Posted at 11:15 a.m.
The continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the Canadian aviation sector is of great concern to us.
According to the latest report from Transport Canada, GHG emissions from Canadian airlines increased by 74% between 2005 and 2019, reaching 22 million tonnes annually, or the equivalent of nearly five million personal cars and trucks.
This increase in emissions from aeronautics jeopardizes Canada’s commitment to reduce its GHG emissions by 40-45% by 2030.
We welcome the development of a Canadian action plan to reduce GHG emissions from aviation, which is expected to be unveiled in early fall.
However, we are very worried and concerned to learn that Transport Canada is consulting the aviation industry on this plan, but does not intend to consult the public and other stakeholders on its content.
In the absence of a real public consultation, the risk is high that this new plan, like the previous plan, which dates from 2012, will fail to reduce emissions from aviation (these emissions have increased by more than 35% since the 2012 plan was unveiled).
By failing to commit to reducing emissions from aviation in the near future, Canada is falling behind other countries – and even its own airlines.
For example, Denmark has committed to making all domestic flights fossil-free by 2030. For its part, Air Canada has committed to reducing GHG emissions from its flights by 20% over the same period.
The Canadian aeronautical industry benefits from too much latitude which has allowed it to increase its pollution levels leading to climate change.
We urge you to take immediate steps to ensure: a) that the public and non-aviation stakeholders are consulted on Canada’s new emissions reduction plan before it is completed and unveiled, and b) that the new plan contains strong and binding targets to reduce emissions by at least 30% (compared to 2019 levels) by 2030.
We are counting on you to ensure that the aviation sector, like all others, does its fair share to reduce GHG emissions and ensure a livable future for all.
List of signatories: 350.org, Canada Burnaby For Our Kids, Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE), Canadian Public Health Association, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada, Climate Emergency Unit, ClimateFast, Cowichan Carbon Busters, David Suzuki Foundation, Drawdown Toronto, Earth Day Canada, Environmental Defence, Équiterre, For Our Kids, Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP), Island Transformations (ITO), Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, Joint Ecological Ministry (JEM), Le Center Oblat: A Voice for Justice, Naturopathic Doctors for Environmental and Social Trust, Office for Systemic Justice Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology/Bureau of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology, Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, Ont ario Public Health Association, People’s Climate Movement Toronto/GTA, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, The Climate Reality Project Canada, The Global Sunrise Project, Youth Climate Save Canada