Canada Sets Emissions Goal

Environment Minister Jim Prentice has filed Canada's greenhouse gas target with the UN, in accordance with the Copenhagen Accord deadline, to reduce emissions 17% by 2020, based on 2005 levels. This is a reactionary target based on an identical goal the US released 2 days earlier, which the Minister acknowledged and stated as an effort to align the continent.

The target is less ambitious than the initial goal set forth by the Harper government in 2007 to cut emissions by 20% from 2005 levels. Although Canada does not contribute as much CO2 on a whole, our emissions per capita are close to the highest in the world making this target less than adequate for a wealthy nation. Still worse is that this goal is no where near the reduction required to avoid a climate tipping point, nor is it binding.

The EU has set its target at a cut of 20% off of 1990 levels by 2020. China is reducing its emissions intensity per GDP unit by 40% relative to 2005 and Brazil by 36-39% from business as usual levels at 2020. Each has its reasons but the inability of nations to set targets based on a comparative baseline is discouraging as these numbers can be misleading and confusing.

Truly, 1990 produced higher emissions than recent years in the EU, making this goal more attainable. China's GDP will continue to grow, as will its emissions and business as usual levels are astronomically high - making Brazil's baseline less impressive. So, although these goals sound like solid progress they are still not enough to halt runaway climate change.

Guardian and ABC News articles for more comparative analysis.

View the entire list of EPI indicators here.

More on Canada's targets from the Vancouver Sun.