Latest news with #climatecommitments
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where does Carney stand on Canada's 2030 climate targets? It's not clear
Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing mounting pressure to act on climate change amid another near-record-shattering wildfire season and scorching hot summer. But five months after taking Canada's top political job, it's unclear whether he will pursue his Liberal predecessor's deep emissions cuts. Carney will need to make up his mind quickly, as the country is about to face a critical test. Canada has five years to meet or come as close as possible to achieving its international climate legally binding targets require the country to slash carbon pollution and other planet-warming gases by at least 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. "It is going to take a really heavy lift at this point," said the country's top climate adviser, Simon Donner, told CBC Radio's The House. Donner is co-chair of the independent Net Zero Advisory Body, an expert group that provides independent advice to the government on achieving net zero emissions by 2050. "There's a lot of things in this world that are uncertain at this time, but I think it's a safe prediction … that we will not meet that target," said Serge Dupont, a former deputy minister at Natural Resources Canada. "The targets were perhaps overly ambitious to start with.… I think it's still important we make a valiant effort to go as far as we can, but we're not going to meet that target," he said. Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin was not available for an interview. But in a statement, her office said Canada is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. "We strive towards our 2030 and 2035 targets," Keean Nembhard, press secretary for the minister, wrote in a statement. He said the government would provide an update on its emissions reduction plan. Targets slipping out of reach The federal government's January greenhouse gas projections show that Canada will fall short of its climate targets. As the data shows, the country is on pace to miss its interim 2026 target, reducing emissions by only 16 per cent by 2026 — short of the 20 per cent required. Moreover, modelling also shows Canada will miss its 2030 target — potentially even further than currently projected now that the carbon tax is gone. "All we know that is happening is that we've been removing existing climate policies," Donner said. Removing the federal carbon tax and the requirement for provinces to either use it or have their own was one of Carney's first acts as prime minister. According to one analysis, the measure has been responsible for reducing carbon pollution by less than seven per cent. One group upset with the way the federal government is addressing global warming is Last Generation. The group uses civil disobedience to demand action on climate change. When CBC News caught up with the small group of activists, they were leaving their mark near downtown Ottawa on a summer evening. Members were postering across the University of Ottawa campus in defiance of at least one warning not to do so. "We're hoping that this is going to get our name out there and teach people that they can fight the climate crisis directly instead of relying on politicians who have failed us time and time again," said Benjamin Welchner, one of the organizers with Last Generation. The group has taken part in more provocative non-violent civil disobedience, such as graffiti that says "Oil Kills" in bright pink letters, dousing a Tesla dealership in paint and climbing Montreal's Jacques-Cartier Bridge. The group, modelled on Britain's Just Stop Oil, has a specific ask: the creation of a national climate disaster agency. Gains offset by fossil fuel industry Amid the view that the world and Canada are not doing enough to reduce their carbon footprint, it's worth noting that 10 years ago, projections for global warming were far worse. In 2015, Canada's emissions were trending to exceed greenhouse gas emission levels for 2005, the baseline year from which Canada measures progress. Canada's electricity sector has led the way in decarbonization, slashing the sector's emissions by half. However, these gains have been offset by considerable increases in oil and gas production. The industry accounts for Canada's largest share of emissions and it has increased by 11 per cent since 2005. How Carney will tackle concerns that fossil fuel companies have not done their fair share remains unclear. But sitting on the table are two unfinished Trudeau-era climate policies — enhanced methane regulations and an oil and gas emissions cap. "We haven't seen [the Carney government] prepared to abandon any goals right now," said Oliver Anderson, who was director of communications for former environment minister Steven Guilbeault. Anderson is now the vice president of communications and growth at the water charity AquaAction. "We need to see what it is that they are going to change in order to get us to that end still." Carney has signalled an openness to listing a bitumen pipeline as part of the list of projects in the national interest that his government could fast-track. He has been supportive of renewable energy projects as well. His government's major projects legislation, C-5, enables the federal cabinet to approve what they deem to be nation-building projects before a federal environmental assessment or Indigenous consultation is complete. Asked about how a pipeline could impact Canada's emissions goals, Donner, the country's top climate adviser, suggested proponents and governments should avoid backing assets that could become stranded."The question we need to ask ourselves is who is that oil being shipped to in the year 2040, in the year 2045, when the world is shifting away from using gasoline and passenger vehicles?" Donner said. Others believe we could see a shift with Carney, who, unlike Trudeau, doesn't