Transcript 14. The Environment

14. The Environment
The Environment as a foreign policy issue
14. The Environment
The Environment as a foreign policy issue
The Environment and the Canadian Government
The Environment and the Canadian Public
The Environment and International Pressure
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Climate Change and Projected Impacts
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
UN Conference on the Environment and
Development (the “Rio” or “Earth” Summit
1992)
– United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
UN Conference on the Environment and
Development (the “Rio” or “Earth” Summit
1992)
– United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)
– Canada’s commitments at Rio: reduce GHG
emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Implementation:
• 1994 Canada’s National Report on Climate Change: Canada’s
GHG emissions 11% above Rio level in 2000
• 1995 Canada’s National Action Program on Climate Change:
Canada’s GHG emissions will be 13% higher than allowed
• 1997 Canada’s National Report on Climate Change: Canada’s
GHG emissions 8% above Rio level in 2000
• 1997 Natural Resources Canada estimated GHG emissions
19% higher than Rio level in 2010 and 36% higher in 2020.
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
The Kyoto Conference of the Parties (1997)
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
The Kyoto Conference of the Parties (1997)
– Canada’s commitments at Kyoto
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Implementation:
– Canada ratifies 17 December 2002 (Kyoto comes into force in February 2005)
– 1999 Environment Canada Report: Canada’s GHG emissions 15% above Kyoto
level in 2000, 27% above in 2010, and 41% above in 2020
– Estimate in 2000 by Pembina Institute that only 33% of the initiatives of the
1994 Canada national report had been partially or wholly implemented
– Budget 2000 and 2001 called for 80Mt of reductions
– November 2002 Climate Change Plan for Canada called for an addition 100
more (180 in total), with 80 to come in future plans
– In 2003, the Pembina Institute found that Canada's GHG emissions were 24%
above the 1990 level, while our Kyoto target is 6% below the 1990 level
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
1. Cost
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
1. Cost
2. Competitiveness
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
1. Cost
2. Competitiveness
3. Business Opposition
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
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Cost
Competitiveness
Business Opposition
Federal/Provincial relations
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
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Cost
Competitiveness
Business Opposition
Federal/Provincial relations
Minority governments
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
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Cost
Competitiveness
Business Opposition
Federal/Provincial relations
Minority governments
Administrative
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Obstacles to Implementation:
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Cost
Competitiveness
Business Opposition
Federal/Provincial relations
Minority governments
Administrative
Electoral Consequences
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Developments since 2005
– Moving Forward on Climate Change: A Plan for
Honouring our Kyoto Commitments
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
The Harper government and climate change
– Budget 2006
– Conservative government pledge for “made in
Canada” climate change plan
– Clean Air Act (October 2006)
– 2007 call for emissions cuts of 20% (using 2006
as baseline)
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
The Harper government and climate change
– The Bali COP (December 2007)
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Set 2009 deadline for new climate change treaty
Mentions reductions targets of 25-40 percent by 2020
Adaptation Fund
Technology transfer
– Canadian Opposition
– Copenhagen (December 2009)
14.1. Canada and Climate Change
Copenhagen (17-18 December 2009)