Canada Fails to Meet Climate and Biodiversity Targets: Environmental Commissioner's Report

The Trudeau government has been taken to task by the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, Jerry V. DeMarco, for failing to effectively measure the impact of its policies on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The report, released Thursday, also criticized the government for not meeting its pledge to plant two billion trees by 2031 and for inadequately protecting species at risk of extinction.

DeMarco's report focused on five regulations aimed at reducing emissions from cars and trucks, power plants, and oil and gas production. It found that Environment and Climate Change Canada relies on a broad modelling approach to determine whether its efforts to reduce emissions are working, but this approach prevents the government from evaluating the efficiency of many individual regulations. The report also highlighted the government's lack of knowledge about the contribution of methane emissions to overall emissions reductions, which is particularly concerning given methane's 25 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

The commissioner's audit found that while measures to reduce emissions in power generation met their goals, some measures to reduce vehicle emissions fell short due to increased emissions from large vehicles like school buses and dump trucks. DeMarco emphasized that the government has the tools to evaluate regulations year-over-year but has not used them effectively. He urged the government to take a significant shift in approach to meet its climate and biodiversity targets.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault defended the government's record, citing decreasing dependence on coal for electricity, investments in clean energy, and electric vehicle sales as factors contributing to GHG emissions reductions. However, Guilbeault acknowledged DeMarco's recommendation for improved reporting on regulations and expressed willingness to refine the government's reporting methodologies.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trudeau government has failed to effectively measure the impact of its policies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, undermining its efforts to fight climate change.
• The government expects to miss its goal of planting two billion trees by 2031 without significant changes to the program, which is lagging behind by about 45 million trees.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada relies on a broad modelling approach to determine the effectiveness of emissions-reducing regulations, preventing a detailed evaluation of individual regulations.
• The government lacks knowledge about the contribution of methane emissions to overall emissions reductions, which is worrying given methane's high warming potential.
• Some measures to reduce vehicle emissions fell short due to increased emissions from large vehicles like school buses and dump trucks, highlighting the need for more effective regulation.
• The government has the tools to evaluate regulations year-over-year but has not used them effectively, according to DeMarco.
• Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson stated that the government has made significant progress on partnerships since October 2022, signing agreements with provinces and territories to plant millions of trees.
• The government's lack of action on species at risk of extinction was also criticized, with 80% of species labelled at risk since 1982 showing no change in status or having entered a higher risk category.

Statistics:

• Canada emitted 670 million megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021, up slightly from 2020 but below pre-pandemic levels.
• The government's target is to reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 45% of 2005 levels and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
• The 2 Billion Trees program aims to plant 2 billion trees by 2031 but is currently lagging behind by about 45 million trees.
• Of the 520 species labelled at risk since 1982, 80% had either no change in status or had entered a higher risk category.

Sources:

• Commissioner Jerry V. DeMarco's spring reports
• CBC News
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson's email statement
• NDP's environment and climate change critic Laurel Collins' media statement
• Government of Canada's emissions data (2021)
• Government of Canada's 2 Billion Trees program