IISD Conversations on Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada - Introduction
While Canada's inaction in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions leads many to conclude that it is an environmental laggard, Canada has succeeded in achieving significant reductions of heavy metals and criteria air contaminants. Since 1990, emission reductions ranging between 20 per cent and 80 per cent have occurred while Canada's economy has grown by about 50 per cent, indicating Canada has, in some cases, successfully decoupled emissions and economic growth. However, over the same time period, Canada's GHG emissions have grown by 20 per cent despite a continued prioritization to reduce emissions by successive governments. Government forecasts suggest that future emissions will continue to grow over the next 10 years, while IISD has estimated that Canada is on track to achieve at best half of its 2020 GHG emissions target of 607 Mt.
Why has Canada successfully dealt with some pollutants and not others?
IISD Conversations sat down with Dr. Nic Rivers, Canada Research Chair in Climate and Energy Policy at the University of Ottawa, to talk about the conditions of policy success and failure and how to rethink regulating carbon emissions in Canada. The conversation explored five key questions:
-
What are your thoughts on Canada's success in regulating other pollutants?
-
What is Canada's trend in GHG, heavy metals and air contaminant emissions and policy over the last 20 years?
-
Why has Canada been successful at regulating air pollutants and heavy metals, yet less successful in reducing GHGs?
-
What learning from past policy success can inform GHG policy?
-
Can we regulate carbon and avoid the risk of imposing high costs on industry and households?
-
How can Canada improve its approach to regulating carbon emissions?
IISD Conversations will continue to engage leading thinkers on how to turn sustainability challenges into development opportunities.
You might also be interested in
We all have to keep plastics out of our lakes and rivers
In an opinion piece, IISD-ELA's Pauline Gerrard writes that researchers in Toronto found an average of 123 microplastics in one serving of freshwater fish, vastly more than the nine microplastics ingested in a serving of grocery store Alaska pollock found in a study by the same authors published earlier this year.
Senegal’s LNG Drive Is an Economic Gamble
Senegal’s plan to drive economic growth through exports of LNG—largely to Europe—is a gamble, new research warns, as forecasts indicate an imminent decline in international demand for gas.
Canadians on the Hook for up to CAD 18.8 Billion in Ongoing Subsidies to the Trans Mountain Pipeline
Canadian taxpayers could end up contributing up to CAD 18.8 billion in subsidies to the Trans Mountain Pipeline if the federal government continues charging discounted transportation tolls to the oil industry, according to a new IISD report.
Understanding the United Nations’ New Principles for Resourcing the Energy Transition
Greg Radford explains new principles and recommendations developed by the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and designed to advance equity and justice.