Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  December 17, 2024

Canada Sets 2035 Emissions Reduction Target

Canada set a new target to achieve a 45% to 50% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2035.

The 2035 target is a progression beyond the 2030 target and will guide the next decade of climate action, which will continue to address emissions reductions, competitiveness, affordability, and economic stability, according to The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in a statement. 

The 2035 target represents a milestone in Canada's continued commitment to net zero by 2050 and acknowledges that significant costs can be avoided if Canada and other countries act quickly to reduce their emissions.

Canada's pathway to net zero by 2050 and contribution to global emissions reduction are anchored by two legally binding commitments. The Paris Agreement, ratified by 194 countries, requires Canada and other parties to set progressively more ambitious domestic climate targets known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), contributing to efforts to limit global temperature increase to well below 2° C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5° C. 

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (CNZEAA) requires the government to set five-year national emissions reduction targets that are 10 years in advance, along the path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

In 2025, Canada will submit the NDC to the United Nations. This will include a high-level description of the key measures the Government of Canada intends to take to meet the target and the latest projections of Canada's annual GHG emissions, as required by the CNZEAA. It will also include information required to strengthen the transparency and clarity of NDCs under the Paris Agreement. 

Canada is implementing the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) — a comprehensive plan to reduce emissions, strengthen Canada's economy, and support household affordability. Continued implementation of the 2030 ERP will contribute to emissions reductions in 2035 and beyond. In 2025 and 2027, the Government of Canada will publish two progress reports on the implementation of the 2030 ERP. These reports may highlight additional actions that could help Canada achieve its 2030 target and establish the conditions for success beyond 2030.

The CNZEAA requires Canada to publish a 2035 ERP to describe the measures it will take to achieve the 2035 target. To inform this 2035 ERP, the Government of Canada will launch engagement with partners, stakeholders, and Canadians to explore what is required to meet the 2035 target and seize economic opportunities as Canada moves toward net zero by 2050.

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