Canadians see the costs of a changing climate change all around them. A price on carbon pollution is one of the best tools we have to fight climate change and prevent these costs from growing.
  • Canada's climate plan gave provinces flexibility to price carbon pollution in a way that makes sense for their circumstances, while meeting a common standard to ensure they are stringent and effective.
  • Starting January 1, 2020, Alberta is implementing a new carbon pricing system for its industrial sectors. That system aligns with the federal standard.

We congratulate the Government of Alberta's decision to continue to use carbon pricing. It is an economically efficient way to reduce carbon pollution while ensuring that Canadian industry remains globally competitive.

The federal fuel charge will also take effect on January 1, 2020 in Alberta. This will ensure a price on all key sources of carbon pollution. All direct proceeds will go back to Alberta, and the vast majority will be returned to residents through climate action incentive payments.

Background

  • The pan-Canadian approach to carbon pollution pricing, announced by the Prime Minister in October 2016, allows provinces and territories to implement a carbon pricing system that makes sense for their circumstances and, in order to be fair and effective, meets minimum stringency requirements (the federal benchmark).
  • Until May 2019, Alberta had a fuel charge (carbon levy) and an output-based pricing system for industry—the Alberta Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation.
  • On May 30, 2019, Alberta cancelled its provincial carbon fuel charge. As a result, on June 13, 2019, the federal government announced its intent to implement the federal fuel charge in Alberta as of January 1, 2020.
  • In fall 2019, Alberta finalized a new pricing system for industry—the Technology, Innovation, and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system. The TIER system meets the federal benchmark for the sources that it covers for 2020. It will take effect January 1, 2020, and replace the current Alberta Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulations.
  • The Governments of Canada and Alberta released a coordinated news release December 6th, 2019. At the same time, Finance Canada published a draft regulation to enable TIER facilities to get relief from the federal fuel charge.
  • Like all other pricing systems, Alberta's system will be subject to annual review to ensure it remains aligned with the federal benchmark.

Hot issues: Carbon pollution pricing—Ontario and New Brunswick

  • Canadians see the costs of a changing climate change all around them. A price on carbon pollution is one of the best tools we have to fight climate change.
  • Canada's climate plan gave provinces flexibility to price carbon pollution in a way that makes sense for their circumstances while also meeting a common standard to ensure they are stringent and effective.
  • The federal carbon pollution pricing system is currently in place in Ontario (ON) and New Brunswick (NB). This system includes a fuel charge across the economy and a pricing system for industrial facilities.
  • Both ON and NB have developed proposals to implement their own provincial carbon pollution pricing system for heavy industry. NB has also proposed to implement its own fuel charge.
  • The Government of Canada is assessing these proposals.

Background

  • The pan-Canadian approach to carbon pollution pricing, announced by the Prime Minister in October 2016, allows provinces and territories to implement a carbon pricing system that makes sense for their circumstances and, in order to be fair and effective, meets minimum stringency requirements (the federal benchmark).
  • Currently the federal system is in place in Ontario and New Brunswick – a charge on fossil fuels applied to fuel distributors and producers ($20/tonne in 2019, rising $10/year to $50 in 2022), and a regulated trading system for industrial emitters.

Ontario

  • On July 3, 2018, ON revoked its linked cap-and-trade program with Quebec and California. As a result, the federal carbon pricing system was applied in the province. The federal output-based pricing system (OBPS) was implemented on January 1, 2019 and the federal fuel charge on April 1, 2019.
  • On July 1, 2019, ON published regulations to implement its own carbon pollution pricing system for industrial sectors—the Emissions Performance Standard (EPS)—as an alternative to the federal output-based pricing system for industry. ON's regulations would only take effect if the federal OBPS is stood down.
  • The benchmarking assessment process is currently underway. A Governor in Council (GiC) decision would be required to stand down the federal system. The current policy, announced by Ministers Morneau and McKenna in December 2017, is that once in place, the federal system would remain in effect until 2022 in order to provide certainty.
  • In response to ON's challenge, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the constitutionality of the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act on June 28, 2019. ON has appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, which plans to hear the case in mid-March 2020.

