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Intergovernmental Issues on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Issues on Climate Change. Notes for Pols 321 November 5, 2009. Constitutional Background. Environment not mentioned in 1867. All governments have responsibilities Provinces: Land, natural resources, local planning, electricity generation, industry regulation

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Intergovernmental Issues on Climate Change

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  1. Intergovernmental Issues on Climate Change Notes for Pols 321 November 5, 2009

  2. 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

  3. Sources of GGEs(in order of importance) • Transportation sector (gasoline and diesel) • Oil and gas production • Electricity generation by use of fossil fuels • Oil and gas production • Industrial processes • Residential/commercial heating • Agriculture and waste sectors

  4. Overall Canadian Situation • Very high in per capita emissions • Energy “super-power” • Integrated economy with USA • Some skepticism in public, opinion salience up and down • Sharp regional differences • Difficulty in intergovernmental coordination

  5. Canada’s Climate Change Timeline G7, Rio (1992) Kyoto (1997) World Conference on Changing Atmosphere (1988) Turning the Corner Climate Change Plan for Canada Project Green 900 Action Plan 2000 National Action Program 800 Green Plan 700 600 500 Canadian GHG Emissions (Mt CO2e) 400 300 200 100 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Source: Environment Canada, 2008, “Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990-2006”.

  6. 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.

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

  8. Required emission reduction to meet mid-term (2020) targets Increasing Policy Stringency Source: Calculations.

  9. 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

  10. 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 • 2009 Copenhagen conference on Post-Kyoto

  11. Policy Options • Energy efficiency and conservation • Alternative energy use • Carbon capture and storage • Carbon emission caps and trading • Carbon tax

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