Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member's question of whether we are on track with respect to the climate change commitments outlined in the red book, let me assure the hon. member that we are making progress. I also acknowledge that stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 and achieving further reductions post-2000 will not be easy.
Climate change is a complex issue for which there are no simple solutions. Very few countries will be able to stabilize their emissions by the year 2000. The problem lies in the very nature of modern economics and consumer lifestyles. We must change many of the ways we live and do business. Turning on the lights, heating homes and driving to work all produce greenhouse gas emissions. It is a matter of making fundamental changes to the way we live. It will take time and no one government or sector of the economy alone can solve the problem.
That is why the red book commitment on climate change states that the federal government will work with provincial and urban governments and major stakeholders with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We are doing just that through the federal-provincial initiative known as Canada's national action program on climate change. This program takes a sustainable development approach, that is, balancing environmental and economic imperatives.
The national action program encourages a mix of approaches: voluntary, regulatory and economic instruments. A key voluntary measure is the voluntary challenge and registry, VCR, program designed to engage the private and public sectors to undertake mitigative climate change plans on a voluntary basis. These plans are also registered for public scrutiny. This approach allows companies to undertake initiatives which make the most sense from their operational viewpoint.
Over 580 companies and organizations have registered with the VCR. They represent about 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions originating from industrial and business activities. We have made climate change an important item on the agenda of corporate Canada. CEOs know there is a problem and are initiating mitigative plans and actions.
Natural Resources Canada has a number of its own programs to address greenhouse gas emissions. It has implemented energy efficiency regulations on electrical appliances and motors; set up the autosmart and fleetsmart programs to teach fuel efficient driving habits; and implemented a range of programs to encourage energy efficiency in buildings. The last budget also announced changes to the tax rules to encourage renewable energy investments. Consultations are now in progress to examine improving the tax treatment of energy efficiency investments.
The federal government's actions can make a difference. For example, by the year 2000 our new regulations on commercial lighting will reduce emissions annually by an amount equivalent to the carbon dioxide produced yearly by one million cars.
The federal government is also showing leadership by getting its own house in order. It plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 20 per cent by the year 2005 through the Greening of Government Initiative affecting government buildings and motor vehicle fleets.
However, the federal government cannot do it alone. All Canadians contribute to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions. All Canadians must contribute to the solution. Stabilizing and eventually reducing emissions will depend on the collective effort made by all governments, industry and business sectors and the general public.
When and how we stabilize emissions are very much the subject of the joint meeting of the federal and provincial energy and environment ministers scheduled for early December. At that time ministers will review progress to date under the national action program on climate change and recommend the next action steps.