Our Climate Change Journey

Participated in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 21)

November 30 to December 12, 2015: Paris, France

Reached the Paris Agreement to fight climate change, along with 194 countries

First Ministers' Meeting

March 3, 2016 - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Declaration to develop a national plan for:

• pricing carbon pollution
• complementary actions to reduce emissions
• adaptation and climate resilience
• clean technology
• innovation and jobs

Signed the Paris Agreement

April 22, 2016: New York, NY

Signing of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise

Signed Canada’s Climate Plan

December 9, 2016: Ottawa, ON

Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, signed by First Ministers, which includes actions like:

• a price on carbon pollution across Canada
• a clean fuel standard
• coal phase-out 
• historic investments in public transit and infrastructure

Hosted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

September 3 to 9, 2017: Montreal, QC

To advance climate change science and to approve the outline of the sixth IPCC assessment report which will be released in 2022

Ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

November 6, 2017

To Canada was one of the first countries to ratify the amendment, which calls on countries to phase down the production and use of hydroflourocarbons hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Co-Launched with the United Kingdom the Powering Past Coal Alliance

November 16, 2017: Bonn, Germany

To accelerate phase-out of traditional coal-fired electricity

Amended regulations on hydrofluorocarbons

October 18, 2017

New regulations to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent climate pollutant used in refrigerators, foam products, and air conditioners 

Launched the Low Carbon Economy Challenge: Champions stream

March 15, 2018

To help Canadian businesses, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities undertake energy efficient actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions domestically and create clean growth

Launched the Clean Growth Hub

January 18, 2018

Established a whole-of-government focal point for clean technology focused on supporting companies and projects, coordinating programs and tracking results

Cut methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from the oil and gas sector

April 26, 2018

Introduced regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45% from 2012 levels by 2025

Launched the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund

May 17, 2018

To support large-scale infrastructure projects to help communities better manage the risks of disasters triggered by natural hazards with a $2 billion fund

Reduced greenhouse gases from on-road heavy-duty vehicles, engines, and trailers

May 30, 2018

Published regulations to further reduce carbon pollution from new heavy-duty vehicles in the years ahead

Enacted the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to ensure it is no longer free to pollute

June 21, 2018

The Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act became law, ensuring that carbon pollution would no longer come without cost to polluters across Canada

Launched the Climate Action Fund

August 14, 2018

To increase action and awareness on climate change and related initiatives driven by, or in support of students, youth, Indigenous peoples and organizations, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises

Hosted the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy

September 19 to 21, 2018

To demonstrate international leadership on climate action and plastic pollution

Announced carbon pollution pricing systems

October 23, 2018

How carbon pollution pricing will work in each province and territory

Launched the Canadian Centre for Climate Services

October 25, 2018

To help Canadians understand and become more resilient to climate change

Improved the energy efficiency of our appliances

December 8, 2018

Introduced and updated minimum energy performance standards, testing standards, and reporting requirements. To improve the energy efficiency of 9 categories of residential and commercial products. The federal government does not currently regulate two of these categories.

Expanded Canada’s clean electricity supply

December 12, 2018

Finalized measures to phase-out traditional coal-fired electricity by 2030, and new greenhouse gas regulations for natural gas-fired electricity

Launched the Low Carbon Economy Challenge: Partnerships Stream

December 20, 2018

In support of Canada's clean growth and climate action plan, the following can undertake energy efficient actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for:

• small municipalities
• small- and medium-sized enterprises
• not-for-profit organizations
• Indigenous communities and organizations

Finalized the Paris Agreement Rulebook at the 24th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP24)

December 15, 2018: Katowice, Poland

Agreed on the rules for transparently reporting how all countries are fulfilling their commitments to reduce emissions and tackle climate change

Implemented the federal Output-Based Pricing System

January 1, 2019

Put a price on carbon pollution generated by large industrial facilities. Encourage innovative ways to reduce emissions while maintaining competitiveness of industrial sectors in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

Published the Just Transition Task Force report

March 11, 2019

Provided advice on how to make the transition away from coal electricity a fair one to affected workers and communities