Government not on track to meet 2030 emission reduction targets set by the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, Report says

On November 7, 2023, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development issued a report showing that the federal government is not on track to meet the 2030 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below the 2005 level by 2030.

Key findings are as follows:

• While the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan included important mitigation measures to reduce emissions, some of these measures, such as the Oil and Gas Emissions Cap and the Clean Fuel Regulations, have been delayed. The Commissioner found that the measures most critical for reducing emissions had not been identified or prioritized.
• These are not new findings. The federal government has failed to meet previous emission reduction targets despite the development and implementation of more than 10 climate change mitigation plans since 1990. Canada’s current emissions are significantly higher than they were in 1990.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada had still not taken sufficient steps to improve the transparency and reliability of its economic and emission modelling despite repeated recommendations from the Commissioner’s office and modelling experts.
• Course correction is critical to achieving the target. However, the Commissioner found that responsibility for reducing emissions was fragmented among multiple federal organizations that were not directly accountable to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. This means there is no real way for the minister to commit other federal organizations to correcting course to meet the 2030 targets.

Access Report at: https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att__e_44374.html

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association