The Canadian government has been making significant strides in its commitment to the Paris Agreement, a global initiative aimed at combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada, along with nearly 200 other countries, signed the Paris Agreement in 2016. This agreement sets an ambitious goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement also aims to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by the second half of this century.
To achieve these goals, all signatories of the Paris Agreement are required to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years. These NDCs outline the country`s plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Canada`s most recent NDC was submitted in December 2020. In it, the government pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. This is a significant increase from their previous target of a 17% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020. The new target reflects the government`s acknowledgement of the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for more ambitious action.
The Canadian government also outlined specific measures it plans to take to achieve this target, including implementing a clean fuel standard, phasing out coal-fired electricity, and investing in public transit and zero-emission vehicles.
Canada`s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its ambitious NDCs have been widely praised by environmental organizations and other countries. However, there have also been concerns raised about whether Canada will be able to meet its targets.
In response to these concerns, the Canadian government has emphasized the need for collaboration between the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous peoples. The government has also committed to engaging with stakeholders and the public throughout the implementation process.
Overall, Canada`s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its ambitious NDCs are an important step forward in the global effort to tackle climate change. While there are still challenges to overcome, Canada`s leadership on this issue is encouraging and sets an example for other countries to follow.