There’s a lot going on these days, and a lot to contend with—for citizens and government alike. 

Since kicking off September with the usual fall cabinet retreat—sorry, “Cabinet Planning Forum”—ahead of the House of Commons’ return on Sept. 15, Prime Minister Mark Carney has so far this month announced a new “Buy Canadian” policy in Toronto, and $80-million in tariff relief for Atlantic businesses while in St. John’s, N.L. Among other things, he’s also launched the Build Canada Homes agency, and made a two-day trip south to strengthen ties with Mexico.

In the House Chamber, the first week of the fall sitting saw the government’s Citizenship Act changes in Bill C-3—necessitated by an Ontario Superior Court ruling—as well as the contentious, omnibus Strong Borders Act, Bill C-2, take the spotlight. 

But clarity on Canada’s commitment to our international climate pledges—most notably the emissions-reduction targets agreed to through the Paris Agreement—has been decidedly absent.

Instead, what we have heard are further alarms over our flagging progress in the fight against climate change. 

An early 2024 emissions estimate released by the Canadian Climate Institute on Sept. 18 found progress on emissions reductions in this country “flatlined” in 2024, “with emissions essentially unchanged from the previous year.” 

“This lack of progress in 2024 is concerning given the significant setbacks in policy, at both the federal and provincial level, since that year,” reads the release.

Those setbacks include the Carney government’s decision to repeal the consumer carbon tax, and to pause the federal mandate requiring 20 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Canada to be electric by 2026.

“These changes threaten fragile progress on the emissions front, while record oilsands production and multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities under construction will put upward pressure on national emissions,” it continues. 

Based on the analysis, Canada is on track to reduce emissions by 20 to 25 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030—far short of its commitment of 40 to 45 per cent reductions by the same time frame. Carney’s environment minister recently acknowledged the “next steps will be very hard” ahead of those targets, while still not being clear on Canada’s plan.

Data released by Environment and Climate Change Canada on Sept. 17 underscores the very real stakes—and consequences—of our lack of sufficient progress to date in this generational challenge. Scientists assessing the 10 hottest heat waves to impact Canada this summer—in July and August—found nine “were made much more likely because of climate change.”

Tariffs threaten livelihoods, but climate change threatens our very existence—regardless of how top-of-mind the issue may be for Canadians.

The feds have signalled they’ll release a “climate competitiveness strategy” later this year. Let’s hope that comes sooner than later, and brings real reassurance with it.

The Hill Times