Environment committee  Yes, I agree. Carbon pricing cost-effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions both by disincentivizing higher emitting activities, as well as by inspiring innovation and new technologies that will help us to further reduce our emissions.

Environment committee  I'm familiar with that graph, and it is very effective. To go back to the B.C. example, from 2012 to 2016 the carbon price was frozen. That also had an impact on whether emissions were rising. A well-priced carbon price that increases predictably over time is going to be the most effective instrument in reducing emissions, as well as offering the policy and price certainty that businesses are looking for and consumers are looking for.

Environment committee  Yes, carbon pricing is a key part of a policy package, as I've said, but some of the other policies that the federal government is pursuing: the clean fuel standard is a very important one; methane regulations that were introduced; the coal phase-out; and in addition, the large investments that are being made in grain infrastructure, transportation and clean technology....

Environment committee  Yes, the Paris targets are absolute targets and the goal is to reduce our absolute emissions. Carbon pricing is an effective solution. It's not the only solution we need, so a package of policies similar to the package that the federal government is pursuing under the pan-Canadian framework and more, are necessary to meet our Paris climate target.

Environment committee  Clean Energy Canada doesn't have a position as to which benchmark a particular industry should be subject to under the output-based pricing system. We believe that the output-based pricing system is a good policy mechanism to help address competitiveness issues and protect against carbon leakage where those are risks.

Environment committee  [Inaudible—Editor]

Environment committee  Carbon pricing is not the only solution, but we hear widely from economists that it's the most cost-effective solution. It will reduce emissions at the lowest cost to our economy.

Environment committee  First off, evidence from not just B.C. but other jurisdictions around the world—the U.K., California, Quebec—have all shown that carbon pricing works, both in terms of reducing emissions and supporting strong economic growth. We do not need to sacrifice economic growth and quality of life.

Environment committee  In the British Columbia example, there was a carbon tax in place since 2007. A 2015 study showed that emissions were reduced by 5% to 15%. It is true in the last few years that emissions have risen. However, B.C. has seen huge economic growth and population growth, so overall emissions were more.

Environment committee  Yes, I'm sorry.

Environment committee  The private sector often goes where the potential profits are. The behaviour of consumers is also driven by price signals. As I'm listening to some of the other witnesses, perhaps we can get consumers to change their behaviour based on more education and information about what are the most environmentally friendly options.

Environment committee  I am pointing to the scientific experts who—

Environment committee  I'm a lawyer by background and I'm pointing to the scientific experts.

Environment committee  In order to provide you with the best scientific answer that I can, I'm going to point to the authoritative scientific voice on climate change and what causes global warming, which is human-induced heightened concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Addressing that issue will help to reduce the climate impacts that Canada is experiencing.

Environment committee  Every tonne of CO2 reduction will make a difference. If we're asking whether Canada's overall emissions profile in the global context matters, we are the top emitter per capita in the G20. We are one of the world's top 10 economies. The best thing we can do, if we would like to get other nations on board with this sort of action, is to design and implement a world-leading carbon pricing system and produce the clean technologies that we need not only to reduce our own emissions and grow our economy but also to export those technologies abroad and help the rest of the world meet its emissions goals as well.