Climate action and economic prosperity go hand in hand. During the first week of the United Nation's 30th Climate Change Conference (COP30), Canada reinforced this commitment by working closely with international partners to promote a shared vision: building economies that are both sustainable and competitive. Canada advocated for smart policies and incentives that cut greenhouse gas emissions while supporting Canadian businesses, protecting jobs, and attracting investment.
Canada's recently announced Climate Competitiveness Strategy includes a renewed commitment to strengthening industrial carbon markets, one of the most effective tools we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At COP30, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced Canada's intention to join the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets-a partnership with states such as the United Kingdom, France, and Singapore that are supporting investments and creating jobs in the rapidly growing global clean economy. Aligned with this outcome, Canada also endorsed the establishment of the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets, a collaborative forum of like-minded nations to exchange views on carbon pricing mechanisms, carbon accounting methodologies, and best practices on the potential use of high-integrity offset credits.
At COP30, Minister Dabrusin continued to emphasize the importance of strong measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification systems to drive down methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for nearly a third of current global warming. At a ministerial meeting, she highlighted the critical role of the International Methane Emissions Observatory to move from emissions estimates to accurate measurement data. Improving access to data and accelerating innovative solutions will help Canada and other countries achieve the collective Global Methane Pledge goal of reducing methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.
The Global Methane Status Report, released today at COP30 by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, illustrates that global methane emissions are growing at a slower rate since the Global Methane Pledge was launched in 2021. The report projects a 10% slower growth rate by 2030 and highlights both the progress achieved and the urgent need for countries to fully implement available measures to drive faster and deeper reductions. Through Canada's Climate Competitiveness Strategy, the Government of Canada will finalize enhanced methane regulations for the oil and gas sector and new regulations for methane from landfills.
Coal-fired electricity is one of the main drivers of climate change and leads to serious health issues, resulting in significant human and economic costs. As co-chair of the Powering Past Coal Alliance with the United Kingdom, Canada has been working since 2017 to accelerate the phase-out of unabated coal-fired electricity around the world. Today, the Powering Past Coal Alliance launched a Plan to Accelerate Coal Transitions that helps guide countries in making the switch from coal to clean power. This plan also responds to the COP30 Presidency's call by outlining policy, planning, and financing solutions that can be scaled up to implement the global stocktake.
As part of the broader engagement at COP30, Canada joined the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform Declaration on Sustainable Chemicals and Materials, which aligns with Canada's priorities to create opportunities to develop value-added markets for the forest sector, diversify trade relationships, and advance climate and environmental objectives.
Minister Dabrusin also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Integrated Fire Management during a bilateral meeting with Minister Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of Environment and Climate Change. This memorandum of understanding will facilitate the exchange of wildfire resources when national capacity is exceeded and strengthen Canada and Brazil's efforts to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires.
Canada's outcomes during the first week of COP30 reflect a clear commitment to pairing ambitious climate action with long-term economic opportunity. Through strengthened international partnerships, Canada and its global partners are giving businesses the certainty they need to invest in emissions-reduction projects that support sustainable agriculture, clean technology, and nature conservation. Addressing climate change is no longer just a moral obligation, it is an economic imperative. By advancing global carbon markets, accelerating clean energy transitions, and driving methane reductions, Canada is helping lay the groundwork for a competitive, low-carbon global economy.
As negotiations continue, Canada will remain focused on practical, collaborative solutions that deliver real benefits for people, businesses, and the planet.
