CLIMATE CHANGE
1. Acknowledge we need to do something about climate change / reduce our carbon emissions
Canada must act to reduce carbon emissions in order to secure a safe and healthy environment for current and future generations.
2. Intend to reach Paris Agreement target and keep warming below 2 degrees
In 2015, Canada signed the Paris Agreement and committed to limiting the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
3. Acknowledge that climate change will require adaptation
From wildfires and drought to flooding and permafrost melt, Canadians are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. While efforts to reduce emissions are critical, Canada must adapt to the impacts of climate change that are already locked in.
4. Committed to funding adaptation
Significant investment will be necessary to provide Canadians with the tools and infrastructure required to adapt to the anticipated impacts of climate change.
5. Committed to a national adaptation strategy
A National Adaptation Strategy would provide a cohesive action plan for all of Canada to reduce risks from climate change and provide a framework for Canadians to monitor progress on adaptation.
OIL & GAS
6. Plans to phase out oil and gas production
Climate change is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. A step to slow climate change is to phase out the production of oil and gas in Canada.
7. Plans to phase out oil and gas consumption
Climate change is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Canada making the switch to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar will contribute towards limiting climate change.
8. Against future pipelines
The fossil fuel industry is the largest emitter of carbon emissions. Scientists have stated it is time to stop investing in oil and transition to sustainable energy sources.
9. Intends to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
Subsidies are financial benefits that the government gives to a specific group, such as tax deductions for the fossil fuel industry. Canada has made an international commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE
10. In favour of an environmental bill of rights
More than 110 Countries have already passed an environmental bill of rights, such as New Zealand and Argentina. If passed, a Canadian Bill of Environmental Rights would recognize that Canadians have the right to a healthy environment. Additionally, it would make the protection of a healthy environment a responsibility of government.
11. Committed to legislating climate targets
Putting climate targets into law would strengthen implementation and monitoring
12. Committed to establishing carbon budgets
A carbon budget is a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases a country can emit per year. Some countries, like the U.K., have set carbon budgets to ensure that they meet their emissions reduction targets. Many scientists believe that Canada should set a carbon budget if we are serious about meeting our emissions reductions targets.
13. Intend to collaborate with Indigenous peoples on climate change policy
Collaborating with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way is needed to achieve a sustainable future while working towards reconciliation.
CARBON PRICING
14. Committed to maintaining federal carbon pricing in provinces and territories that have not put in place their own carbon pricing system
In 2019, Canada established a carbon pricing system. Provinces and territories had the option of creating their own carbon pricing system with a set of federal guidelines, or an alternative to the federal pricing system.
15. Committed to increasing the carbon price over time
In order for the carbon pricing system to be effective, economists have determined that the price on carbon must increase over time.
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION
16. Committed to introducing regulations that require vehicle manufacturers to sell a percentage of Zero Emission Vehicles in Canada
Transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in Canada. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) can help reduce carbon emissions in Canada. Transport Canada considers battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be ZEVs.
17. Committed to making Zero Emission Vehicles more affordable in Canada
Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) have the potential to significantly reduce transportation carbon emissions in Canada. ZEVs could be made more affordable to Canadians by implementing incentives, such as waiving the federal sales tax on ZEVs.
INFRASTRUCTURE
18. Committed to implementing a pan-Canadian Renovation and Retrofit Strategy for energy retrofits in existing buildings
Heating and cooling buildings is a large source of carbon emissions. By retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient carbon emissions in Canada can be significantly reduced.
19. Committed to working with provinces and territories to ensure all new buildings are Net Zero Energy Ready by 2030
Heating and cooling buildings is a large source of carbon emissions. Ensuring that all new buildings in Canada are Net Zero Energy would be a significant step in reducing carbon emissions.
BIODIVERSITY
20. Committed to protecting biodiversity
Biodiversity, the diversity of species and ecosystems, is the engine that delivers the ecosystem goods and services vital for sustaining human life. These ecosystem goods and services include pollination, food, and clean air. We are in the midst of a biodiversity loss crisis as Earth’s ecosystems are being threatened by increasing human impacts, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution and climate change.
21. Committed to implementing recovery strategies for species identified by 2021as "at risk"
Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the federal government has the power to implement recovery strategies for species that have been identified as “at risk” of extinction within Canada.
22. Committed to promoting using all tools available under the Species At Risk Act (SARA) to protect species facing imminent threats
The Species at Risk Act (SARA) has a variety of tools that can be used to protect species facing imminent threats, such as making an emergency order to protect a species’ habitat and prohibiting activities that may be damaging critical habitat.
23. Committed to ecosystem-based rebuilding of marine fish stocks and populations
The updated Fisheries Act, published in 2018, called for ecosystem-based rebuilding efforts for marine fish populations.
PROTECTED AREAS
24. Intend to protect 30% of land by 2030
The global scientific community has called for 30% of land to be protected by 2030.
25. Intend to protect 30% of ocean by 2030
The global scientific community has called for 30% of the ocean to be protected by 2030.
26. Committed to creating protected areas with Indigenous participation
Co-management of protected areas with Indigenous communities is a meaningful way to conserve Canada’s nature while working towards reconciliation.
27. Committed to ensuring that Canada's federal protected areas are designed and managed according to international conservation standards
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has developed a set of standards for protected area designation and management. These standards were created to aid governments in creating successful protected areas.
PLASTIC
28. Intends to ban single-use plastic
Single use plastic waste fills Canadian landfills or ends up as litter in parks and the ocean. Among other deleterious effects, single use plastic can result in the death of marine animals such as sea turtles and whales.