QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
June 4, 2025
Senator Gold, as you know, growing Canada’s economy, fighting climate change and keeping up with the global trends in decarbonization are national imperatives. Canadians embrace the urgency to build more national projects and make industries more competitive. At the same time, they want to be reassured that our government is still committed to meeting its climate commitments. Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body says that “. . . decarbonization is a unique opportunity to increase economic prosperity and jobs, as well as human and environmental health.”
Last year, the government announced a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the year 2035 of 45% to 50% below 2005 levels. By 2023, Canada’s emissions had only decreased by 8.5%.
Senator Gold, is the government still committed to meeting the 2035 target and the climate targets as set out in the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, passed in this chamber in 2021?
Thank you for your question, senator. The government remains committed to its goals and is making investments that will drive emissions down, drive new economic growth across Canada and open new export markets with like-minded countries that share our values and want and, indeed, need what we have to offer.
As the government works to build a stronger Canadian economy, it will not lose sight of the choices that these actions will have on future generations, on our environment and on humans and species that depend upon a healthy environment. This government will always be mindful of the long-term sustainability of its plans for economic growth and for a healthy environment for generations to come.
Thank you very much, Senator Gold. I do hope we will be able to make those actual commitments, the numbers that have been laid out.
I was pleased to hear the Speech from the Throne reference the COP15 biodiversity commitment to protect 30% of the world’s lands and waters by 2030, with a promise by the government to create new national parks, new national urban parks and new marine protected areas.
Senator Gold, would you be able to elaborate on the government’s plan and timeline for these exciting new conservation initiatives?
Thank you for underlining this government’s commitment to continue to protect larger areas of our natural, marvellous country, whether on land or in the marine environments. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to comment or provide information about the timetables for that work, but I have confidence that this work will be done seriously and with urgency.
