Liberals say climate plan to be ‘updated’ for new 'economic context'

OTTAWA — Canadians can expect an update on the future of Trudeau-era greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2030 and 2035 that will reflect the changing economic situation, according to the office of federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin.

“Taking into account the evolving global and economic context, the federal government will provide an update on its emissions reductions plan as we strive towards our 2030 and 2035 targets,” wrote Keean Nembhard, a spokesperson for Dabrusin, in an email to National Post on Monday.

Nembhard didn’t say exactly when this update would come.

The statement comes after Industry Minister Melanie Joly dodged repeated questions about the targets in a televised interview over the weekend, saying this was an issue for Dabrusin to address.

Prime Minister Mark Carney also deflected when asked at a tariff relief announcement in Newfoundland if he was planning to change the 2030 and 2035 targets.

“Our focus in this very rapidly changing global economy is on what we call climate competitiveness,” said Carney.

Carney added that he would be giving more details on his climate strategy “in the coming weeks.”

Then prime minister Justin Trudeau announced in April 2021 that Canada would increase its emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement to 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels, by 2030.

A second target of 45 to 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035 was announced in December 2024 and formally submitted to the UN in February.

Under the Paris Agreement, Canada’s goals reflect its highest possible ambition, given its current national circumstances. Countries that fall short of pre-announced targets are subject to naming and shaming mechanisms built into the agreement.

The emissions targets are also enshrined in federal law under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act .

An early 2025 government forecast pegged 2030 emissions at 22 per cent below 2005 levels , just over halfway to the target. The cancellation of the consumer carbon tax in March has likely pushed Canada even further off the pace.

Carney announced on Friday that he’d waive the federal electric vehicle mandate for the 2026 model year, launch a 60-day review of the policy and amend clean fuel regulations, in a further blow to the Liberal climate agenda.

Dabrusin’s office said Canada remains committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. A spokesperson at the prime minister’s office said they had nothing to add to the statement from Dabrusin’s team.

Carney said during the recent campaign that he wanted Canada to be a clean and conventional energy superpower, a message he repeated to U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders at June’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

He sent another positive signal to Canada’s fossil fuels sector in late August when he announced that his major projects office would be based in Calgary and led by veteran oil and gas executive Dawn Farrell.

Climate policy is expected to be a major topic of discussion when the Liberal caucus meets in Edmonton this week, with some Liberal MPs quietly grumbling that Carney has caved too much on green initiatives since becoming prime minister in March.

National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com

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