Canada submits Mid-Century Strategy for a Clean Growth Economy

Canada submits mid-century strategy to transition to a low-emission economy

November 19, 2016 – Marrakech, Morocco – Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

The effects of climate change are already being felt by Canadians and by citizens around the globe. By taking a purposeful approach to this challenge, Canada intends to be at the forefront of creating a better world for future generations. As we shift to a low-carbon economy, Canada must be positioned to successfully compete globally.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced Canada's Mid-Century Long-Term Low-Greenhouse Gas Development Strategy, at COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco, making Canada one‎ of the first countries to do so.

The mid-century strategy describes various pathways for innovative and creative solutions consistent with our international goal of holding the global average ‎temperature rise to well below 2 °C, while pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C, as called for in the Paris Agreement. The strategy focuses on meeting climate-change objectives and enabling growth, requiring significant long-term investments in infrastructure to support transformation to a low-carbon economy.

The Government of Canada is working with provincial and territorial governments and with Indigenous peoples to develop our made-in-Canada ‎plan to meet or exceed our 2030 emissions-reduction target and grow the economy. We have engaged Canadians from across the country, on the best path forward.

Canada's mid-century strategy looks beyond 2030 to start a conversation on the ways we can reduce emissions for a cleaner, more sustainable future by 2050.

Quote

“The global economy is moving towards cleaner, more sustainable growth. Canada's mid-century strategy outlines how we will create the conditions for innovation and long-term growth, keeping Canadian businesses competitive and helping grow the middle class.”
– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• The Paris Agreement called for Parties to develop long-term, low greenhouse-gas development strategies by 2020.  
• Canada's mid-century strategy is not a blueprint for action nor is it policy prescriptive. Rather, it is based on modelling of different scenarios and is meant to inform the conversation about how Canada can achieve a low-carbon economy. As a result, it will be a living document.
• For the purpose of the mid-century strategy, Canada examined an emissions-abatement pathway consistent with net emissions falling by at least 80 percent in 2050, from 2005 levels.
• Using clean electricity to power our vehicles and appliances that currently use fossil fuels—like cars, trucks and heating systems—will be an important part of our long-term plan for reducing our greenhouse-gas emissions. Low carbon or alternative fuels, energy efficiency, sequestration from forests, and reduction of non-carbon dioxide emissions are also key.
• The International Energy Agency estimates that 38 percent of the required global emissions reductions associated with a 2 °C pathway could be met through energy efficiency improvements.

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Contacts

Caitlin Workman
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-938-9436

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)

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