OTTAWA/TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG PEOPLE — More ambition is needed to face the existential threat of climate change, says Ecojustice in response to the federal government’s new emissions target of 45 to 50 per cent below 2005 by 2035. The federal government’s 2035 Emission Reduction Target, announced today, is mandated by the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
Julia Croome, Ecojustice Director of Litigation Practice says:
“The Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act requires the government to set meaningful targets every five years — and outline concrete plans to achieve them. Ecojustice fought for climate accountability legislation and the transparency it now affords us makes it possible to have an important conversation about whether this 2035 target is adequate.
An emissions reduction target is meant to act as the country’s North Star for climate action. It should reflect the science and Canadians’ ambition to tackle the climate crisis. The 2035 target announced today is disappointing, because it falls short of both Canada’s fair share and even the 50-55 per cent target recommended by the very scientists and experts Canada appointed to guide us. While Ecojustice applauds meaningful actions the federal government has taken to meet its climate commitments, including implementing the Emissions Cap and clean energy regulations, it’s clear that far more ambition is needed to respond to the crisis we’re in. Setting a more ambitious target is not the stuff of fairy tales – other countries are doing it, and innovative policy solutions exist that could help us get there, from phasing out fossil fuel production to ensuring Canada’s financial sector is aligned with Canada’s climate commitments.
The upper range of the new target, 50 per cent reductions by 2035, will merely keep Canada on the least ambitious pathway possible to achieve Net Zero by 2050. At a minimum the government must treat 50 per cent as its true target. Anything less will completely abandon Canada’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to a safe climate.”