New Brunswick

  • In July 2019, NB also proposed to implement its own output-based pricing system for industry, to replace the federal system. In November, Premier Higgs wrote the PM proposing to also implement a provincial fuel charge, in lieu of the federal fuel charge.
  • Decisions on whether to stand down the federal system in New Brunswick are still pending.

Revenue

  • In both ON and NB all direct proceeds from the federal fuel charge are returned to the jurisdiction, the majority (nearly 90%) to households through Climate Action Incentive payments. The remainder goes to other affected sectors including SMEs, non-profit, municipalities, schools hospitals and Indigenous communities.

Hot issues: Efforts to achieve Canada's national and international (Aichi) biodiversity targets

  • Through Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced the single-largest investment in nature conservation in Canadian history: $1.35 billion over five years. This investment is helping accelerate the Government's efforts to achieve its 2020 goals and targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • With partners—provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities and associations, philanthropic foundations, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations—the Government is continuing its efforts to deliver a true nature legacy for Canada and to reach all 19 of Canada's biodiversity goals and targets.
  • For example, together, we agreed to take action to protect Canada's natural spaces and wildlife to create an important legacy for generations to come, which includes conserving at least 17% of Canada's land and fresh water and 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.
  • Canada has surpassed its marine conservation target to conserve 10% of Canada's marine and coastal areas. Canada has also made significant progress on the terrestrial conservation target—protecting an area greater than the size of Greece, since 2017, with the help of the new Canada Nature Fund.
  • In the Speech from the Throne, the Government announced its intention to do more to preserve Canada's natural legacy by protecting 25% of Canada's land and oceans by 2025.
  • As of August 2019, approximately 13.8% of Canada's coastal areas are conserved. On the terrestrial side, 11.8% of terrestrial areas and inland waters are conserved.

Background

In 2010, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including Canada, adopted the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. The Strategic Plan is a flexible framework of aspirational goals and targets (often referred to as the “Aichi biodiversity targets”) to be achieved at the global level.

One of the global targets, Aichi target 11, focuses explicitly on area-based conservation. Target 11 states that “By 2020, at least 17% of global terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape.”

Parties to the CBD were also urged to develop aspirational national biodiversity targets that are relevant domestically, using the Strategic Plan and its global targets as a guide.

In February 2015, the 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada were announced. These were developed collaboratively by federal, provincial and territorial governments, with input from Indigenous organizations and others. They consist of 4 goals and 19 targets covering a range of issues including wetland conservation, invasive alien species, Indigenous traditional knowledge, sustainable forestry, agriculture and fisheries, and getting Canadians out into nature.

Canadian target 1, which is aligned with Aichi target 11, focuses explicitly on area-based conservation. It states that “By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.”

The Honourable Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister Responsible for Parks Canada, is co-leading a process, known as the Pathway to Canada Target 1, focused explicitly on terrestrial areas and inland waters. The Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative was launched by Ministers responsible for parks, protected areas and biodiversity conservation at their meeting of February 22, 2017.

The Government of Canada has also committed to conserving 5% of marine and coastal areas by 2017 and 10% by 2020, as outlined in the mandate letter of the Ministers of the Environment and Climate Change, and the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. The latter is leading this effort.

In its December 5 Speech from the Throne, the Government announced its intention to do more to preserve Canada's natural legacy by protecting 25% of Canada's land and oceans by 2025. As of August 2019, approximately 13.8% of Canada's coastal areas are conserved. On the terrestrial side, 11.8% of terrestrial areas and inland waters are conserved.

