{"id":68985,"date":"2025-03-19T09:59:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T13:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=68985"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:04:37","slug":"pierre-poilievres-positions-on-climate-change-biodiversity-and-social-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/68985\/pierre-poilievres-positions-on-climate-change-biodiversity-and-social-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Pierre Poilievre\u2019s positions on climate change, biodiversity and social justice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Pierre Poilievre has been a Conservative politician <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/members\/en\/pierre-poilievre(25524)\/roles\">since 2004<\/a>, including holding Cabinet positions in the Harper government. A recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmog.com\/2024\/05\/17\/pierre-poilievre-voted-against-environment-and-climate-400-times-records-show\/\">investigation<\/a> found that in this 20-year span, he has voted against environmental protection 400 times, as opposed to only thirteen times in favour.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/act.greenpeace.ca\/en-ca\/dont-trump-canada\">Don&#8217;t Trump Canada: Join the movement to demand a fair Canada for everyone\u2014not just polluters and billionaires.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Pierre Poilievre\u2019s Platform<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong><u>Climate Change<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Poilievre\u2019s Conservative Party <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/cpc\/more-canadian-energy-not-less\/\">opposes<\/a> all significant federal measures to address climate change as attacks on the oil and gas industry, while advocating for an expansion of oil and gas production. His climate and energy platform mirrors the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capp.ca\/en\/unleashing-canadas-energy-potential\/\">2025 Federal Policy Priorities: How our next government can leverage the energy sector for all Canadians<\/a>, which calls for the federal government to abandon all regulation of greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon pricing) by leaving it up to provinces.<\/p>\n\n<p>Aside from his promise to eliminate the carbon tax (\u201cAxe the Tax\u201d), Poilievre has promised to eliminate the major elements of the current federal climate plan. <strong>This includes opposition to:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making big polluters pay. Poilievre has promised to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/politics\/federal\/pierre-poilievre-pledges-to-scrap-carbon-levy-on-industrial-emitters\/article_6860b758-0332-11f0-bf2d-d3601e142f15.html\">eliminate the industrial carbon tax<\/a>, which is the <a href=\"https:\/\/climateinstitute.ca\/news\/industrial-carbon-pricing-the-top-driver-of-emissions-reductions-new-analysis-shows\/\">primary driver<\/a> of pollution reductions in the current climate plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/oil-gas-carbon-emissions-cap-climate-canada-1.7052562\">cap on pollution<\/a> from the oil and gas sector (which is the largest source of GHGs in Canada at nearly \u2153 of total Canadian emissions).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/ndp-liberal-committee-report-attacks-oil-and-gas-workers\/\">Clean Fuel Regulations<\/a> (which requires oil companies to reduce the carbon content of the gasoline and diesel they sell).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/trudeau-makes-life-more-expensive-for-all-canadians\/\">Clean Electricity Regulation<\/a> (which mandates a \u2018net zero\u2019 electricity system by 2035).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernstandard.news\/news\/poilievre-to-repeal-guilbeaults-green-car-mandate-under-conservative-govt\/51205\">Electric Vehicle Availability Standards<\/a> (that phases out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nnsl.com\/home\/poilievre-threatens-nuclear-winter-over-carbon-tax-fears-northern-communities-will-empty-out-7526227\">Impact Assessment Act<\/a> (that includes climate change as an issue to be considered).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/canada\/pierre-poilievre-backs-albertas-concerns-over-federal-just-transition-legislation\">Just Transition policies<\/a> (that assist oil and gas workers affected by the energy transition).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Additional statements on climate:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As part of his commitment to support the rapid expansion of the oil and gas industry, Poilievre has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/calgary\/poilievre-calgary-rally-1.6418474\">promised <\/a>to \u201cclear the way for pipelines\u201d and \u201cto support pipelines south, north, east, west.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poilievre <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-climate-paris-emissions-1.7020379\">won\u2019t commit<\/a> to achieving our Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poilievre has said he would \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/atlantic.ctvnews.ca\/more\/poilievre-says-he-s-open-to-green-projects-in-atlantic-canada-1.6618984\">greenlight green projects<\/a>\u201d, but he has never spoken out against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith\u2019s moves to restrict wind and solar projects.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespec.com\/opinion\/contributors\/big-oil-pays-big-bucks-for-private-meeting-with-poilievre\/article_c075f3bf-625e-5004-b216-1ccec025f6ec.html\">hosted a private, $1650\/plate fundraiser<\/a> with oil executives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/cpc\/more-canadian-energy-not-less\/\">advocated<\/a> for increased exports of fossil gas, claiming it will reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. There is mounting evidence that<a href=\"https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/ace3db\"> LNG is more greenhouse gas-intensive than previously estimated<\/a>, and it could be worse for the climate than coal. LNG leaks methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas, more potent than carbon dioxide and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/natural-gas-could-warm-planet-much-coal-short-term\"> worse than coal<\/a> in the short term. It has<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/jake-schmidt\/us-liquified-natural-gas-has-limited-impact-coal\"> no or very limited impact<\/a> on coal consumption overseas and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pembina.org\/blog\/lng-global-emissions\">research shows<\/a> new LNG infrastructure may displace the adoption of renewable energy in Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong><u>Biodiversity<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Poilievre\u2019s Conservative Party has framed ecological protection as an assault on freedom and prosperity. <strong>They have:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/plastic-pollution-lids-straws-culture-war-1.7207579\">Described<\/a> efforts to reduce plastic pollution as \u201cgovernment controlling our lives.