Intergovernmental Issues on Climate Change

Notes for Pols 321

2012

Constitutional Background

• Environment not mentioned in 1867.• All governments have responsibilities• Provinces:

– Land, natural resources, local planning, electricity generation, industry regulation

• Federal government:– Transboundary pollutants, auto emissions,

transportation regulation– International treaties

Sources of GGEs(in order of importance)

1. Transportation sector (gasoline and diesel)

2. Oil and gas production

3. Electricity generation by use of fossil fuels

4. Industrial processes

5. Residential/commercial heating

6. Agriculture and waste sectors

Overall Canadian Situation

• Very high in per capita emissions

• Energy “super-power”

• Integrated economy with USA

• Some skepticism in public opinion and issue salience varies a lot.

• Sharp regional differences

• Difficulty in intergovernmental coordination

Canada’s Climate Change Timeline

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Cana

dian

GH

G E

mis

sion

s (M

t CO

2e)

G7, Rio (1992)

World Conferenceon ChangingAtmosphere (1988)

Kyoto (1997)

GreenPlan

NationalActionProgram

ActionPlan2000

ProjectGreen

ClimateChange Planfor Canada

Turning the Corner

Source: Environment Canada, 2008, “Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990-2006”.

Comparison of emission targets

Source: Environment Canada, 2008, “Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990-2006”.Bollinger, J. & Roberts, K., 2008, “Building on our Strengths”, Canada West Foundation.Various provincial climate change plans. Western Climate Initiative.

Comparison of emission forecasts

Source: Environment Canada, 2008, “Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990-2006”.Natural Resources Canada, 2006, “Canada’s Energy Outlook”.

Required emission reduction to meet mid-term (2020) targets

Source: Calculations.

Provincial and Regional Differences

• Severe Climate Change impact:– Coastal areas, northern areas, areas prone to drought

• Concentration of GGEs (The Big Culprits)– Oil and gas sector production (Alberta, SK, NL)– Industrial process and population density (Ontario)– Electricity generation from coal (NS, Ont, AL)

• Ahead of game (largely due to Hydro power): Quebec, Manitoba

The Road to Kyoto and Back• 1992 Rio Earth Summit: Framework Convention

on Climate Change• 1997 Kyoto Protocol reached• 2000 Voluntary Fed-Prov Action Plan released• 2001 US government decides not to ratify• 2002 Canadian govt does ratify• 2005 Kyoto Protocol into force• 2006 Harper government says commitments

unattainable

Post-Kyoto• Copenhagen conference, December 2009 fails

to reach agreement, but talks continue.• Goal is to reach binding international agreement

including both rich and developing countries• Global recession intervenes, slowing down

process.• In 2009 Canada adopts new targets to achieve 3

% below 1990 emissions, by 2020.• Recent analysis estimates that combined

fed+prov+terr measures currently in place will only achieve 47% of Canada’s targets.

Key policy instruments and approaches

• Direct command-control regulation of emissions at source– Includes mandates for renewable-source electricity

• Market-based– Carbon tax– Emissions cap and trade

• Incentives– Household, business energy use, building re-fit, public

transport subsidy, etc.

What would effective intergovernmental policy coordination on GGEs look like?

• Commitment to common understanding and goals about the policy problem.

• Fair (or agreed upon) contribution to global outcomes.

• Agreement on national targets and their allocation across sectors and constituent units

• Means to enforce or encourage achievement of targets.