GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the memory of Lytton, B.C., on Monday as he called for global action in the fight against climate change and formally committed to a cap on emissions produced by Canada’s oil and gas sector. The prime minister was speaking at the 26th meeting of the Council of Parties to the UN climate convention, known as COP26, where more than 120 world leaders have gathered for two days to assess global efforts to address what many see as an existential problem. It was in that context that Trudeau referenced the record-setting temperatures that set the stage for the devastating wildfire that swept through the village of Lytton in June, destroying much of the community. ”What happened in Lytton can and has and will happen anywhere,” Trudeau told the assembled leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “How many more signs do we need? This is our time to step up — and step up together.”
Trudeau went on to formally launch his government’s latest effort to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by committing to a cap on emissions from the country’s oil and gas sector. Such a cap had been promised in the Liberals’ recent election platform, with plans to force emissions down until they hit net zero in 2050. A lack of regulations for the sector has long been a sore spot between environmental groups and Ottawa.
“We’ll cap oil and gas sector emissions today and ensure they decrease tomorrow at a pace and scale needed to reach net-zero by 2050,” Trudeau told the leaders.
“That’s no small task for a major oil and gas producing country. It’s a big step that’s absolutely necessary.” The announcement was met with mixed reactions. Dale Marshall, national climate program manager with Environmental Defence, said Trudeau’s pledge fell short. ”Focusing on emissions from oil and gas production but not production itself will allow oil and gas companies to keep putting forward false solutions, such as carbon capture and storage, fossil-based hydrogen, and far-off net-zero plans, all while pumping out more and more atmosphere-destroying fossil fuels,” Marshall said in a statement, adding Canada has the weakest emissions-reduction targets of G7 nations.“We cannot go from climate laggard to even the middle of the pack without curtailing oil and gas production, starting now.”Newly named Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault along with Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson sent a letter to the government’s net-zero advisory body Monday asking for its help to develop policy to support the new plan.
S: ctvnews.ca