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/bring-back-common-sense-protect-our-jobs%ef%bf%bc\/\">Opposed<\/a> measures to protect endangered caribou in Quebec as an attack on the forest industry.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservative.ca\/common-sense-conservatives-call-for-sensible-solution-to-protect-lobster-fishing-and-whales\/\">Denounced<\/a> measures to protect North Atlantic right whales as interfering with the \u201cpowerful paycheques\u201d of the Atlantic lobster fishery.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong><u>Social Justice<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Environmental issues cannot be understood in isolation from broader social justice issues like fair taxation and protecting democratic rights and freedoms. Pierre Poilievre has:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Attacked \u201cwoke\u201d as a way to undermine equity-seeking policies and people: Researchers have <a href=\"https:\/\/ruor.uottawa.ca\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/f583acaa-674d-482d-91e8-68399fe91915\/content\">shown<\/a> how Poilievre\u2019s Conservatives have joined other far-right movements and parties in using the term \u201cwoke\u201d to try and delegitimize progressive parties, people and policies and frame them as a threat to Canada\u2019s democratic values. In the U.S., this has been followed by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/feb\/02\/trump-woke-dei-culture-wars\">wide-ranging attack<\/a> on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Threatened social programs: Poilievre <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-budget-reaction-social-programs-1.7177636\">won\u2019t commit to keeping<\/a> the recently-enacted federal child care, dental care and pharmacare programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opposed taxing the wealthy: Poilievre <a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/10961930\/pierre-poilievre-capital-gains-tax-pledge\/\">opposed<\/a> a modest increase in capital gains inclusion rate, which would have raised taxes on the wealthiest.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Undermined trans rights: He has fed the anti-trans backlash by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/montreal\/article\/lgbtq2s-advocates-express-fears-for-trans-rights-after-poilievres-comments-on-gender-identity\/\">refusing to acknowledge<\/a> there are more than two genders and promising legislation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-ban-trans-women-sports-bathrooms-1.7120972\">to ban trans women<\/a> from women&#8217;s sports, change rooms and bathrooms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong><u>Greenpeace\u2019s public criticism of Poilievre<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>In the past months, Greenpeace has been calling out Poilievre and the Conservatives anti-climate agenda in the media. See:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hamilton Spectator (February 4, 2024): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespec.com\/opinion\/contributors\/poilievre-s-burn-baby-burn-climate-plan-is-emboldening-oil-lobby\/article_51ef1000-34eb-530f-b8b0-08e0d45e4208.html\">Poilievre\u2019s \u2018Burn, baby, burn\u2019 climate plan is emboldening oil lobby<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Edmonton Journal (August 2, 2024): <a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/opinion\/columnists\/opinion-thoughts-and-prayers-wont-stop-wildfires\">Thoughts and prayers won\u2019t stop wildfires<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hamilton Spectator (October 23, 2024): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespec.com\/opinion\/contributors\/big-oil-pays-big-bucks-for-private-meeting-with-poilievre\/article_c075f3bf-625e-5004-b216-1ccec025f6ec.html\">Big Oil pays big bucks for private meeting with Poilievre<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Observer (January 30, 2025): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalobserver.com\/2025\/01\/27\/opinion\/trump-poilievre-big-oil-bodyguards\">Trump and Poilievre: Big Oil\u2019s Bodyguards<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Hill Times (March 13, 2025): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hilltimes.com\/story\/2025\/03\/12\/dont-let-maple-magas-dictate-canadas-path\/453494\/\">Don\u2019t let \u2018Maple MAGA\u2019 dictate Canada\u2019s Path<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/act.greenpeace.ca\/en-ca\/protect-people-not-polluters?_gl=1*1llmmno*_gcl_au*MjA4MjM5MjU0Ny4xNzQxMzcyNTEy\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/act.greenpeace.ca\/en-ca\/protect-people-not-polluters?_gl=1*1llmmno*_gcl_au*MjA4MjM5MjU0Ny4xNzQxMzcyNTEy\"><strong><em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/act.greenpeace.ca\/en-ca\/dont-trump-canada\">Don&#8217;t Trump Canada: Join the movement to demand a fair Canada for everyone\u2014not just polluters and billionaires.<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pierre Poilievre&#8217;s Conservative party is opposed to all major federal climate policies, would undermine biodiversity protections and takes us backwards on economic and social justice issues. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":67748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"Pierre Poilievre\u2019s platform on climate change, biodiversity and social justice","p4_og_description":"Pierre Poilievre has been a Conservative politician since 2004, including holding Cabinet positions in the Harper government. 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