During the announcement of a new set of major projects by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which includes a new gas export terminal, Canadian representatives were simultaneously working to uphold the country’s climate reputation on the global stage. This effort took place at the COP30 UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, where Canada aimed to reassure the international community of its continued commitment to reducing emissions and achieving its long-term targets, despite recent setbacks in some key climate policies.
Anna Kanduth, a senior policy analyst at Climate Analytics, expressed concerns over the weakening of Canada’s climate policies, leading to a downgrade of the country’s climate plan to a “highly insufficient” level. Certain policies, such as the consumer carbon price and the electric vehicle sales mandate, have been rolled back or put on hold, while policies like an oil and gas emissions cap remain uncertain.
Climate Analytics evaluates countries’ climate plans based on their effectiveness in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Although Canada is not alone among Western nations and major oil producers in receiving a poor rating, Kanduth highlighted the uncommon trend of Canada regressing in its climate efforts.
In a recent report, the Canadian Climate Institute stated for the first time that Canada is unlikely to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target of 40-45%, with progress in emission reduction stagnating. Despite these challenges, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin affirmed Canada’s commitment to its targets, emphasizing the necessity of ambitious goals to drive action.
Former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, now serving as the minister of Canadian identity and culture, acknowledged the importance of targets and past investments in clean technology but noted the ongoing need for further action to combat climate change.
The absence of U.S. participation in climate efforts, with President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, has created additional challenges for Canada and other nations. Despite this, the shift towards clean energy continues globally, with countries like Europe adopting ambitious emissions reduction targets.
At COP30, Canada pledged $392 million for global climate action projects, focusing on supporting nature conservation and reducing methane emissions. However, Catherine Abreu, a Canadian environmental campaigner, expressed concerns about Canada’s commitment to its climate promises and highlighted the country’s low visibility at the conference this year.
The disappointment among climate advocates is heightened by Prime Minister Carney’s history of climate-related initiatives, with some critics perceiving a reliance on oil and gas subsidies and pipeline construction as insufficient for addressing climate challenges. Canada’s engagements at COP30 also include advocacy for nature conservation and methane emission reduction efforts, with the conference scheduled to continue until November 21.
