Mr. Chair, Madam Vice-Chair, Mr. Vice-Chair, and distinguished members of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, we are very pleased to have been invited as witnesses for your study on a greenhouse gas emissions cap for the oil and gas sector.
As you probably know, the Net‑Zero Advisory Body was created in 2021. The group is made up of 11 individuals from all regions of Canada, and all with diverse and established expertise in a range of fields.
Our mandate under the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act is to provide the Minister of Environment and Climate Change with independent advice on the most likely pathways for Canada to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2050. We will also explore the building blocks and plans for reducing emissions leading to 2050.
Last July, we released our first publication, with the title “Net‑Zero Pathways: Initial Observations”. The document identifies 10 key values and design principles that we believe should guide the development of transition pathways that are the most likely to lead Canada to achieve net-zero by 2050. By following these values and principles, Canada can not only achieve net‑zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it can also create a fairer, healthier and more prosperous future for all Canadians.
It is interesting to note that, as a general rule, those whom we have met support these values and principles. They may therefore be of use to the committee in its deliberations on net‑zero issues.