There has been a loud chorus condemning Canada's "weak" INDC. I think many are conflating Canada’s revealed political will to act on climate with the new 2030 target. In my view, it is a strong target and, if stronger political will materializes at home and abroad, "could" put Canada on a trajectory consistent with a 2° C target. (chart above). For the DDPP Canada, we have been assessing different energy pathways for Canada to 2° C, which is about -86% below 2005 levels or 1

Today, Canada published its proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plan for the Paris Conference of the Parties to be held in November and December this year. Called an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), it forms the basis of the federal government’s climate policy ambitions to the year 2030, and by extension sets the benchmark against which the provinces will be judged. Together with the INDCs of other countries, it becomes a key ingredient in the negotiati

Ontario has just announced an interim GHG target laying out it's aspirational emission reduction pathway to 2050. Keying off a 1990 baseline of 182 Mt, the new 2030 target is 115 Mt or 37% below 1990. This complements a 2020 target of 154 Mt or -15% below 1990 and a 2050 target of -80% below 1990, which works out to about 36 Mt. In looking at these targets, I think it’s a good thing that Ontario has signaled strongly that it will implement a cap & trade system with California

Originally published in Policy Options, May 8, 2015 Rachel Notley’s first thought when she realized she had been elected premier must have been that she was dreaming. But her second thought might have been that this was not a dream but a nightmare. She still faces the daunting challenges of low oil prices, deep deficits, and market access for oil and gas mostly stalled. Corporate Alberta has warned her of dire consequences for investment and employment if she revises Alberta