Canada advanced climate action and remains committed to ambitious global action as United Nations Climate Change Conference concludes

December 16, 2019 – Madrid, Spain

Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and the Government of Canada is taking leadership to tackle it. That means doing the important work at home to cut pollution and create good jobs for Canadians. It also means working with international partners to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation.

Over the past two weeks, Canada’s strong team of negotiators and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, showed leadership on climate action at COP25 and played an active role in negotiations, including on the international rules on carbon markets, under the Paris Agreement (also known as Article 6). While Canada is pleased to see increased ambition and the launch of a new dialogue on oceans and climate in the decision, the negotiations on international markets will continue next year, in the hopes of reaching an ambitious resolution at COP26 in Glasgow.

Indigenous Peoples—particularly those in isolated or northern communities—are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Canada called for rules to promote and protect human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples in activities that would occur under Article 6. We also actively promoted rules for the long-term environmental integrity of carbon markets.

While a consensus was not reached on Article 6 in Madrid, discussions will continue into next year’s negotiations. Canada remains determined to push for ambitious climate action and will participate in further negotiations to define the rules that will mobilize private-sector investment toward the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

While at COP25, Minister Wilkinson reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to ambitious climate action, including exceeding current 2030 targets and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. He also advocated for pricing carbon pollution as a critical tool to cut emissions and drive innovation. This tool will be more effective when adopted by even more countries.

The Minister met with international counterparts, Indigenous leaders, young people, environmental organizations, and industry leaders. At a meeting with European Union Commissioner Frans Timmermans, he discussed the strong environmental partnership between Canada and the EU and their commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Minister Wilkinson met with fellow Canadian Mark Carney and congratulated him on his new position as UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance. He also met with German Minister Svenja Schulze, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and other international counterparts and climate leaders, including Small Island Developing States, to continue to strengthen Canada’s relationships on climate action.

Canadian-led initiatives grew at COP25, as Minister Wilkinson welcomed new endorsees of the Ocean Plastics Charter and new members of the Powering Past Coal Alliance. The Minister also announced investments through the World Bank to help developing countries design and implement carbon pricing in ways that will work for them.

In Canada and across the world, work to phase out coal-power generation goes hand in hand with work to ensure the transition is a fair one for affected communities and people. While at COP25, Minister Wilkinson participated in a Just Transition event—including New Zealand, Germany, Spain, and Scotland—led by the International Trade Union Confederation and the Canadian Labour Congress.

Global momentum toward climate action continues to accelerate as more citizens advocate for bold climate solutions. Canada is working to ensure that the implementation of the Paris Agreement will cut emissions and create a clean and prosperous future for everyone. Canada was proud to be among the leaders who were advocating for important climate commitments that will reduce pollution, implement nature-based solutions, and create more jobs by accelerating clean growth.