New year, but still the same song: the federal government is falling behind in its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction objective that it set for 2030 due to various delays since the unveiling of its plan in 2021.
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Rather than achieving a 40% reduction compared to 2005 emissions levels by 2030, Ottawa is instead on the trajectory of a 34% reduction: the shortfall would therefore be 6%.
In a report from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development released Tuesday, Jerrv DeMarco attributed the failure to delays in capping emissions from the oil and gas sector and in new methane regulations affecting the industry.
In response to Mr. DeMarco, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault indicated that new rules for reducing emissions of methane, a gas far more polluting than carbon dioxide, will be published in the coming weeks. This plan will aim to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 70% by 2030.
The plan on capping emissions in the sector will be published at the same time, assured Mr. Guilbeault.
“While some progress has been made, we remain extremely concerned about the federal government’s ability to make meaningful progress […]», explained the commissioner in his report.
“I completely agree with the commissioner: we must do more. We must move faster on climate change,” declared Minister Guilbeault.
At a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, he spoke of “good news” to come by the end of the year regarding the reduction of GHGs.
Jerry DeMarco also affirmed that it is difficult since the government’s measures are not individually linked to reduction objectives, which makes the accounting of efforts more difficult. See also: