In 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney set Canada’s first climate target with the aim of reducing the country’s climate pollution by 20 per cent by 2005. However, Canada failed to achieve this goal, and instead, emissions continued to rise. This article takes a look at Canada’s climate targets over the years and the current situation the country faces.
**Canada’s Missed Climate Targets**
The initial climate target set by Mulroney is depicted as a green bull’s-eye on the chart, contrasting with the black line representing actual emissions since 1990. The target required an annual reduction of seven million tonnes of CO2, a goal that was not met. Canada currently remains far above this target, highlighting the significant gap between intention and reality.
**Future Climate Targets: A Daunting Task**
Fast forward to today, Canada’s next climate target is the 2030 Paris Agreement target, which aims for a 25 per cent reduction below 1990 levels. While a similar goal to the first target, decades of inaction have made the current path much steeper. The urgency to cut emissions has intensified, with each passing year making the task more challenging.
At the beginning of 2020, Canada needed to reduce emissions by 22 MtCO2 annually to meet the Paris Agreement target. However, emissions increased in the following years, making the task even more daunting. By 2023, the required annual reduction had escalated to 31 MtCO2, a fourfold increase from Mulroney’s initial proposal. The consequences of delaying action on climate change are now evident, impacting both the environment and the economy.
**Exposed High Up the Carbon Cliff**
Compared to other G7 nations, Canada finds itself in a precarious position high on the carbon cliff. While countries like the UK and Germany have made significant progress in reducing emissions, Canada lags behind. As the world faces increasing climate challenges, the need to act swiftly and decisively is more urgent than ever.
Delaying action on climate change only exacerbates the problem, putting the environment and future generations at greater risk. It is crucial for Canada to heed the lessons of the past and prioritize meaningful climate action now. Only by taking bold steps towards reducing emissions can Canada secure a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
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