Mark Carney, the new Prime Minister of Canada, has made a bold statement about the previous government’s climate goals. He admits that the country won’t meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2035, a plan originally set by Justin Trudeau.
In a recent interview with CBC, Carney said, “We have too much regulation, not enough action.” This critique highlights deep concerns about the effectiveness of the climate strategy, which has cost taxpayers over $200 billion and involves numerous government programs.
Carney has a point. The Environment Commissioner, Jerry V. DeMarco, reported in 2023 that Trudeau’s emissions reduction plan would fail to meet its 2030 goals. This plan, while ambitious, lacked clear targets and expected reductions for most of its measures. DeMarco pointed out that only about half had deadlines for implementation.
Under scrutiny, the government’s strategies have come under fire for being overly optimistic and poorly coordinated. Many measures overlapped, leading to potential double-counting of emission reductions. In short, the current approach isn’t working.
Historically, Canada has struggled to keep its environmental promises. For instance, in 2024, DeMarco’s follow-up audit reiterated that the government was still lagging behind its goals. The report found that of the 20 measures studied, only nine were on track. The rest faced various challenges, from delays to significant barriers.
Adding to this, Environment Canada’s latest report suggests that Canada’s emissions are currently just 8.5% lower than 2005 levels, which is far from the targets that have been set.
As conversations around climate change become more critical globally, many Canadians are demanding transparency. The recent discussions on social media echo this sentiment, with users sharing their frustrations regarding the government’s commitment to climate actions.
The complexity of climate action requires a clear and realistic approach. Carney should encourage open discussions about Canada’s actual emission levels. Acknowledging the truth will foster better policymaking and help guide more effective actions moving forward.
For more insights on Canada’s climate policies, you can check the Environment and Climate Change Canada report here.
