Since 2021, Canada and the United States (US) have closely partnered on climate and environmental action, generating positive opportunities for both countries through bilateral collaboration. Today at COP28, both countries commit to renew and accelerate their joint efforts to combat the climate crisis and to increase economic benefits from collaboration. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, welcome the renewed Canada-United States commitment on climate ambition, released in a joint statement today during COP28.
Canada and the US hold shared interests of increasing climate ambition to secure a globally competitive net-zero North American economy. Both countries work together to enhance aligned policies on climate change, while delivering economic growth, especially in integrated sectors.
Today, both countries announce the new measures that they have taken and pledge to renew and accelerate in their joint commitment to climate action. These developments include:
- Announcing draft regulations in both countries to sharply reduce harmful methane pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry;
- Reaffirming respective commitments to achieve net-zero power sectors by 2035;
- Aligning estimates of the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions;
- Committing to advancing a Buy Clean ambition for national government procurement;
- Promoting trade in low-emission goods in order to protect businesses, workers, and communities; and
- Conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing forests.
This progress at COP 28 builds on President Biden's visit to Canada in March 2023. During this visit, Canada and the US launched an Energy Transformation Task Force, strengthening critical minerals, electric vehicles and nuclear fuel supply chains, harmonizing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their power sectors; developing electric vehicle standards, and protecting shared waters and the Arctic.
Canada and the US will also continue to align approaches for accounting for the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions to help governments plan and make decisions more effectively. Together, they will also work to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, fight forest loss and land degradation, and conserve old-growth forest on federal lands.
Canada and the US continue to demonstrate global leadership to both address the climate crisis and seize the economic opportunities of an equitable low-carbon economy.
