Canada recognizes that climate change is a global challenge requiring a global solution. Canada supports an approach to climate change that achieves real environmental and economic benefits for all Canadians. Given the highly integrated nature of the North American economy, this includes aligning our climate policies with the United States. 

The Government of Canada is committed to reducing Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. A target that is inscribed in the Copenhagen Accord and aligned with the United States.

To meet this ambitious target, Canada will proceed on three parallel pathways, with strong domestic, continental and international action. To this end, we are:

• implementing tough new regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the automotive sector through Environment Canada's Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations
• implementing Renewable Fuel Regulations, requiring an average renewable fuel content of five percent in gasoline that will come into effect starting December 15, 2010;
• working with the United States to regulate emissions from heavy-duty trucks;
• introducing new regulations on coal-fired electricity generation that will have a significant impact on reducing emissions from the electricity sector, thereby making one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world even cleaner;
• continuing to advance the Clean Energy Dialogue with the United States and collaborate on clean energy research and development, the development and deployment of clean energy technologies and building a more efficient electricity grid based on clean and renewable energy;
• investing in green infrastructure, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies and the production of cleaner energy and cleaner fuels as shown through the Government of Canada's investment of more than $10 billion since 2006
• providing new investments totaling $190 million to support a cleaner, more sustainable environment in Budget 2010;
• playing an active and constructive role at the UN climate change talks;
• working constructively to implement the Copenhagen Accord and to complete the negotiations under the UNFCCC for a legally binding post-2012 agreement that is fair, effective and comprehensive; and
• contributing $400 million in new and additional climate change financing for the 2010-2011 fiscal year as part of Canada's commitment under the Copenhagen Accord to provide our fair share of fast-start financing.  The financing will go towards supporting developing countries' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, with a focus on three priority areas - adaptation, clean energy, and forests and agriculture.   

In April 2007, the Government of Canada announced Turning the Corner, which provided the groundwork for Canada's approach to tackling climate change. To ensure the effectiveness of our approach, we are working to realign our policies and regulations in order to maintain economic prosperity while protecting the environment and aligning with the United States.

The Government of Canada supports an approach to climate change that achieves real environmental and economic benefits for all Canadians.

Canada’s Action on Climate Change Fact Sheet

Information on Climate Change
Climate Change 101
For Canadians
Frequently Asked Questions