Canada is one of 19 countries that pledged on Wednesday to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from certain international shipping lanes during COP26 climate talks in Scotland.
Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also signed on behalf of Canada a zero-emission car deal, an international aviation emissions pledge, and an agreement to make trucks heavy and heavy. “zero emissions” buses within two decades.
These are the most recent climate pledges in a long list that Canada is adding throughout these critical negotiations. Among other things, commitments have been made to devote targeted funds to coral reefs, to halt deforestation, or to end international funding for fossil fuel projects by the end of next year.
Critics say almost all of these promises have one thing in common: nice words, but not a lot of concrete action.
Andrew Dumbrille, senior marine transportation and conservation specialist at World Wildlife Fund Canada, says the pledge to help create at least six emission-free shipping corridors over the next three years is a good start, but the Canada did not specify which ports would be affected or how they would be affected.
Catherine Abreu, member of the Federal Government’s Carbon Neutral Advisory Group and director of Destination Zero, says COP26 was rich in headline-grabbing announcements, but poor in details on implementation of these promises.
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