Emissions count to show Canada nearly half way to meeting 2020 target: sources
July 26, 2012 - 4:00 PM
OTTAWA - The federal government is set to announce that it is almost half way to meeting its emissions-reductions target — a significant leap in progress over the past year.
The Canadian Press has learned that when Environment Canada releases its next update on greenhouse gas emissions trends, the report will show that Canada is about 50 per cent of the way towards meeting its 2020 goal.
That's a big jump from the 25 per cent announced a year ago, and sources say it is a result of provincial measures, more efficient technology and a recent international agreement that credits Canada for its large forests.
The report is expected to be made public within a couple of weeks.
It means that if nothing else changed on the policy front, the actions Canadians and their governments are already taking would reduce emissions by half the amount required under Canada's international commitments.
Still, it's an open question whether federal and provincial policies will be introduced and implemented fast enough to finish the job in time.
Ottawa has promised that by 2020, Canada will have cut its emissions to 17 per cent below 2005 levels.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012