MONTREAL, October 28, 2026 – Any efforts to strengthen ties between Canada and the European Union must include climate action and accelerate progress toward climate measures set out in existing bilateral agreements, such as the 2023 Canada-EU Green Alliance. That was the central theme from an event in Montreal this evening featuring remarks and dialogue with Canadian and European leaders including Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, and Canada’s Ambassador to the European Union, Jonathan Wilkinson. 

The event–hosted by the Canadian Climate Institute, in collaboration with the CORIM and Partenariat Climat Montréal on the eve of the official EU-Canada Summit–brought together more than 100 leaders from business, civil society, government and the diplomatic community. 

“Canada and the European Union have agreed in the past to work together toward decarbonization. Now it’s time to move from words to action,” said Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, who opened the event. 

The Institute recommends that Canada pursue the following priorities on climate and low-carbon growth as it works toward closer ties with Europe:

• Align its safety standards for electric vehicles and heat pumps with European standards, to provide Canadian consumers with more choices;
• Strengthen industrial carbon pricing systems to reduce the amount paid through the EU’s carbon border tariff and ensure revenue stays within Canada; and
• Develop a sustainable finance taxonomy compatible with Europe’s, to make cross-border financing of green projects easier.

Ms. Ribera, a guest of honour who spoke at this evening’s event, said about climate action: “It is important for our citizens, for our companies, for our societies. I take this also as a duty we have towards the rest of the world. If we cannot succeed, what could the rest of the world think about this agenda?”

Ambassador Wilkinson, also a guest of honour, said: “For Canada and the European Union alike, the challenge is no longer simply how to reduce emissions but how to secure a durable competitive economy in a rapidly changing global world. Looking ahead to tomorrow’s summit and beyond, climate cooperation will be a defining feature of Canada-EU partnership in the months to come.”

CONTACT

Claudine Brulé (Eastern Time)
Lead, Communications and External Affairs
Canadian Climate Institute
(226) 212-9883