News analysis
The federal government has officially promised Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. However, there is no resulting penalty for failing to reach the goal. Moreover, step-by-step measures to achieve this goal may rely solely on the stricter carbon tax system across the country.
Long in Canada history Of the missing emission targets.Its latest goal has become a law under the new Building C-12, Canada’s Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act. On July 12, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson officially prepared Canada’s 2021 National Decision Contribution (NDC). Submission To the United Nations.
under Paris Agreement, Countries must submit their national greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets every five years, and each successive target is more ambitious than its predecessor.
Federal Government of 2021 budget, Government says Canada’s emissions It will be below 36% from the target of 31% below the 2005 level of 730 megatons (Mt), or from 503Mt to 468M.t. NDC promises to reduce emissions by 40 to 45 percent (438 to 401 Mt).
Environmental and Climate Change Canada is expected to take specific policy measures to further reduce emissions to a target of 40-45%, or a solution intended for stricter carbon pricing across the country. Did not answer the Epoch Times question as to whether or not.
Mainly symbolic
Analysts and observers These emission reduction targets are Mainly symbolic, Very difficult to achieve and not enforceable. Others say that the road to net zero by 2050 has too much unintended cost to damage the economy and even some regions. environment..
David Wright, a law professor at the University of Calgary, said there were no actual penalties for missing a target under the law. Preliminary examination Of building C-12.
The· law The Minister of the Environment needs to set national GHG emission targets for the 2050, 2035, 2040, and 2045 milestones, and if the targets are not met, explain why Canada failed to meet them. He states that he needs to create an evaluation report. The government will do about it, along with other relevant information.
In addition, Wright said: “When it comes to climate change plans and goals, today’s government cannot bind tomorrow’s government, even if it is legislated. This is a fundamental feature of Canada’s democratic system inherited from the United Kingdom. is.”
Greatly dependent on carbon price
The federal government estimates that carbon prices will contribute More than one-third Approximately three-quarters of total emission reductions from now to 2030 rely on all of Canada’s pricing systems in line with stricter benchmarking standards.
The federal government allows states and territories to implement their own carbon pricing schemes as long as they meet the strictest national standards. For states that oppose the federal carbon tax, or states that do not have their own plans approved by Ottawa (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitova, etc.), the federal government has imposed a national system, but BC, Ontario, Quebec, etc. Other states have their own carbon pricing or cap and trade systems.
As part of the announcement on July 12, the government added information Explain how we intend to harmonize and tighten national carbon prices.
The Canadian Institute for Climate Selection said it found that the carbon pricing system “has significant differences in the rigor and effectiveness of Canada as a whole.”
“It’s not just about the rate of price increase, it’s also important to update these” benchmark “design criteria so that all systems across Canada are comparable in terms of rigor and effectiveness.” The government added.
Some of the changes to the current benchmarks are immediate requirements related to the amount of carbon tax paid, requirements to cover the same percentage of emissions as federal backstops, if the state or territory has its own system. Make sure that you do not give a rebate and that your carbon offset credits meet the best practices identified by the Canadian Environment Ministers Council.
Saskatchewan It has already slammed Ottawa over carbon prices to replace the country’s system with its own. The problem with the controversy is that the federal government does not want states to offer prepaid rebates or cut fuel taxes to offset carbon taxes.
“Goals are meaningless without a realistic plan to reach them,” Alberta’s Minister of the Environment and Paul Hannett, a spokesman for Parks Jason Nixon, told The Epoch Times in an email. It was. He noted Alberta’s actions, including a framework for reducing methane emissions by 45% by 2025.
The final benchmark will be published in the coming weeks, and all states and territories have the opportunity to propose a carbon pricing system for 2023-30 that meets the updated standards.