TORONTO — Anna Kanduth, Director of the Canadian Climate Institute’s 440 Megatonnes project, made the following statement in response to the announcement of Canada’s 2035 emissions reduction target:
“Canada’s new 2035 climate target range is achievable and balances the need for sustained progress cutting emissions, while also factoring in important considerations like affordability, competitiveness, and economic growth.
“At the high end, the official target range of a 45 to 50 per cent reduction from 2005 levels overlaps with the range the Canadian Climate Institute recommended based on our independent analysis of options for Canada’s 2035 target.
“The Institute’s 2035 target analysis was commissioned by the independent Net-Zero Advisory Body to help inform their advice to the federal government. Our analysis examined the trade-offs of more or less ambition by 2035. We evaluated six potential targets against a set of criteria, including affordability, the economy, competitiveness, emissions reductions, and feasibility, and found that a target within the 49 to 52 per cent range would provide the best balance across these objectives.
“Ultimately, climate action is not a pass or fail test. Ambitious targets matter, but even more important is having strong and stable policies in place to reduce emissions while driving low-carbon growth and ensuring Canada remains competitive. To that end, governments at all levels should implement and strengthen existing policy commitments this decade to get emissions on track to Canada’s 2030 target, and build on those to drive further progress by 2035.
“While the low-end of the new target range is more achievable in the short term, it may affect Canada’s long-term competitiveness, largely by delaying some clean investment decisions and increasing the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets in the future.
“In the months ahead, our global peers and trading partners will announce their 2035 climate goals, and many nations, including the UK, Japan and Brazil, are leveling-up their ambition. Canada can’t risk falling behind in an expanding global market for clean energy solutions and an international marketplace where carbon tariffs and competition are heating up.”
RESOURCES
- 440 Megatonnes Insight | Canada’s 2035 target should be ambitious and achievable
- 440 Megatonnes Insight | Canada’s 2030 climate target lines up with its peers. How will 2035 compare?
- 440 Megatonnes Insight | Three ways to get Canada’s emissions on track
- Technical annex | Options for Canada’s 2035 emissions reduction target
- 440 Megatonnes | 2023 Early Estimate of National Emissions
CONTACT
Claudine Brulé (Eastern Time)
Lead, Communications and External Affairs
Canadian Climate Institute
(226) 212-9883
Krystal Northey (Pacific Time)
Public Affairs Lead
Canadian Climate Institute
(226) 212-9883
