QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Glasgow Climate Pact
May 18, 2022
Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Last week, for the first time since COP26, political leaders and responsible ministers gathered in Copenhagen to discuss the implementation of the landmark Glasgow Climate Pact agreement. The ministerial meeting in Denmark has reignited momentum for political cooperation and urgent action on the Glasgow commitments. It has also kickstarted ambition leading up to COP27, which will be held in Egypt in November.
Senator Gold, could you tell us where Canada is on its commitments to implement the Glasgow Climate Pact and other agreements made at COP26? Where are we actually on track, where are we falling behind and where might we be ahead of schedule?
I thank the honourable senator for the question.
Canada considers climate change a global challenge requiring a global solution, as your question properly implies.
In that regard, Canada is taking a leadership role on the international stage to tackle climate change, including reaffirming our support for the Global Methane Pledge and Canada’s objective of reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector and committing to ending deforestation by 2030, amongst other initiatives.
With respect to the specifics of your questions, I’ll seek clarification from the government and report back to the chamber.
Senator Gold, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities said, “Discussions at this ministerial meeting have laid a decisive foundation for COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.”
We are now six months away from COP27. Can you tell us what decisions were made regarding the focus of this upcoming global climate summit, and what Canada’s main areas of ambition will be for that summit?
Thank you for the question. I’ll certainly add that to my inquiries that I will be making of the government, and I will hope to report back in a timely fashion.
