Post-Copenhagen Climate Change Update - A Special Gowlings Report

One of the "Canadian" stories at the recent Copenhagen Climate Change Summit was the constant attempt by the Governments of Quebec and Ontario and the Mayor of Toronto to distance themselves from the position of the Federal Government. This note analyzes the positions of Canada, Quebec and Ontario in terms of numbers, not words.

The Government of Canada intends to set and pursue greenhouse gas reduction targets in future decades that match the American effort, believing comparable efforts with the United States will best ensure free trade and fair competition in the integrated North American economy. The stated targets of both countries are similar (17% less than 2005 levels in the US compared to Canada's 20% less than the 2006 volumes), so alignment does not imply a significant change in plans. Both countries have pledged to set their official 2020 target by the end of January, 2010.