see climate change as "everything policy," according to Shannon Joseph, the chair of Energy for A Secure Future. "It was [Trudeau's] economic policy, it was the foreign policy, it was the housing policy," Joseph said. "People feel the pinch and so they've changed the priorities, and I think we're going to end up with a better, more measured solution." But Dupont, the former Natural Resources deputy minister, believes the government needs to recalibrate its climate target for a new reality. "There's a wider set of issues at play here for Canadians," he said. Those issues, according to Dupont, who is now the head of public policy at the law firm Bennett Jones, include a softening of both economic growth and public support for green policies. The Carney government will eventually have to come clean on how and if it can meet Canada's climate targets. It's legally required to do so under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Australia's red meat industry drops 2030 carbon neutral goal
CANBERRA, July 1 (Reuters) - An Australian livestock industry body said on Tuesday it had abandoned its goal to make the sector, a significant emitter of planet-warming methane, carbon neutral by 2030 but that reducing emissions would remain a priority. The carbon neutral pledge, first announced in 2017, was absent from Meat & Livestock Australia's long-term strategy document released on Tuesday. Its managing director, Michael Crowley, said the target had proven unachievable. "We need more time, more support, and more investment to reach our goal," he said. Australia's Red Meat Advisory Council dropped the 2030 climate neutral goal from its strategy last week. The decisions echo those of some governments and companies that have scaled back climate commitments in recent years. The livestock industry's original 2030 target aimed to reduce emissions and offset those that remained by carbon sequestration in soil or plant matter. To this end, the industry has pursued innovations including the breeding of animals that emit less methane, using feed supplements such as seaweed that inhibit methane production in the gut, and improving soil carbon capture techniques. While emissions from Australia's red meat industry did drop 78% by 2021 from 2005 levels, according to the country's science agency CSIRO, this was due to less land clearing and a smaller national herd - not a decrease in methane produced per animal. Crowley said the research over the last few years would mature into implementation and the industry could still reach 80-90% of its carbon neutrality goal by 2030. "We need to drive adoption," he said. He added that the 2030 target had spurred over A$100 million ($66 million) in sustainability investments and MLA, a livestock research and marketing body, would continue to drive efficiency gains and reduce net emissions per kg of meat production. Australia is one of the world's biggest exporters of red meat and home to 30 million cattle and more than 70 million sheep, according to MLA. During digestion, these animals produce methane, which breaks down over time but is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a timespan of 20 years. ($1 = 1.5207 Australian dollars)
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Microsoft Inks Record Carbon Removal Deals as Emissions Rise
Five years ago, Microsoft Corp. set a goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030 and removing all its historic emissions from the atmosphere by 2050. But the company's artificial intelligence investments have made meeting those targets harder —by a lot. Today, Microsoft's total planet-warming impact is 23% higher than it was in 2020 in part because of its vast expansion of emissions-intensive data centers, according to its 2025 sustainability report. Despite its actions, Microsoft says slashing carbon remains a priority. Bloomberg Businessweek spoke with Brian Marrs, the company's senior director of energy and carbon removal, about how the tech giant plans to meet its climate commitments. Like many things involving AI or climate goals, the answer isn't entirely clear. 'It is important to recognize we're at the very beginning of generative AI and what it will look like,' Marrs says. 'Servers and data centers will evolve and do more with less.' The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Arab News
08-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
GCC exceeds global average in 2024 Carbon Circular Economy Index
RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council countries have outperformed the global average in the 2024 Carbon Circular Economy Index, scoring 41.5 points, latest data showed. Released by the Gulf Statistical Center, the index serves as an assessment tool to evaluate the progress of 125 nations toward achieving net-zero emissions through a balanced approach that incorporates mitigation technologies and enabling tools. It also measures their transition to a carbon-neutral future based on circular economy principles, the Oman News Agency reported. The GCC's performance highlights its growing commitment to sustainable energy and carbon reduction strategies. Its push toward a circular carbon economy aligns with broader economic diversification goals, as the region seeks to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons while tackling environmental challenges. 