A comprehensive and accountable framework for climate success

As we near the one-year anniversary of the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act receiving royal assent, it is an appropriate time to highlight our Liberal government’s ongoing actions to combat climate change. Recent major weather events—including, but not limited to the 2021 British Columbia wildfires, the flooding in Quebec and New Brunswick in 2019, and last month’s destructive storms that whipped through Ontario and parts of Quebec—are not-so-gentle reminders that the effects of climate change are not future challenges, but real and present ones. The Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act enshrines our government’s commitment to setting a clear path to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The stipulated target years under the act are 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045. The act also requires the minister of environment and climate change to publish detailed plans to achieve these targets. The act requires the minister to release the plan to achieve the 2030 target six months after the act comes into force. Under the recently-released 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan, our government announced a target of 40 per cent reduction in Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2005 levels by 2030. This 2030 target is Canada’s “nationally determined contribution” under the Paris Agreement. Tracking progress is vital to achieving results. The Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act requires that reports tracking progress towards the 2030 target be prepared by the ends of the following years: 2023, 2025, and 2027. It also requires the minister to establish an interim GHG objective for 2026, which has been set at 20 per cent below 2005 levels. Recent major weather events, including the 2021 B.C. wildfires, and the flooding in Quebec and New Brunswick in 2019, are not so gentle reminders that the effects of climate change are not future challenges, but real and present ones, writes Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay A central feature of the government’s climate plan has been to place a price on carbon. Currently, the benchmark price is $50 per tonne. A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the government’s broader plan for a greener economy released in December 2020, stipulates increases of $15 annually in the carbon price from 2023 until 2030. Meanwhile, the Clean Fuel Standard will require gasoline and diesel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by 13 percent below 2016 levels by 2030. In 2020, the transport sector accounted for 24 per cent of Canada’s total GHG emissions. Our government has committed to working towards ensuring that all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sold in 2035 are zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs), with at least 20 per cent and 60 per cent of vehicles sold being ZEVs in 2026 and 2030, respectively. Budget 2022 proposes over $1.7-billion over five years to extend current ZEV purchase incentives until March 2025. The buildings sector accounted for 12 per cent of Canada’s total GHG emissions in 2019. Consequently, our government introduced the seven-year Canada Greener Homes Grant, a $2.6-billion program aimed at helping Canadians pay for home retrofits. Homeowners can receive up to $5,000 for home retrofits and up to $600 for EnerGuide home evaluations. A total of 700,000 grants are available. Furthermore, up to 175,000 homeowners will be eligible to receive interest-free loans of up to $40,000 under the Canada Greener Homes Loan, thanks to a $4.4-billion commitment in Budget 2021. Budget 2022 proposes a tax credit of up to 30 per cent on “net-zero technologies, battery storage solutions, and clean hydrogen.” Further details will be forthcoming in the 2022 fall economic and fiscal update. Since 2016, approximately $15-billion has been made available to support clean power generation. Budget 2022 adds over $875-million to continue developing clean electricity initiatives. Carbon capture, utilization and storage strategy (CCUS) will play a key role in reducing emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Budget 2022 thus proposes a refundable tax credit for Canadian businesses in Canada that invest in CCUS. While we must reduce GHG emission to halt the progress of climate change, we must at the same time also adapt to its impacts. On May 16, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault launched a public consultation to develop Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy. The government’s discussion paper for this consultation highlights five key areas where efforts will need to be deployed to allow for effective adaptation, including disaster resilience. Our Liberal government is taking a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change and has instituted a robust accountability framework to ensuring that approach is a sustained one in the long term. Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia represents the Montreal-island riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, Que., and is chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. He has made the protection of Canada's freshwater a priority since first being elected in 2004, introducing various bills and motions to the House and in committee on the subject. The Hill Times

A comprehensive and accountable framework for climate success

While we must reduce GHG emission to halt the progress of climate change, we must at the same time also adapt to its impacts.

Canada’s aging crisis and a call for reform in eldercare

Canada is still climbing the mountain, but Murray Sinclair showed us the path forward

Trump’s win is bad for news for Trudeau

When the pendulum swings: how does the public service respond to political polarization?

Canada goes Swiftie

Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue

Without mandatory green procurement standards, the cheap choice will always top the green choice

Implementing ZEV sales mandates is part of a larger climate goal

UN secretary general calls on developed countries to accelerate net-zero timelines to 2040

Feds’ sustainable jobs plan a good start, but too soft on emissions reductions, say environmental experts

More aggressive short-term climate goals needed in aviation sector, say NDP, climate activists

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

A comprehensive and accountable framework for climate success

While we must reduce GHG emission to halt the progress of climate change, we must at the same time also adapt to its impacts.

Get The Policy Briefings Newsletter