The Failure of a Follower

Posted at 05:22PM on Dec 14, 2009 by Andrew Cuddy

Choosing not to lead on climate, Canada has opted to follow the US – with Environment Minister Prentice continually emphasizing that "harmonization" between US and Canadian policies are "absolutely crucial." But although Canada's emissions reduction target of 20% below 2006 levels (3% below 1990 levels) by 2020 is roughly the same as President Obama’s provisional target of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, Canada is failing to follow the US in three important respects:

The U.S. Congress is currently considering comprehensive legislation that would both establish and clearly meet the U.S. target — notably, via an economy-wide cap-and-trade system, energy efficiency standards, investment in renewable energies, and other complementary regulations. Canada‘s target, despite being announced two-and-a-half years ago, appears in no current legislation being considered by Parliament and the federal government has continually delayed releasing a domestic plan to meet it. Likewise, Canada is the only G7 country without a national program to support renewable energy , with the US investing 14 times more per capita in renewable energy.

Part 2 and 3 still to come.