Opinion: We are entering what must be the most intensive period of carbon reduction planning in our nation’s history. Canadians are ready.
Rick Smith and Peter Nicholson are the president and president, respectively, of the Canadian Institute for Climate Options.
Elections, by definition, are times when differences between political parties stand out.
But when it comes to climate change, the most significant thing about the past federal elections was not what divided the parties, but what they had in common. For the first time, all major parties had detailed platforms on climate change. All parties committed to a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. All are in favor of significant carbon reductions by 2030.
After years of debating whether to act, the Canadian climate discussion has now turned into a much more positive stance on how to act.
Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have received a third term from Canadians and, with it, a mandate to continue pushing their current climate policy. This mandate is at a critical window not only to reduce emissions in Canada, but also to ensure the long-term prosperity of the country by preparing for the low-carbon, net-zero future that lies ahead.
Three unique and important factors set the stage for climate policy to be strengthened, like never before, under this re-elected government.
1. Canadians are ready.
After a summer of extreme weather driven weather clearly threatening the health and well-being of many families, Canadians have a intensified desire to accelerate our country’s carbon reduction efforts.
2. For the first time, climate action is the law of the land.
In one of its final moves before summer break in June, Parliament adopted Canada’s first national climate liability law, the Canadian Net Zero Emissions Liability Act. Not only does the Act consolidate Canada’s net zero goal into law, it also requires legally binding five-year milestones to be established on the way to 2050 and establishes new governance structures and accountability measures to help keep the government on track. the correct road.
Of course, Canada cannot simply legislate to net zero. Hard work is ahead. But experience around the world has shown that through greater certainty, greater transparency and accountability, independent advice, and frequent opportunities to assess progress, these laws can help.
A key part of the new Canada Act was the launch of the Net-Zero Advisory Body, an independent group established to provide advice and guidance to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on how to get to net zero. With that body now in place, the next step is for the federal government to draw up an emissions reduction plan to achieve the 2030 goal. The plan must also include an interim 2026 greenhouse gas emissions target.
Significantly, the 2030 emissions reduction plan expires within six months of the Act’s actual passage. That puts the deadline at the end of this rapidly approaching calendar year.
3. We know what to do.
The Canadian Institute for Climate Options’ Net Zero Reportand others found that achieving the 2030 goal consists primarily of doubling down on “safe bet” solutions, things for which proven technology already exists, such as energy-efficient buildings, clean electricity generation, and using that electricity to power our cars. And many of the newly elected government’s platform commitments – such as carbon pricing, electric vehicle mandates, and grid investments – are already aimed at promoting those safe bets.
The private sector is now fully engaged. A multitude of national and global companies are making zero net plans and commitments, driven in part by shareholders and investors increasingly demanding greater transparency and ambition.
We now have a solid foundation with which to develop the 2030 emission reduction plan, although many questions remain for the new government to engage with. For example, will the federal carbon pricing benchmark be improved to improve rigor and efficiency? Will the plan also include measures to stimulate the development and adoption of “wild card” solutions, uncertain or unproven technologies that have a small role to play in 2030 but could be a game changer to reach net zero? Will it include strategies and supports to ensure that workers and communities can seize new opportunities and prosper through the global energy transition? And finally, how will the federal government collaborate with other levels of government —provincial, territorial, indigenous and municipal— and even with international actors in the development of the plan?
Now that the elections are over, we are entering what must be the most intense periods of carbon reduction planning and action in our country’s history.
Time to get down to business. Together.
Reference-www.macleans.ca