'The contribution of the design capacity of renewable energy plants in the GCC countries to the total design capacity of renewable energy plants worldwide also increased, reaching 0.43 percent in 2024, compared to 0.03 percent in 2015,' the ONA report stated. This expansion reflects increased investments in solar, wind, and other clean energy projects across the region. With some member states ranking among the world's highest per capita emitters, the shift to sustainable practices — such as waste recycling, renewable energy development, and carbon capture — aims to balance continued energy leadership with climate commitments. According to the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center, rapid urbanization and resource-intensive consumption patterns have further driven the need for circular solutions, particularly in water and waste management, as the GCC works to mitigate its ecological footprint while fostering green investment and job creation. Currently, the GCC operates three commercial carbon capture and storage facilities, with a combined capacity of 3.8 million tonnes of CO2 per year. These facilities play a crucial role in reducing industrial emissions, the ONA report noted. Looking ahead, the region is projected to capture and store up to 65 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035. CCS technology is a key component of the GCC's strategy to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. GCC's leadership During its G20 presidency in 2020, Saudi Arabia introduced the Circular Carbon Economy Framework, which was endorsed by G20 leaders as a sustainable and cost-effective approach to tackling climate change while ensuring energy security. Building on this momentum, the Kingdom launched its CCE National Program in 2021, focusing on emissions reduction through four key strategies: reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove. Saudi Arabia has since implemented over 30 CCE initiatives across its energy sector, aligning with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 2021 pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. The UAE has also emerged as a regional leader in circular economy policy. Its Circular Economy Agenda 2031 serves as a national blueprint, outlining 22 policies across four key sectors — manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation — to drive advanced recycling, economic growth, job creation, and resource efficiency. As host of COP28, the UAE reaffirmed its global sustainability commitment, leveraging its strengths in green finance, clean energy, and climate innovation.
Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TotalEnergies on trial: Greenwashing claims could set legal precedent in France
PARIS, June 6 — Environmental groups took TotalEnergies to court yesterday in a landmark Paris trial, accusing the French oil and gas giant of misleading consumers with ads that overstate its climate commitments and fossil fuel transition. It is the first such case in France targeting a major energy company and could set a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising, which is starting to face tighter regulations in the European Union. The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing TotalEnergies of 'misleading commercial practices' for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. The plaintiffs took that legal route as 'greenwashing', or the act of claiming to be more environmentally responsible than in reality, is not specifically covered under French law. Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of 'carbon neutrality by 2050' and touted gas as 'the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions'. At the time, the company had changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in wind turbines and solar panels for electricity production. The plaintiffs allege that TotalEnergies made around 40 'false advertisements' in their lawsuit. 'For the average consumer, it is impossible to understand that TotalEnergies is actually expanding fossil fuel production,' said Clementine Baldon, a lawyer for the NGOs. The company's strategy 'will not help the energy transition', Baldon told the court. 'It delays it, even prevents it, and it contributes to putting the objectives of the Paris accord at risk,' she added, referring to the international agreement aimed at curbing climate change. TotalEnergies maintains it has not engaged in misleading commercial practices. 'Greenwashing would be to promise that the petrol sold in service stations is carbon neutral,' said the company's lawyer, Francoise Labrousse. TotalEnergies had 'never said its products are good for the climate', she added. TotalEnergies also insisted that the messages are part of its institutional communications regulated by financial authorities and not consumer law. It also argued the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy, and that no consumer organisation is party to the case. The NGOs want the Paris court to rule on the legality of ads presenting natural gas as essential to the energy transition. Climate experts say methane leaks from the gas industry have a powerful warming effect on the atmosphere. But TotalEnergies noted Greenpeace Belgium had previously considered natural gas useful for the energy transition and noted the group still uses fossil fuels in its boats. Correcting ads Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are. In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. In Spain, utility Iberdrola failed to secure a conviction against Spanish oil and gas company Repsol over similar allegations of 'false' environmental claims. A greenwashing case against Australian oil and gas producer Santos, challenging its claim to be a 'clean fuels' company, has been ongoing since 2021. Other fossil fuel companies, under pressure from advertising regulators or legal complains, have had to scrap or correct ad campaigns. Shell, for example, received a warning in the UK and had to stop promoting 'carbon-neutral' gasoline in several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. New European laws now ban vague, generic environmental claims such as 'green' or '100 per cent natural' product, and aim to require brands to more strictly substantiate environmental claims on labels and in advertising. TotalEnergies has said it plans to show that its messages 'about its name change, strategy and role in the energy transition are reliable and based on objective, verifiable data'. At the end of the hearing, the judge said a ruling would be given on October 23. — AFP
