Canada will move to end coal exports, cap emissions from oil and gas sector: Trudeau

Law360 Canada (November 2, 2021, 11:14 AM EDT) -- The federal government has announced supports for the global phase-out of thermal coal and to help countries transition to clean energy more quickly and will also move to cap emissions from Canada’s oil and gas sector to ensure net-zero emissions by 2050.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his government’s plans Nov. 1 as part of the UN conference on climate action, also known as COP26, in Glasgow. He said Canada will end exports of thermal coal by no later than 2030, with a hard cap on pollution from the oil and gas sector. To help do this at a pace and scale needed to achieve the goal of net-zero by 2050, the government will set five-year targets while also ensuring the sector makes a meaningful contribution to meet Canada’s 2030 climate goals.

“Climate action can’t wait. Since 2015, Canada has been a committed partner in the fight against climate change, and as we move to a net-zero future, we will continue to do our part to cut pollution and build a cleaner future for everyone,” he said. “Together, we will beat this crisis while creating a green economy and new middle-class jobs for Canadians.”

Canada is also committing up to $1 billion for the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) accelerated coal transition investment program to help developing countries transition from coal-fired electricity to clean power as quickly as possible. In addition, Canada will also give $25 million in funding to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, a partnership with the World Bank. This will help develop and implement clean energy alternatives and support low- and middle-income countries in the transition to a cleaner economy.

Canada’s newly minted Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said Canada has taken great strides in the fight against climate change since the signing of the Paris climate agreement in 2015 “but there’s still much work to be done.”

“With our global partners, we will continue to play a constructive leadership role to move from ambitious hopes to realizing the benefits to our environment,” he said. “Together, we will create jobs, build healthy communities, and transition to net zero.”

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