(OTTAWA) – In reaction to the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan tabled in the House of Commons today by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Keith Stewart, Senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada, said:
“Recent climate-fueled disasters and the current conflict in Europe have highlighted once again the urgent need for a climate plan that accelerates the transition off of fossil fuels. The government’s new plan marks the first time that the oil and gas sector is being asked to significantly reduce emissions, even if it still isn’t enough and is more focused on public funding of risky techno-fixes than the proven solution of transitioning to clean energy. Given three decades of successful oil industry lobbying against implementation of past climate plans, it is vital that people hold all politicians’ feet to the fire to make sure they force industry to do its fair share. We need real action this time.”
Greenpeace, along with other organizations, is asking Canada to do its fair share towards a global effort that ensures that global warming is limited to no more than 1.5°C without overshoot. Civil society groups have determined that Canada’s fair share includes reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions to at least 60% below 2005 levels by 2030, with a view of fully decarbonizing the Canadian economy to achieve net zero domestic GHG emissions as early before 2050 as possible. In this light, Canada’s actual emissions reduction target of 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 is not ambitious enough and must be reviewed.
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For more information, please contact:
Laura Bergamo, Communications officer, Greenpeace Canada
[email protected] ; +1 438 928-5237
