(Montreal) Called to react to the UN Secretary General’s statement calling on developed countries “to tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies”, Canada’s Environment Minister said his government already ensured that the oil companies paid their fair share.
Posted at 10:52
Updated at 11:32 a.m.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the climate crisis “a textbook case of moral and economic injustice”, pointing out that the G20 80% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
“Today, I call on all developed countries to tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies. These funds should be returned, on the one hand, to the countries in which the climate crisis is causing loss and damage, and, on the other hand, to the people who are put in difficulty by the rising prices of foodstuffs and energy,” said Antonio Guterres.
Thursday morning, The Canadian Press asked the Minister of the Environment of Canada to comment on this outing by the Secretary General of the UN, but Steven Guilbeault did not show any interest in “taxing the exceptional profits” of the oil companies.
“I think the Secretary General was also talking about the fact that these companies have to do their part in the fight against climate change. This is why, in Canada, we have implemented carbon pricing. We fought all the way to the Supreme Court to be able to put this mechanism in place and it is in place, ”said the minister during a conference call with the media to conclude his participation in the climate week in New York.
Steven Guilbeault added that his government has established “many mechanisms” such as regulations for the reduction of methane emissions.
Canada is committed to reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by at least 75% by 2030 from 2012 levels.
“Our world is at its worst”
On Tuesday, Antonio Guterres recalled that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 so that we can hope to reach zero by 2050.
“Yet emissions are at record levels: they are on track to increase by 14% in this decade,” he added.
The UN Secretary General began his speech with the words: “Our world is at its worst”, emphasizing that the climate crisis is the defining issue of our time.
“The planet is on fire, people are suffering – and the most vulnerable are the most affected”, indignant Antonio Guterres, mentioning that “the suicidal war against nature” jeopardizes “the Charter of the United Nations and the ideals that she wears “.
Windfall profits
Oil companies have reaped windfall profits this year due to soaring energy prices linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
The Canadian Cenovus Energy, for example, posted a net profit of 2.4 billion last July, more than ten times higher than last year for its most recent quarter.
During the same period, Suncor announced that it had made profits of 3.99 billion in the second quarter, a result more than four and a half times higher than that of 868 million for the same period in 2021.