Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
In March 2016, our provincial Ministers (premiers) and the Prime Minister issued the Vancouver Declaration on clean growth and climate change. They also agreed to develop a pan-Canadian Framework to achieve our commitment to the Paris Agreement (a 30% reduction below 2005 levels of emissions). Four working groups including federal, provincial and territories officials next developed reports to assess how and where to reduce emissions (specific mitigation opportunities), ideas for a low-carbon economy (clean technology, innovation and job creation), carbon pricing (pricing mechanisms) and how Canadians will need to prepare and respond to climate impacts (adaptation and climate resilience).
These reports were discussed by the Ministers of the Environment and the Ministers of Innovation and Economic Development in October and November 2016 to prepare provincial responses. On December 9, 2016, Canada’s First Ministers and the Prime Minster met again and adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (Saskatchewan and Manitoba did not endorse it as drafted). Officials implementing the Framework will report back yearly.
This policy is significant because it prioritizes a price on carbon, making electricity cleaner and increasing energy-efficiency of buildings and vehicles while establishing measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is a collective approach, and requires strong investment, particularly for Adaptation, demonstrating the long-term consequence of climate change that have already begun.
Learn More
A summary of the 4 working group findings to develop a pan-Canadian Framework to achieve Canada’s targets from the Paris Agreement http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=64778DD5-1 Pan Cdn document
The announcement of the adoption of the pan-Canadian Framework in December 2016 http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/12/09/communique-canadas-first-ministers
Canada’s Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change strategy https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/pan-canadian-framework.html
David Suzuki’s opinion on carbon pricing http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/climate-solutions/carbon-tax-or-cap-and-trade/