Civil Society Responds to Release of Canada’s National Frame

Civil Society Responds to Release of Canada’s National Frame

Postby Oscar » Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:05 am

Civil Society Responds to Release of Canada’s National Framework for Climate Action

[ http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/12/ ... te-action/ ]

9 December 2016

OTTAWA (December 9, 2016) – Today, First Ministers released the much-anticipated Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth.

In response Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada issued the following statements from its Executive Director, Catherine Abreu, and from CAN-Rac members:

“Today establishes a new normal for Canada on the issue of climate change. For the first time, we have a framework that brings the federal government, most provincial and territorial governments, and major sectors of our economy together on a shared path of climate action.

We congratulate all those who have contributed to this historic moment, and with it we expect a new era of coordinated action at the scale our climate commitments require. Genuine engagement with Indigenous communities across Canada is a critical feature of coordination.

The work begins now. We need rapid implementation to turn this Framework into a plan that puts us on track to meeting and then exceeding our 2030 emissions reduction target. The portion of emissions reductions that the Framework attributes to “additional measures” must be achieved with strong domestic action, including a carbon price that keeps climbing after 2022.

We are encouraged by the Framework’s strong references to accountability and pledge to increase climate ambition over time in line with Canada’s Paris commitment. We look forward to working with governments and stakeholders to design a series of concrete mechanisms that ensure parties stay on track with emissions reductions and come back to the table on a regular basis to escalate the ambition of our climate targets.

Global economic trends are clear. Canada’s long-term prosperity depends on our governments committing to genuine economic transformation right now. This means locking in decarbonization in every corner of our society. Building new fossil fuel infrastructure is out of step with this transition, and incompatible with a 1.5 degree future.

The Paris Agreement is about the world coming together to protect its most vulnerable communities and strive to limit average global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. Staying true to Canada’s Paris promise means quickly executing a plan of action that paves the way for deep decarbonization beyond our current 2030 goal.” Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada


“Canadians and Manitobans are looking for vision and action so our country’s future matches these government commitments. They are watching today’s announcement from our First Ministers, and expecting action. Now it’s time to tell the story of positive steps to protect our future, work together, and make sure Canadians affected by climate changes already happening see a just transition.” Gaile Whelan Enns, Director, Manitoba Wildlands

“It is exciting to see us addressing the issues around climate change, as Canadians but also as northerners. The Northwest Territories has been holding NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and NWT Energy Strategy workshops to engage key stakeholders in mitigation and adaption to local climate change impacts. We hope to see more progress at the federal level that will inspire action in the Territories and assist in this transition process.” Marissa Oteiza, Environmental Educator, Ecology North

“Today is a grounding first step in what will still be a long road to achieving meaningful climate action. We are very pleased to see the Provinces coming together in a manner that previously didn’t seem possible, but disappointed that BC isn’t exemplifying the true climate leadership we once held. We look forward to now seeing implementation through true collaboration.” Jessica McIlroy, Executive Director, BC Sustainable Energy Association

“Today’s announcement is an encouraging step forward, and truly the best we’ve yet accomplished at the federal level. We’re closer than ever to giving our communities the support they need in the just transition toward a zero-carbon economy, but we’re not there yet. The science on climate is clear, and this plan doesn’t line up with that science, nor Canada’s fair share under the Paris Agreement. There is much work left to do.” Stephen Thomas, Energy Campaign Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre

“Climate change is the issue of my generation. As young people we expect the federal government to be a leader on climate. We want to be able to celebrate a climate plan for Canada. In order to do so, we need a plan that: respects indigenous rights; well exceeds our current 2030 target; doesn’t allow for more dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure; and that puts us on track to the 1.5 degree limit of warming that we advocated for at COP21.” Kiki Wood, National Director, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

“Today we are celebrating Canada’s national framework and the historic decision to place a national price on carbon, but we must keep our sights on achieving a truly science-based approach that plots a path to the future. The framework does not yet clearly show how each province and industry will do its fair share in moving towards a sustainable, climate-friendly economy. In particular, it fails to reconcile new pipelines and expanding oil sands development with Canada’s ability to meet its already inadequate climate commitments.” Andrew Gage, Staff Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law Association

