Environmentalists are supportive of the emissions reduction plan but believe it is crucial to hold politicians accountable.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled a $7.3bn (9.1 billion Canadian dollars) planto help the country reach its carbon emission target, including significant reductions within the oil-and gas sector.
Trudeau, speaking in Vancouver on Tuesday, linked Europe’s effort to shift away from Russian oil & natural gas following the invasion of Ukraine with a larger global push towards renewable energy.
Trudeau stated that the leaders in Europe I spoke to over the past weeks were clear: They don’t just want to end Russia’s dependence on oil and gas; they also want to accelerate the transition to clean and green energy.
He said that the entire world is now focusing on clean energy and Canada cannot afford to ignore it.
Tuesday’s announcement includes a $2.3bn (2.9 billion Canadian dollar) investment in zero emissions vehicles and related infrastructure. Additionally, $800m (1 billion Canadian) will be used to help green Canadian homes.
The government also stated that it will work closely to provinces and territories to create an approach to limit oil-and gas sector emissions in order to achieve net-zero emission by 2050 and reduce oil and gas methane emissions by at most 75 percent by 2030.
Trudeau, who pledged to cut Canada’s carbon emissions and invest in cleaner energy, has been widely hailed internationally as a climate leader. However, the Liberal government he led has been criticized. Support the expansion of oil pipelinesand other energy projects that critics claim would worsen climate crisis
Last year, the Liberals set an ambitious new goal to cut carbon emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. After reviewing decades of government climate actions, an independent watchdog found that Ottawa had not done enough in order to achieve that goal.
Jerry DeMarco, Environment Commissioner, stated in November that Canada was the worst performer of the G7 industrialised countries in reducing emissions.
Canada is home to about 1.6 percent global CO2 emissions. However, it is one of the 10 largest emitters worldwide and one of the highest per capita emitters.
Trudeaus new plan to reduce emissions comes days after Trude’s government announced last week that it would increase oil and gas exports by up 300,000 barrels per hour. This is an increase of approximately 5 percent.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Environment Minister, stated that the move was made to assist Canada’s allies in responding to an energy security crisis triggered by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Canada, which is home to the tarsands of northern Alberta and Russia, is the fourth-largest producer of oil in the world. Pro-oil Canadian politicians have called for an increase in fossil fuel projects as a response to the Ukraine crisis for weeks.
On Tuesday, Ottawa’s plan was embraced by environmentalists. However, they stated that they would be closely watching its implementation.
The government’s new plan is the first time the oil and natural gas sector has been asked to reduce its emissions.
Three decades of successful lobbying by oil companies against the implementation of climate plans in the past has made it vital that people hold politicians accountable to ensure that they do their fair share. This time, we need to take real action.
Canada’s West Coast Environmental Law Association said that while the plan doesn’t show a clear path to the promised reductions, it was a positive step that provides more accountability and ensures that the government fulfills its promises.
Anna Johnston (a staff lawyer for the group), stated in a statement that Canada has not achieved every single climate goal it has set. We hope to continue on our current track and increase our ambitions to the 60 per cent reduction that is required for us to contribute to our fair share in the global climate fight.
Federal reaction by Greenpeace Canada #EmissionsReduction Plan #cdnpolihttps://t.co/l5ydfgcrqK pic.twitter.com/NBRrm9mjhJ
Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) March 29, 2022
