Canadian Overview
NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES | CANADA'S GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY | POLICY PROCESS IN CANADA
Commitment: Stabilize emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by 2000. A political commitment made in 1990. Ministers of Energy and Environment noted in 1996 that Canada would not meet its goal for 2000. No goals have been set for beyond 2000 at this time.
As a northern latitude country , Canada is particularly vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change. At the same time, Canada's northern and diverse climate, sparsely populated land mass, regional differences, high rate of population growth, resource-based and export-oriented economy, lifestyles, and high standard of living all serve to create a high demand for energy, with its associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada has the second highest population growth rate among developed countries (due mainly to immigration). During the period 1973-1993, Canada's population grew at an annual rate of 1.22%, compared with 0.98% for the United States, 0.14% for the United Kingdom and Germany, and 0.69% for Japan. This population growth puts a demand on the production of goods and services and on energy for infrastructure and transportation. It is expected that Canada's population will continue to grow at an annual rate of 0.9% for the next 25 years, reaching approximately 37 million by 2020.
Canadians, in general, enjoy a high quality of life, as measured on a variety of social and economic scales. Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of a country's ability to generate wealth. From 1990-1995, Canada's GDP rose by 8.2% and its population rose by 6.5%. Associated with these rises was a rise in energy use of 9.2%.
During the past 40 years the Canadian economy has diversified to a point where less than 10% of our economic growth is attributable to the energy sector. In 1995 the energy sector contributed $50.1 billion or 7.5% of Canada's GDP and accounted for 9.5% of the value of Canadian exports. Yet our perception of ourselves remains one of an energy-based economy, when in reality the fastest growing sectors are high technology and services. This shifting of economic drivers is important to consider when interpreting results of various economic models as related to climate change.
Canada's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory The following figures and tables provide a breakdown of Canada's 1995 greenhouse gas emissions by sector, gas and fuel/sources. The information comes from Canada's Second National Report on Climate Change that was prepared to provide an update of Canada's situation and response to Climate Change, as required by the FCCC. The document Trends in Canada's Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-1995, prepared by Environment Canada (April 1997), also provides a wealth of information on GHG emissions.
Figure 2: Canada's Greenhouse Gas Emissions, by Gas, by Sector, and by Fuel/Source, 1995
(Source: Environment Canada, Canada's Second National Report on Climate Change, 1997, p. 20)
Figure 3: Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates in Canada by Sector, 1990-95
(Source: Environment Canada, Canada's Second National Report on Climate Change, 1997, p. 19)
Provincial Contribution and Trends
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the relative contribution of each province to Canada's overall GHG emissions. Projected numbers for 2000 and 2010 are also provided.
Figure 4: Greenhouse gas Emissions by Province
(Source: Trends in Canada's GHG Emissions 1990-1995, Environment Canada, 1997)
Figure 5: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Percent Change from 1990 (Source: Canada's Energy Outlook 1996-2000, Natural Resources Canada, 1997)
Domestic policy
The Canadian Constitution assigns different powers to each of the federal and provincial governments. Dealing effectively with climate change dictates the necessity to carefully recognize the jurisdictional responsibilities within the country. With twelve provinces and territories, each having varying economic and social priorities, finding a solution to climate change means balancing the full spectrum of development concerns of each region of the country. To that end, domestic climate change policy is currently in the hands of a joint federal-provincial council of energy and environment ministers who meet annually to review progress on Canada's climate change commitments and to make adjustments as required. The meetings of these 26 Ministers aim at reaching a consensus. Federal Ministers who participate include the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Natural Resources, who share the federal responsibility for domestic climate change policy.
Also supporting policy development is a federal-provincial coordinating committee that deals with all air issues, including climate change, ozone depletion, smog, acid rain and hazardous airborne pollutants. Consultations are also held regularly with environmental groups and major industry and business associations.
International Policy
Canada's international positions on climate change are determined by the federal government following extensive consultation with the provincial and territorial governments as well as the major stakeholders who will be affected by either climate change itself or by policy responses designed to mitigate climate change. The Federal Minister of Environment and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade share the responsibility for Canada's international climate change policy.
Decisions within the federal government on both domestic and international climate change policy are made by Cabinet, supported by interdepartmental committees involving a wide array of ministries including Environment, Natural Resources Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Finance, Industry, Privy Council Office, Transport , Agriculture, International Development, and Fisheries and Oceans.
