Rating B In Canada, growing farm foods is highly determined by weather and climate, as climate change has meant increased temperatures and the likelihood of extreme events such as wildfires, flooding, hail storms, and tornadoes. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada report with earlier snow melts and shifting precipitation patterns; drought is becoming more common in the...
Rating B (Moderate Progress)The amount of water in Canadian lakes, rivers, wetlands, and aquifers has been impacted by climate change, evidenced by more flooding, toxic algae blooms, risk of waterborne diseases, drought, fires, hail storms, tornadoes, higher temperatures causing glacier melting, poor quality drinking water, and weather variability in temperature, rainfall, and snowfall. Rivers and...
Climate Progress in the First Half of 2023 B Rating Canada’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) over the first six months of 2023 is demonstrated partially by any changes to energy use, as GGEs data is only available on a yearly basis. Canada reporting has shown limited progress in meeting its Paris Agreement...
Over the last decade, Canada’s Green Party has supported important legislation for Canada’s action on climate change. For example, in 2015, amendments to Bill C-46, the Pipelines Safety Act, were accepted, including ‘aboriginal governing bodies reimbursement for actions in relation to a spill’ and the concept of polluter pays. The Green Party was part of...
The IPCC has underscored the urgency of countries reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) by 50% over pre-industrial temperatures by 2030. Visit https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports. Canada will come close to reducing its emissions by 50% by 2030 because of the following reasons:First, Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) (March 2022) details a GGE reduction target strategy of...
Federal greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) data by economic sector in Canada has been relatively unchanged between 2005 and 2019 as emissions from oil and gas extraction, gas-powered trucks, and heavy-duty diesel vehicles continued to climb and be offset by decreases in other sectors. For example, a 66 Mt or 8.9% reduction in 2020 from 2019...
The Indigenous population in Canada (5%) is one of the largest among countries that share a similar colonial history. Statistics Canada (September 2022) reports 1,807,250 Indigenous peoples involving three very diverse groups/populations – First Nations (1,048,405), Métis (624,220) and Inuit (70,545). The remaining include multiple Indigenous identities reflected in over 70 Indigenous languages. Of the...
Canada’s agriculture sector’s net greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) have remained relatively stable since 1990 while its CO2 equivalent gases have varied. Primary emissions (excluding fossil fuels emissions – another sector) are attributed to crop production, such as cereals and oilseeds, and livestock production, (beef, dairy, poultry and swine). Climate Trace, a global non-profit coalition tracking...
Looking Back 2022: the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan/ Looking Forward 2023: Implementation of the National Adaptation StrategyOn March 29, 2022, Canada’s first 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act was released by Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), this is a critical federal climate mitigation policy that...
Western, Eastern, and Quebec grids make up Canada’s power grid. Power lines run in a north-south configuration to allow electrical sales to the USA. Each province and territory generates its electricity as follows (2019 data):Alberta – Nearly 90% of electricity is fossil fuels – 36% coal, 54% natural gas. The remaining 10% is renewable, wind (6%),...