“Honouring our Paris climate commitment means moving to a 100 percent renewable energy economy by mid-century. Parts of the framework announced today point in the right direction, but we won’t free ourselves from fossil fuels fast enough to avoid dangerous levels of warming if we allow oil companies to build new tar sands pipelines and liquefied natural gas export facilities that lock us into high levels of carbon pollution for the next 50 years.” Keith Stewart, Head of Greenpeace Canada’s climate change campaign

«Honorer l’Accord de Paris exige que notre économie soit basée à 100% sur les énergies renouvelables d’ici 2050. Le cadre annoncé aujourd’hui pointe dans la bonne direction, mais il ne permettra pas de nous libérer suffisamment rapidement des combustibles fossiles et d’éviter des niveaux dangereux de réchauffement, surtout si de nouveaux pipelines de sables bitumineux et d’autres infrastructures polluantes sont construits et polluent pendant des décennies.” Patrick Bonin, responsable de la campagne Climat-Énergie de Greenpeace Canada

“La lutte aux changements climatiques n’est pas uniquement une question d’énergies vertes et de marché, mais aussi une question de justice sociale. Si nous nous réjouissons que le Canada agisse dans la bonne direction en se dotant d’un cadre pan-canadien,ce n’est certainement pas en approuvant de nouveaux oléoducs et en se limitant à des incitatifs de marché que le Canada entamera une véritable transition de son économie vers une économie sobre en carbone. Les impacts des changements climatiques se font déjà sentir et ce sont les populations les plus vulnérables qui en souffrent le plus. Il est de notre responsabilité morale et historique de prendre des décisions politiques courageuses qui auront des impacts positifs sur la vie de ces personnes et d’entamer une véritable transformation de notre économie.” Geneviève Talbot, chargée de recherche et plaidoyer, Développement et Paix – Caritas Canada

“If it wasn’t for Trudeau’s recent pipeline approvals, this climate plan would be a historic success. While we acknowledge the accomplishments and hard work to develop this policy framework by the federal government and the provinces, we are concerned that without a managed decline of fossil fuel extraction we will fail to meet our obligations to the Paris Treaty. When you put the recent pipeline approvals beside the climate plan it is clearly about allowing oil companies to profit for as long as possible.” Alex Paterson, Campaigner with Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition.

“The climate announcement made today is historic, yet insufficient. Our federal government deserves support for crafting such a comprehensive plan, however we have a lot of work ahead of us to do better than our current 2030 target and fulfil the promise we made to the world in Paris to strive to keep warming 1.5°C .” Karen Mahon, National Director, Stand.earth

“The plan announced today is a step in the right direction, but it is insufficient. That said, we cannot delay implementation and we must continuously strive to raise the ambition of Canada’s targets and action plan. We must also encourage the inclusion of other important actors such as cities, where important greenhouse gas reductions are possible and where adaptation to climate change is needed.”
Audrey Dépault, National Manager, Climate Reality Project Canada

“Unfortunately, Canada’s target is fundamentally incompatible with the Paris Agreement which seeks to limit warming to ‘well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels’ and aspires to 1.5°C. Canada’s target is the weakest in the G7. It does not represent Canada’s fair share in the global effort to reduce emissions. Still, today’s announcement is a tremendous step forward and aligns with the calls to action of Canadian churches in recent years.” Joe Gunn, Executive Director, Citizens for Public Justice

“This is a good start on the way to a cleaner, stronger future for Canada in terms of the economy and the environment. For the first time, Canada has built the foundation of an effective national climate plan that, if fully implemented, will put the country much closer to reaching its 2030 emissions target. For a plan to be credible, it must not send mixed signals about national priorities. Responsible action on climate change means shifting from fossil fuels and diversifying the economy to ensure Canadians have good jobs today and into the future while also protecting the environment. That is what is in the national interest.” Ian Bruce, David Suzuki Foundation Science and Policy Director -30-

CONTACT:

Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada
+1 902 412 8953 catherineabreu@climateactionnetwork.ca


BACKGROUND:

See CAN-Rac’s estimations of Canada’s fair share of the global effort to confront climate change
[ http://www.equiterre.org/sites/fichiers ... _final.pdf ]

See CAN-Rac’s recommendations for a Canadian Accountability Mechanism
[ https://www.dropbox.com/s/2bkq1aco8sh54 ... m.pdf?dl=0 ]

CAN-Rac Canada is a coalition of more than 100 organizations from the country that cares about how a changing climate affects people, plants and wildlife. We work to advance solutions to managing our carbon pollution through sustainable and equitable development.
Oscar
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