Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to cap emissions produced by Canada’s oil and gas industry as he delivered a speech at the 26th meeting of the Council of Parties to the UN climate convention, known as COP26, in Glasgow on Nov. 1.
“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,” said Trudeau, to more than 120 other world leaders who attended the conference.
The prime minister says it is “no small task” for Canada given that it is a “major oil and gas producing country,” but said, “it’s a big step that’s absolutely necessary.”
In July, Canada formally submitted its new target to the UN, which aims to have 40 to 45 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than in 2005, by 2030. The latest announcement made no mention that the country will be raising its target in reducing emissions further.
Trudeau reiterated his commitment to pricing pollution during his announcement. He urged fellow leaders to follow what his government has done by enforcing “one of the most globally ambitious” carbon prices on emissions.
The statement added that given the pace and scale needed to achieve the 2050 net-zero goal, the government will establish 5-year targets and require the oil and gas sector to comply with meeting the 2030 climate goals.
The statement said Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson have sent a letter to the government’s new net-zero advisory body on “how best to move forward on this approach.”
