Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) regularly publishes updates on the country`s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Canada`s emissions projections will be presented at the same time as the 4th biennial report of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by January 1, 2020. The report will also discuss Canada`s recent mitigation measures and Canada`s support for climate finance to developing countries. It will be available from www.canada.ca. The current federal government has introduced new diesel abandonment programs in remote communities, including the $220 million Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program and the $20 million Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative. Canada`s subnational governments differ considerably from state to state, but in goals and progress. All governments need to take more steps to prioritise Community- and indigenous-led initiatives that reduce dependence on diesel and develop useful and achievable diesel reduction targets. As part of these efforts, the federal government should identify energy policies and targets for reducing diesel in remote communities that are consistent with the PCF. The nation does not perform well when it comes to such international commitments. After the Auditor General of Canada reviewed its climate progress, its 2018 report concluded that GHG estimates are expected to continue to decline over the medium term, especially since current estimates do not include full reductions in investments in green infrastructure, clean technology and innovation. Current estimates do not include the potential effects of faster-than-expected technological change in these projections, as indicated in the fourth report of the Canadian Biennial on Climate Change for technology. Just over one-tenth of Canada`s emissions come from the building sector (excluding electricity) (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2020a).
The government had made some progress in this area by updating its energy efficiency rules for a number of residential and commercial products (water heaters, furnaces, etc.) and encouraging changes to its modelling and energy regulations. But much remains to be done. While we have made great strides over the past four years, we know there is much more to be done. We are committed to exceeding our Paris target for 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as implementing our five-year targets.