Evidence of meeting #136 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tax.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Good morning, colleagues.
Today's meeting is about Canada's emission reduction policies.
Before we begin, I'd like to discuss a few administrative matters.
First of all, you received a draft budget for the information sessions on emission reduction policies. If I have your approval, I'll be able to sign off on the budget and we'll be able to proceed with our study.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
The budget is therefore adopted.
Next, you were asked to suggest witnesses to the clerk for the pre-study of Bill C‑73, but so far, she's received only one name, if memory serves. I remind you to send her your suggestions.
Third, before we break for the holidays, we'll have to give the analysts some pointers and suggestions to guide them in preparing the draft report on sustainable finance. We'll be discussing this in person, but in the meantime, please send your suggestions as soon as possible to the analysts and the clerk as to what you'd like to see in this report. That will give them some assurance if, for some reason, the committee doesn't have time to discuss it in person.
Unfortunately, the minister won't be able to be here on December 4. What do you think about the following idea: instead of dealing with the supplementary estimates that day, we could have a meeting on the Net Zero Accelerator Fund, which we were supposed to examine on December 16. Is there agreement to move this meeting to December 4?
Seeing no opposition, that's fine, we'll have that meeting on December 4.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes, everybody is available, so we can slot that in for the December 4 meeting.
Without further ado, we have the pleasure of having with us our Canadian ambassador for climate change, Ms. Catherine Stewart. We have an hour with Ms. Stewart, which will begin with her opening statements.
Ms. Stewart, the floor is yours.
Catherine Stewart Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to appear before this committee today. I am very pleased to be joined by colleagues from the Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
To help frame this discussion, I'd like to begin by speaking about my role.
In August 2022, I was appointed by the Prime Minister to represent Canada as climate change ambassador. I am one of six climate envoys in the G7. In addition, many of our like-minded partners have appointed climate change ambassadors, including Denmark, the European Union and the Republic of Korea.
I work internationally to advance and defend our interests on climate change and to provide advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I speak about the devastating impacts of climate change, demonstrating that Canada is not immune to its devastating impacts on health and security, but I also speak about the economic costs associated with extreme weather events, natural disasters and rising temperatures. I also speak about the significant investments and work that Canada is doing to address climate change and the economic opportunities that accompany a clean growth agenda.
To advance my mandate, I work in collaboration with several government departments, but most notably ECCC, Global Affairs and our embassies and representatives abroad. When it comes to reducing GHG emissions, my message is clear: Canada is taking action at home and has many solutions to offer.
I'd like to give you some examples of the activities that I undertake.
I am a champion of the global methane pledge, which is an initiative launched by the U.S. and the EU with the goal of reducing global methane emissions by 30% by 2030. As champion, I look for key opportunities to highlight Canada's leadership in methane reduction. I promote the federal government's strategy and I point to the significant expertise we have on offer, including companies that specialize in methane detection and reduction technologies.
I continue to advocate coal phase-out in the energy sector, sharing Canada's experience in a just transition, including in the Powering Past Coal Alliance.
I've been tasked with developing and advancing the global carbon pricing challenge, which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2021. Due to my efforts, there are now 18 countries, including the EU, that have joined this initiative.
When it comes to those hard-to-abate sectors, Canada co-chairs the cement and concrete breakthrough initiative, which brings governments and the private sector together to accelerate investments in decarbonization, given the demand for cleaner solutions. On several occasions, I have represented Canada to highlight how these partnerships are helping to advance critical abatement technology.
Canada also has an important stake in the transition to clean energy that is currently taking place. We have strategies in place, such as the management of carbon, hydrogen, and critical minerals, to seize the economic opportunities as countries move toward cleaner energy solutions and greater energy security. Again, I'm looking for opportunities for Canada to be invited to participate in high-level international discussions on these important topics.
My experience has shown that there's a genuine interest in what our country is doing to fight climate change. It's not just about what we're doing, but how we're rolling it out and how we're working across society, with provinces and territories and indigenous peoples, to develop and implement our climate change plans.
All of this activity helps us to push greater ambition forward internationally.
At UN climate conferences, or climate COPs, the momentum we achieve throughout the year plays out in key multilateral settings, so much so that at COP28 in Dubai last year, over 190 countries were able to agree to key mitigation commitments to inform our next climate targets and plans, including methane reduction, coal phase-down and the transition away from fossil fuels in the energy sector.
On the topic of climate COPs, I have just returned from Baku, Azerbaijan, at COP29, where I served as head of delegation for Canada when the minister was not able to be there.
Among my activities, I played a key role in helping to conclude difficult climate negotiations, including establishing a new collective goal of $300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries. Climate finance to support developing countries continues to be a key part of Canada's approach to addressing climate change. In my role, I highlight our priority areas of focus and the initiatives we are advancing with our current contribution of $5.3 billion over five years. Since 2017, Canada's climate finance reduced or avoided over 230 megatonnes of GHG emissions and provided 10.5 million people with increased resilience to climate change. Our climate finance helps build trust among nations as we work together to tackle this global challenge.
No one country can address climate change on its own. That's why, in my role, I seek to build partnerships and opportunities for co-operation. I help advance Canadian solutions and underscore the economic opportunities that can be derived from climate action and green transitions. This work is not easy, but it's critical in order to drive global action while demonstrating Canadian innovation and leadership.
I am now available to take your questions.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Thank you, Ambassador Stewart.
We'll start with Mr. Mazier for six minutes.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Ambassador and others, for attending here today.
Ms. Stewart, according to the Climate Change Performance Index released during COP29, Canada now ranks 62nd out of 67 countries on environmental performance.
Given that your mandate includes representing Canada internationally, do you take responsibility for this ranking?
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
Thank you very much for your question.
One of the main reasons it's important for me to engage internationally is so that countries can respect where we're coming from. Unlike peer countries, Canada's emissions were on a steady upward climb before we introduced the 2016 pan-Canadian framework.
It's important to note what we've been doing to reduce those emissions. By talking about—
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Excuse me, Ambassador. The question was pretty straightforward.
Do you take any responsibility for Canada now ranking 62nd out of 67 countries?
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
Thanks for your question.
Conservative
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. A bit of respect and decorum for our non-partisan officials would be appreciated.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
It's yes or no. Do you take any responsibility for this ranking?
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
I take responsibility for explaining—
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you. That's good. You answered the question.
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
—what Canada is doing on climate change internationally.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you.
Ms. Stewart, according to Minister Guilbeault's department, your work includes advancing the Prime Minister's global pricing outreach.
When you visit countries around the world, do you ever encourage them to implement a carbon tax of their own, yes or no?
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
One of my responsibilities is to advance an initiative called the “global carbon pricing challenge”. We now have 18 countries that have signed up for this challenge. They recognize the value of carbon pricing as a policy tool to help reduce emissions. At this past COP29, we welcomed three more members to the table: Uruguay, Finland and Nigeria.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Again, Ambassador, do you encourage countries to implement a carbon tax? It's just a yes-or-no answer.
Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of the Environment
I am promoting the global carbon pricing challenge to illustrate the value of carbon pricing as one of the important tools Canada is using to help reduce emissions. I'm very pleased to see that more and more members have been joining this initiative at the leader level, including the EU, France, Uruguay and Finland, to help advance carbon pricing.
Conservative
Liberal