How Canada Can Reduce Emissions Consistent with the Paris Agreement

A recent report makes it clear that Canada is not on track to meet its emissions reduction commitments nor is the country doing anywhere near enough to keep temperatures from warming beyond the upper threshold limit.

The report, entitled Canada’s Oil and Gas Challenge: A Summary Analysis of Rising Oil and Gas Industry Emissions in Canada and Progress Towards Meeting Climate Targets, was released at COP24 by Environmental Defence and Stand.earth. 

According to the IPCC if we are to have a chance of not exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming we need to decrease emissions from oil and gas 37 percent by 2040. For Canada this means doubling our emissions reductions commitment.

To achieve these targets the report makes several recommendations for the Canadian Federal government including accelerating the phasing out of subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.

The report also recommends implementing a climate test by the end of this year that only approves energy projects consistent with Canada's Paris agreement commitments. This includes projects like the Trans Mountain pipeline, Teck Frontier Mine and LNG Canada. Finally the report recommends developing a strategy for workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel production, especially oil and gas.

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