Hot issues: Canada's Nature Legacy: Canada Nature Fund

  • Canadians love nature, and the Government is committed to conserving it.
  • That's why the Government of Canada announced, through Budget 2018, the single-largest investment in nature conservation in Canadian history: $1.35 billion over five years for Canada's Nature Legacy initiative.
  • This initiative will double the amount of nature protected in Canada's lands and oceans and enable work with others to create healthier habitats for species at risk.
  • The initiative includes the establishment of the new Canada Nature Fund—a federal contribution of $500 million to support concrete actions to conserve and protect 17% of Canada's land and fresh water, by 2020, and protect species at risk.
  • Since 2017, an area greater than the size of Greece has been protected and conserved in Canada. The Government is investing and working in partnership with other governments and Indigenous Peoples, and progress is being made.

Background

The Nature Legacy Initiative will help connect a network of protected and conserved areas across the country; transform the implementation of the Species at Risk Act by shifting to ecosystem-based, multi-species approaches; enable meaningful engagement of Indigenous peoples to build distinction-based relationships and advance reconciliation through actions taken to conserve spaces and species; and, establish a new Canada Nature Fund.

The Canada Nature Fund has been designed to motivate and support the efforts of Canadians whose participation is critical to achieving success in nature conservation. It will make it possible to establish protected and conserved areas, secure private land, and support terrestrial- and aquatic-species protection efforts by provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and stakeholders.

The Canada Nature Fund will provide federal funding of $500 million over five years. Through leveraged partnership support from foundations, provinces, territories, the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, and others, it is anticipated that at least another $500 million will be raised for conservation action.

A variety of partners are eligible for funding: provinces and territories, Indigenous organizations, communities, and environmental groups. Funds may be allocated directly, to support federal priorities, or through a call for proposals or application-based process, potentially with philanthropic foundations and other funding partners.

The Canada Nature Fund will have two streams: Spaces and Species. Co-benefits between the two streams will be sought, as will co-benefits for climate change and Indigenous reconciliation. Currently, 61 First Nations, Inuit and Metis guardians programs have been approved for funding under the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program, which represents an investment of more than $19.8M over 4 years in support of Indigenous stewardship of traditional lands, waters and ice.

The Spaces stream will provide almost $300 million over five years toward increasing the protected and conserved areas in Canada, their connectivity, and their ecological integrity to contribute to Canada's Biodiversity Target 1. There are three components to the Spaces Stream – Quick Start, Target 1 Challenge and the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP).

The Quick Start component provided funding to advance nearly ready projects and support capacity to help build momentum towards achieving Canada's Target 1 commitments. The Minister approved 38 projects that received a total of $14 million in funding under this component. These projects contributed 163,000 hectares towards Canada's Target 1, which resulted in the expansion to 24 established protected and conserved areas and 4 new protected and conserved areas.

The Minister approved a total of 68 projects under the Target 1 Challenge component with 42 projects that will contribute to Canada's Target 1 objectives, including 26 projects that will result in Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. These projects are projected to contribute 34.6 million hectares, 3.5% of Canada's terrestrial and inland waters, towards Canada's Target 1 by 2023. An additional 26 projects received conservation capacity funding. These projects have a strong potential to contribute to Canada's Target 1 but are not in the position to secure new hectares for protection by 2023. The funding for these projects will support advancement of discussions with partners, and build internal capacity.

The NHCP component is a national program, which is administered by a third party, that will establish new protected and conserved areas by working with delivery partners across Canada to secure private lands and private interests in lands. The Government of Canada is investing $100 million over four years for NHCP. The Minister announced in April 2019 that the Nature Conservancy of Canada will administer and deliver this program. NHCP will protect and conserve at least 200,000 hectares of habitat for species at risk.

The Species stream will provide over $200 million over five years toward the protection and recovery of terrestrial species at risk—managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada—and aquatic species at risk—managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada—through a shift to ecosystem-based, multi-species approaches. This funding will contribute to the protection and recovery of priority species—such as caribou and some migratory fish—the protection of priority areas, and mitigate risks to species at risk associated with priority sectors—such as forestry, agriculture, and urban development.

Canada recently announced that, this year, the federal government is investing up to $7.6 million in 52 projects across the country to advance conservation action in priority places. In each community, multiple partners will take action together to protect and recover species at risk. These projects will complement ongoing species at risk conservation in 11 priority places already identified by federal, provincial, and territorial governments. The Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada was also approved. The Government will establish a set of joint priority places, species, and threats, and initiate or continue implementation of actions by Fall 2018.

