Pembina reacts to the release of the Pan-Canadian framework

OTTAWA — Ed Whittingham, executive director at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the outcome of the first ministers meeting on climate change:

“Today is a critical turning point in Canada’s response to climate change. The climate framework released today is the first truly national climate change plan in Canada’s history. It outlines a comprehensive suite of measures to meet Canada’s 2030 target and to achieve greater climate ambition with time.

“We applaud the first ministers’ effort made to date and expect continued collaboration and swift implementation of all recently announced climate measures. In particular, it is essential that provinces work with the federal government to adopt strengthened building codes, to implement an effective clean fuels standard, and to increase the carbon price after 2022.

“The pan-Canadian climate plan is an important milestone on the pathway to mid-century decarbonization. Continued progress on reducing emissions is a core requirement of the Paris Agreement, and we expect Canada will demonstrate its seriousness about those long-term goals by explicitly linking the pan-Canadian plan to its recently released mid-century strategy.

“The climate measures tabled today make an important contribution towards Canada’s 2030 target. However, first ministers will need to continue to work together to ensure long-term climate success. Developing new or more stringent measures to secure these emissions reductions domestically will help the country’s environment and economy as we compete for rapidly growing global demand for clean energy.

“The groundwork for continued federal, provincial and territorial progress has been laid. We expect all provinces – including B.C. and Saskatchewan – to step up and participate in the critical work of strengthening Canada’s long-term competitiveness by building our low carbon economy.”

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