PM makes low-carbon pledge
Trudeau tells conference Canada ‘here to help’ with climate deal
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there can be “no laggards” in Canada’s new climate-change strategy and that all Canadians must do more to reduce their carbon footprint, but he won’t say when his government’s new plan will be released.
Trudeau also used the United Nations climate-change conference in Paris to trumpet that there is a historic opportunity to transition to a low-carbon economy.
The prime minister’s commitments to more ambitious greenhouse gas targets and carbon pricing are proving worrisome to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who says the government must tread carefully not to hurt an already battered energy industry.
The prime minister wrapped up a six-day trip overseas Monday by telling global leaders that Canada “is back” on the world stage when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases, and serving notice that all Canadians can expect to do their fair share to help Canada meet its climatechange commitments.
“People want to do more, but they want to know that what they do fits into a bigger picture, because there is no point in bending over backwards if your neighbour or your government is not also doing its part to ensure that we all have the maximal impact together,” Trudeau told reporters at the climate conference. “There can be no laggards in this.”
But the prime minister declined, when asked three separate times Monday, to say when his government’s plan — which is being developed in co-ordination with the provinces — will actually be unveiled.
He noted, however, that some elements of the strategy have already been identified, including an election promise to introduce a $2-billion Low Carbon Economy Trust that will provide funding to projects that “materially reduce carbon emissions” and $20 billion in green infrastructure promised over the next 10 years. The government will also invest in clean technology and renewables “to make sure we’re as competitive and energy efficient as possible,” he said.
Trudeau has promised he will sit down with the provinces again within 90 days of the climate conference to craft a “pan-Canadian framework” for tackling climate change. The plan will include national emissionsreduction targets and will slap a price on carbon, but also include the flexibility to allow provinces to set their own carbon-pricing policies.
“In the coming 90 days leading up to our next first ministers’ meeting, we will have a lot more work to do, and a lot more to show Canadians that we understand not just the challenge around climate change, but the tremendous opportunity that we have as a country to be a purveyor of solutions that the world desperately needs,” the prime minister said.
Speaking to world leaders during a plenary session, Trudeau said the Paris agreement “should reflect a new reality” that developed nations must help developing countries transition to low-carbon economies. The 21st United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 21) provides an opportunity for leaders “to overcome old divisions and forge an ambitious, meaningful agreement, and an effective path forward,” he said.
“We have an opportunity to make history in Paris — an agreement that transitions to a lowcarbon economy that is necessary for our collective health, security, and prosperity,” Trudeau said in his speech. “Canada is back, my good friends. We’re here to help. To build an agreement that will do our children and our grandchildren proud.”
Saskatchewan’s Premier Wall, meanwhile, said his province must do more to reduce GHGs because Saskatchewan is a high per capita emitter, but that Canada’s political leaders must be mindful of the economy when crafting the climate plan.
“The western Canadian economy is under significant stress. Had another sector of Canada’s economy shed 30,000 jobs in two or three quarters, I have a feeling there would have been much greater attention paid to this,” Wall told reporters.
The broader goal of COP 21 is to have countries commit to greenhouse gas targets and emissions reductions that will prevent the average global temperature from increasing a potentially devastating 2 C above pre-industrial levels. Governments at the conference are hoping to cap the average temperature increase closer to 1.5 C. But plans presented for the Paris conference by more than 150 countries would still see the average global temperature increase 2.7 C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
“There is no point in bending over backwards if your neighbour or your government is not also doing its part to ensure that we all have the maximal impact together. There can be no laggards in this.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU PRIME MINISTER
PARIS — Canada will join 19 other countries — including the world’s largest emitters — in doubling government-funded research and development over the next five years on clean energy projects, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday at the Paris climate change conference.
U.S. President Barack Obama launched Mission Innovation, a commitment to dramatically accelerate public- and privatesector clean energy innovation.
Canada’s commitment includes the $300 million the Liberals promised in clean energy funding during the election campaign.
“We’re very pleased to be part of this international initiative,” Trudeau said.
“Canada knows there are tremendous needs for green solutions, for renewables, for clean tech around the world.”
Shortly after the news conference, Trudeau shared the stage with Obama, India’s Narendra Modi and other leaders involved in the announcement.
The list of 20 countries participating in Mission Innovation includes Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.
The goal of the initiative is to significantly expand new technologies that will help the world transition to a future power supply that is clean, affordable and reliable.
The Canadian government’s increased investment will fund “innovation to ensure that the energy sector remains a source of jobs, prosperity and opportunity within the context of a world that increasingly values sustainable practices and low carbon processes,” said a statement on the Mission Innovation website.
The Liberals promised during the election campaign to invest $100 million more each year in clean technology producers to help tackle some pressing environmental problems and create new jobs.
The party also pledged to spend $200 million more annually to support innovative clean technologies in natural resource sectors, including forestry, fisheries, mining, energy and agriculture.
To fund renewable energy projects, the Liberals also committed to launching a Canada Infrastructure Bank that will issue green bonds to fund projects such as electric vehicle charging stations and networks, renewable energy transmission lines, retrofits for buildings, and clean power storage.
The Liberals also promised to create a $2-billion Low Carbon Economy Trust that will provide funding to projects that “materially reduce carbon emissions” under a new pan-Canadian climate-change plan the government is co-ordinating with the provinces and territories.