In its December 5 Speech from the Throne, the Government announced its intention to do more to preserve Canada's natural legacy by protecting 25% of Canada's land and oceans by 2025. To achieve this target, the Government will build on the collaboration it has established with provincial and territorial governments.

Hot issues: Canadian action on plastics

  • Plastics are materials used by Canadians on a daily basis. However, their mismanagement as waste is a global concern impacting the environment and the economy.
  • In Canada, only 9% of our plastic waste is recycled. About 86% ends up in landfills and 1% enters the environment as litter.
  • That is why Canada is taking action. The federal government has committed to ban single-use plastics that cause harm, where warranted and supported by scientific evidence. But this is only one element of our comprehensive approach.
  • The Government of Canada is developing consistent extended producer responsibility programs with provinces and territories, investing in research to better understand the value chain and the impacts of plastic pollution, reducing plastic waste in government operations, investing in small and medium Canadian businesses to find innovative solutions, and working with industry to prevent and retrieve lost fishing gear and to reduce plastic waste.
  • The Government is working together with provinces and territories to implement the Ocean Plastics Charter and the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste to move Canada toward a zero plastic future.

Background

  • The federal government has a comprehensive agenda to address plastic waste and pollution. It includes banning specific single use plastic products in targeted sectors that cause harm, where warranted and based on scientific evidence and socio-economic considerations; working with provinces and territories to develop consisted extended producer responsibility programs; advancing research to better understand plastics value chain and the impacts of plastic pollution; reducing plastic waste in government operations; funding SMEs and organizations to find and pilot innovative solutions in specific sectors or for specific uses of plastic; working with industry to prevent and retrieve abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear; and collaborating with industry to reduce plastic waste across the value chain.
  • The Government of Canada is playing a leadership role in its federal operations by committing to divert at least 75% of its plastic waste by 2030. This will be accomplished through changing federal practices (e.g. reducing the use of unnecessary single use plastics in meetings and events), as well as in the procurement of more sustainable plastic products, such as those that are reusable, recyclable, repairable or are made with recycled plastic content.
  • In Canada, about one-third of plastic production is used for packaging. Meanwhile, we only recycle about 9% of plastic waste, most of which is easy to recycle packaging, such as PET bottles.
  • There are a number of challenges to recycling single use or short-lived products and packaging. These include their small size, colour and low-density. They are sometimes made with uncommon or multiple resins in the same product which complicate the ability to recycle them. These challenges can be addressed through better product design to ensure that all of these products are easily recycled.
  • The federal government has committed to ban single-use plastics that cause harm, where supported by scientific evidence and warranted. Other regulatory actions are also being considered and could include requiring recycled plastic content, and that plastic products are designed to be recycled or repaired.
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada are working on a science assessment of plastic pollution. The development of any regulatory measures, including which products will fall under the definition of single-use, will be informed by science and socio-economic considerations and advanced where warranted.
  • Solutions will also require collaboration with stakeholders at all stages of the plastics value chain in order to improve the design, collection and end of life management of all plastics including single use or short-lived plastics, to help keep plastics out of the environment. In November 2018, federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers, through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), approved in principle the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste. The Strategy aims to achieve zero plastic waste by keeping plastics in the economy and out of landfills and the environment through solutions to better prevent, reduce, reuse, recover, and clean up plastic waste.
  • Ministers also agreed to Canada-wide aspirational waste reduction goals for all materials, including plastics. The goal is to reduce Canada's waste by 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
  • In June 2019, Canadian Environment Ministers released the first of two phases of the Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste. The Phase 1 Action Plan will focus government efforts across a broad range of activities. They include achieving consistent extended producer responsibility programs; a roadmap to address single-use and disposable plastics; support for recycling infrastructure and innovation in plastics manufacturing; and, tools for green procurement practices.
  • Phase 2, coming in 2020, will identify actions to: improve consumer, business and institutional awareness; reduce waste and pollution from aquatic activities; advance science; capture and clean-up debris in the environment; and contribute to global action.

