Posted on 09/18/2025 10:54:06 AM PDT by jerod
Early emissions estimate says Canada’s climate progress has stalled
Years of progress on bringing Canada's carbon emissions down have stalled, and future progress looks increasingly fragile, according to an early 2024 emissions estimate from the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI).
The leading climate policy think-tank, which publishes its estimates a few months before the government does, is saying for the first time that Canada will not meet its 2030 emissions target.
Emissions from the oil and gas industry rose, especially the oilsands, offsetting any emissions reductions in other sectors like transportation and buildings, it said.
The institute estimates 2024 emissions at 694.3 megatonnes of carbon dioxide — almost flat from 2023. They're now 8.5 per cent below 2005 levels, a far cry from Canada's target of reaching 40 to 45 per cent below those levels by 2030.
"The reductions required to get from where we are today to there would require 40 megatonnes [of carbon dioxide] reductions a year, which is a huge number," said Dave Sawyer, CCI principal economist. "We have no precedent for it and we certainly don't have policy oriented to drive that level of emission reductions."
The gap is a sobering message from Sawyer's organization, whose policy papers and estimates have a significant influence in guiding government and private sector action on climate. But he stresses that fighting climate change is "not a pass-or-fail test" and the report should be taken as a push to course-correct in terms of climate action.
"We have a short-term emergency right now with [U.S. President Donald Trump] and the economic impacts of the tariffs, but that's not a reason to kill the long-term policy signals and expectations."
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin told CBC News in response to the report that her government still has some tools left to use.
"The way we're approaching it, it's a moral obligation to fight climate change for the future, our future generations. It's existential."
Why is the prognosis so poor?
Sawyer said that in previous years, the government had room to improve policy and get back on course to meeting climate goals. But in recent months, the new Mark Carney government has pulled back on key climate policies during a crucial time, largely due to backlash from people concerned with affordability, as well as industries focused on competitiveness.
Carney repealed the consumer carbon tax earlier this year, a key election issue. Earlier this month, his government announced that it was pausing the electric vehicle sales mandate, which would have required automakers to make 100 per cent of their new vehicle sales zero emissions by 2035 in response to pressure from the car industry.
He is also currently in talks with Alberta over oil and gas policy, with reports that the industry's emissions cap, proposed under the previous Trudeau government, might be up for negotiation.
we just need a little more time and lot more money.....
They need more and higher taxes to fight climate change, or, globul warming, which ever comes first up there.
I need to get photos from Greta and AOC. I would have used them if I had them. Also I need Ilhan Omar with a bomb in her hair.
2030 climate target are the Fantasy creation of Morons anyway
Just cut off the power to everyone. Except for members of the Inner Party, of course. I’m sure the current government has considered that. Who was it that said that you have to break some eggs to make an omelet? Was it Lenin, or was it Robespierre?
Can hardly wait. 👍
Along with it will be negotiations of Alberta becoming an independent country or joining the USA. An emissions cap will tiger succession, their already pissed.
Last I heard we were supposed to be doomed by 2030 anyway, making it a moot point. Or did they move the goal posts again?
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