Canada’s Commitments to Climate Change: Progress and Challenges
Climate change has become an increasingly salient issue on the international agenda, prompting nations to adopt ambitious commitments to address its impacts. Canada, along with many other countries, has embraced this challenge, pledging to meet international standards through comprehensive climate policies. One of Canada’s most notable commitments is to achieve net-zero by the year 2050. To reach this goal, Canada must either cease to produce or offset its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This process is likely to be difficult given that Canada’s current energy infrastructure is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and coal. Nevertheless, achieving net-zero is critical for ensuring a safe and livable future for the next generations.
The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act creates a legally binding framework to guide the incumbent administration in setting greenhouse gas reduction targets and in creating transparent plans to attain them. This Act ensures accountability and public engagement by providing advice to inform the government’s climate efforts. However, achieving net-zero emissions requires the collaboration of the provinces and territories, both of which play a pivotal role in environmental policy. The federal government is currently responsible for 80% of the nation’s climate spending. While it has created policies aiming to reduce the adverse effects of climate change, it seems to be alone in this effort. The disparity between federal and provincial commitments to climate action poses challenges to Canada’s overall progress.
The Mixed Commitments of Provincial Climate Actions
Nevertheless, Canadian provinces have all made progress toward a greener future, though at varying levels. Positive examples include Alberta’s framework for industrial carbon pricing, British Columbia’s carbon tax, and Ontario and Quebec’s cap-and-trade programs.
Despite these efforts, significant disparities exist among provinces in regards to their environmental commitments. Alberta and Saskatchewan, for instance, are the highest per capita emitters of carbon. Alberta has introduced various measures, including a carbon levy which serves to measure and tax GHG emissions. However, recent policy changes which limit the areas in which wind turbines can be built and the installation of solar panels on agricultural lands, hinder progress in renewable energy development, crucial for reaching net-zero emissions.
Saskatchewan’s Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy does include admirable goals such as establishing a provincial technology fund and strengthening relationships with Métis and First Nation communities. However, the plan lacks explicit provincial goals, important tools to motivate change and ensure accountability.
Provinces Leading the Way
In contrast, Quebec and Prince Edward Island (PEI) have demonstrated strong leadership in climate action, both in the Canadian context and globally. PEI’s Climate Change Action Plan, introduced in 2018, includes clear and measurable targets, providing a roadmap for success. Similarly, Quebec’s ambitious efforts date back to its 2012 Climate Change Action Plan, which stipulates a 20% decrease in 1990 GHG emission levels by the year 2020. Quebec has succeeded in this goal, achieving a 26.6% decrease. With this momentum, Quebec continues to set ambitious environmental commitments. Indeed, the province recently announced its investment of 9-billion dollars in the construction of a wind farm in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, Atikamekw of Wemotaci, and the Domaine-du-Roy municipality, underscores Quebec’s commitment to renewable energy and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Policy Changes
Provinces and territories could significantly enhance their commitment to national environmental goals by embracing key strategies to address climate change more effectively. First, the adoption of climate accountability measures similar to the federal net-zero accountability legislation, may be effective on the provincial level. These measures have proven transformative federally by requiring sector-by-sector progress reporting and the implementation of concrete policies to meet emission targets.
Another critical area of focus is the provincial energy infrastructure. Achieving net-zero emissions hinges on developing an electricity system capable of supporting the transition away from fossil fuels; this is an important consideration for provinces when designing new energy frameworks. A recent study highlights that wind and solar power represent the most cost-effective and reliable energy options. These findings suggest that implementing an energy plan that prioritizes renewable energy, such as wind and solar energy, will be beneficial in creating a sustainable energy future.
Another perspective held by Normand Mousseau, academic director of the Trottier Energy Institute at Polytechnique Montreal, emphasizes the need for inter-provincial collaboration during this energy transition. He advocates that this nationwide renewable energy approach would enable provinces to share resources and meet the growing energy demands throughout the country. It is imperative that provinces not only make strong commitments to national climate goals but do so collaboratively.
Edited by Isabelle Monette
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and they do not reflect the position of the McGill Journal of Political Science or the Political Science Students’ Association.
Featured image by Richard Kohar, CC BY-SA 4.0