Hot issues: Impact of carbon pricing on grain-drying by farmers

Key messages

  • We recognize that farmers are important drivers of the Canadian economy, and we designed the federal carbon pricing system to limit its impact on the agriculture sector. For example, the system exempts gasoline and diesel used by farmers.
  • In 2018, AAFC estimated that carbon pricing would increase net operating costs by 0.2% for the average farm in Canada.
  • We are aware that farmers are facing challenges related to the wet weather they experienced during harvest this year. These challenges go beyond the impact of carbon pricing.
  • Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, farmers have access to a suite of programs to help them manage these types of issues, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will continue to work with provinces to support our farmers.

Background

  • Carbon pollution pricing is an important part of Canada's plan to transition to a cleaner and more innovative economy that reduces emissions and protects our environment.
  • Our Government recognizes that farmers and farm families are important drivers of the Canadian economy. The federal carbon pollution pricing system has been designed to limit its impact on the agriculture sector.
  • The federal carbon pollution pricing system provides significant relief to farmers in the jurisdictions where it applies:
    • Biological sources (e.g., livestock) are not priced.
    • The federal fuel charge does not apply to gasoline and diesel used in tractors, trucks and other machinery used on-farm.
    • Partial relief from the fuel charge (80%) is also provided for natural gas and propane used in commercial greenhouses.
  • Natural gas, which is often used for grain drying, is not exempt from the fuel charge. According to Statistics Canada, in 2018, fuels used for heating on farm represented less than 1% of total operating cost in SK.Footnote 3 Costs for grain drying are a subset of these costs. Grain drying costs vary annually.
  • The Government has committed to return all direct proceeds collected under the federal pollution pricing backstop through direct payments to families and investments to reduce emissions, save money and create jobs. Most of the proceeds from the fuel charge will be returned directly to individuals and families through tax-free Climate Action Incentive payments. In Saskatchewan, for example, this means a family of four would receive $609 in 2019 after filing their 2018 tax return.
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimated the impacts of carbon pollution pricing on farmers in 2018. Results showed that farms in Canada would see an average increase of 0.2% to their net operating costs, and a decrease of 1.0% to their net operating income due to carbon pollution pricing. This covered all impacts on farmers, not just impacts associated with grain drying or heating fuel costs.
  • Carbon offset credits are a potential revenue generator for agriculture. A federal offset system is under-development.
  • Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, farmers have access to a suite of Business Risk Management programs to help them manage significant market volatility and risks beyond their control. AgriInsurance is the first line of response for producers dealing with weather and disease-related production losses.

Hot issues: Volkswagen (December 9th charges)

  • Environment and Climate Change Canada has laid 60 charges (TBC) against Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (Volkswagen AG) (TBC).
  • These charges are the result of a complex investigation initiated in September 2015, into allegations that Volkswagen AG (TBC) had unlawfully imported vehicles equipped with a defeat device.
  • During this investigation, Environment and Climate Change Canada officers collected evidence from foreign and domestic sources that provided grounds to believe that Volkswagen AG (TBC) had violated federal environmental laws.
  • As the charges are currently before the courts we will not be commenting further at this time.
  • Canadians can be confident that ECCC enforcement officers are deeply committed to enforcing the laws and regulations that protect Canada's environment and wildlife. When enforcement officers find sufficient evidence of violations, they take action and they do not hesitate to enforce the law.

Background

  • Canadian vehicle emission standards are imposed by regulations made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The Act is an important part of Canada's federal environmental legislation aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health.
  • The Off-road Vehicle and Engine Emissions Regulations define a defeat device as an auxiliary emission control device that reduces the effectiveness of the emission control system under conditions that may reasonably be expected to be encountered in normal vehicle operation and use.
  • All charges are currently before the Court. Therefore, Environment and Climate Change Canada will not

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