Canadians are concerned about the environment and the Government of Canada is taking action. Turning the Corner : A Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution is one of the main features of the Government's agenda to tackle climate change and clean up the air we breathe. Canada's plan will include strong short-term regulatory targets to reduce air emissions from major industries. These targets will not be voluntary, companies will have to respect aggressive limits to reduce these polluting emissions.
Industry produces half of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
Our plan sets mandatory reduction targets for major industries that produce greenhouse gases.
Companies will be able to choose the best way to meet their reduction targets in a cost-effective way. This includes making reductions in their own facilities, investing in emission-reducing technologies like carbon dioxide pipelines to bury the gases in the earth, or taking advantage of domestic emissions trading to deliver reductions in Canada now. They will also have access to a type of international trading known as the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. And the Government will provide a one-time credit to reward those companies that are already taking action.
Percent of total Canadian emissions of air pollutants (2002)
Source: Environment Canada
Existing facilities
New facilities
Climate change technology fund: one fund/two components
Trading
Credit for early action of 15 Mt
These targets will be tough and they will be tightened each and every year. More specifically, facilities will be required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production by 18% in 2010. This means they will have to start reducing their emissions now to meet that deadline. In each subsequent year, further reductions of 2% will be required. These targets are ambitious enough that we will see total reductions in emissions as early as 2010, not just reductions per unit of production.
These industrial targets, combined with the other actions announced to date by the Government to tackle climate change, will put us on the path to absolute reduction of Canada's greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020.
Industry contributes half of Canada's air pollution.
Our plan sets national limits for industrial emissions for air pollutants that cause acid rain and smog.
Companies will be able to choose the most cost-effective way to meet their air pollutant targets. This includes making changes to improve their processes within their plants or buying new equipment or technology that reduce smog and air pollution.
Companies will also be able to take part in a Canada-wide trading system to buy credits if they have not reached their nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides reduction targets.
Percent of total Canadian emissions of air pollutants (2002)
Source: Environment Canada
NATIONAL CAPS for 2012 to 2015
(% reduction from 2006 emissions)
+
SECTOR-SPECIFIC CAPS
for 2012 to 2015
Domestic trading for nitrogen
oxides and sulphur oxides
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Pursue discussions on Canada-U.S. trading for nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides
As a result of our plan, we will see reductions in air pollutant emissions that cause smog and acid rain by up to 55% as early as 2012.
