Instead, governments around the world, including Canada, expect to go in the opposite direction — producing more coal, oil or natural gas, which will result in more than double what is consistent with the Paris Agreement.
Environmental advocates say the change will push endangered species in Ontario closer to extinction. The Ontario government says other layers of protection are enough, and the move would help create jobs.
“The Canadian government needs to stop bending over backwards to the big oil lobby and oil-friendly provincial governments at the expense of public health and action on the climate emergency,” says Environmental Defence.
Proposals for new mines, power plants, pipelines or railways in Canada will have to include plans to hit "net zero" emissions by 2050 if they have any hope of getting approved.
Environment Canada has been doing fewer inspections, investigations and prosecutions over the last five years to enforce a law protecting people from toxic chemicals and air pollution.
Canada's oil and gas producers have asked the federal government to freeze the carbon tax and delay new climate change regulations while the industry weathers the storm of COVID-19.
German auto giant Volkswagen appears ready to strike a plea deal with Canada after being charged on Monday, December 9, 2019, for allegedly importing cars into this country that company executives knew violated emissions standards.
Canada's promise to produce an inventory of its fossil fuel subsidies as part of a joint peer review with Argentina appears to be off schedule and may not deliver results until 2021, an environmental advocate says.