DOHA, Qatar – December
3, 2012 – Canada has strengthened its position
as a world leader in clean electricity production
with its new tough regulations to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the
coal-fired electricity sector.
“As a result of these
regulations announced in September 2012,
Canada became the first country in the world
to ban new coal plants that use traditional
technology,” said the Honourable Peter Kent,
Minister of the Environment. “In the first
21 years, the regulations are expected to
result in a cumulative reduction in GHG
emissions of about 214 megatonnes—the equivalent
of removing 2.6 million personal vehicles
from the road per year over this period.”
The Government of Canada
is taking a sector-by-sector approach to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions that achieves
real environmental and economic benefits
for all Canadians. The final regulations,
which were released in September 2012, set
a stringent performance standard for new
coal-fired electricity generating units
and old units that have reached the end
of their economic life. The rules will come
into force in July 2015.
Reducing emissions from
coal-fired electricity—which is responsible
for 11 percent of Canada’s total GHG emissions—is
an important step toward meeting Canada’s
2020 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
to 17% below 2005 levels. Combined with
commitments made by the provinces and industry,
as well as other measures, the regulations
are expected to reduce GHG emissions from
the electricity sector by 33% from 2005
levels by 2020.
“Our progress on coal-fired
electricity exemplifies how the Harper Government
is working with its partners to reduce GHG
emissions. We have consulted extensively
with both the provinces and industry and
they have contributed to strengthening our
approach,” Minister Kent added. “We are
making progress, but more work remains.
Regulated GHG performance standards are
being developed for the remaining major
sources of emissions, including the oil
and gas sector.”
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Canada’s emissions historically
low
DOHA, Qatar – December
6, 2012 – Per capita greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in Canada are at an historic low.
The latest data indicates that Canadians
emitted an average of 20.3 tonnes of GHG
in 2010, the lowest level since tracking
began in 11000.
“The data collected
shows that between 2005 and 2010, GHG emissions
decreased by 6.5% despite an economic growth
of 6.3%,” said Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent. “These numbers
demonstrate that the Canadian economy can
grow without increasing GHG emissions levels.”
The Government of Canada
is taking a sector-by-sector approach to
reducing GHG emissions that achieves real
environmental and economic benefits for
all Canadians.
Environment Canada’s
National Inventory Report, released in April
2012, highlights that compared with 2005
levels, emissions in 2010 have declined
in almost all sectors, including oil and
gas and electricity generation.
The Government of Canada's
overall climate change strategy aims to
reduce GHG emissions by 17% from 2005 levels
by 2020. To achieve this goal, Canada is
taking a sector-by-sector approach and has
already taken action on two of Canada’s
largest sources of emissions—transportation
and electricity.
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Canada Appoints New
Ambassador for Climate Change
Minister Kent congratulates Canada's new
Ambassador for climate change Dan McDougall
in Doha.
Doha, Qatar - December
3, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John
Baird and the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister
of the Environment, today announced the
appointment of Dan McDougall as Canada’s
chief negotiator and ambassador for climate
change.
“Mr. McDougall brings
a wealth of experience to the negotiating
table—experience that will help him promote
and protect Canada’s interests and values
as we work toward 2015,” said Baird.
The appointment comes
as countries gather in Doha, Qatar, for
the annual United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations,
to make progress toward a new global agreement.
“Canada continues to
play an active role in the UNFCCC, and is
working constructively with other countries
to negotiate a new international climate
change agreement to be implemented by 2020,”
Minister Kent said. “We are confident in
Mr. McDougall’s abilities to represent Canada’s
interests as we strive for a new agreement
that includes all major emitters.”
A biographical note
on the appointee follows.
Biographical Note
Mr. Daniel (Dan) Edward
McDougall is currently the Assistant Deputy
Minister, International Affairs, at Environment
Canada. He is responsible for international
climate change, the North American Commission
for Environmental Cooperation, as well as
coordination of Canada’s participation in
bilateral and multilateral environmental
agreements.
Prior to his current
position, he was the Assistant Secretary
to the Cabinet, Legislation and House Planning
with the Privy Council Office, managing
the overall legislative program for the
Government of Canada. He was also responsible
for national electoral policy and legislation,
and for leading the government’s agenda
to strengthen its national democratic institutions.
Mr. McDougall was previously
the Director General of the Oceans Directorate
with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where
he led the development of a national oceans
management strategy, as well as delivered
programs in oceans management and marine
conservation.
He also has extensive
experience with aboriginal policy, having
worked in a variety of policy areas with
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, including
with respect to the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal Peoples.
Mr. McDougall started
his career in government with Industry Canada,
where he worked on automotive and trade
policy, including the Canada-U.S. AutoPact
and the automotive provisions of the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
