Turning the Corner

Canada’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution From Environment Canada:

Climate change is a serious environmental challenge. The Government of Canada understands Canadians' concerns about the environment and has developed an aggressive strategy to tackle climate change by taking action to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution. This approach is concrete, practical, and will result in real improvements to our climate and our environment.

The Government is committed to drastically reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution as set out in its Turning the Corner Plan. With the Turning the Corner plan the Government of Canada is putting into place one of the toughest regulatory regimes in the world to meet its target of reducing greenhouse gases an absolute 20% from 2006 by 2020. And it is a plan which balances the need to protect the environment while growing the economy.

On March 10, 2008, the Government announced further details of the greenhouse gas emissions regulations of the Turning the Corner plan after extensive consultations with environmental groups, industry and other stakeholders.

Over the past few months, the Government has announced details on the Credit for Early Action Program and the Offset System, two key components of the plan. Proposed greenhouse gas regulations are expected to be published in the Canada Gazette later this year, and the regulations finalized in 2009 to come into force as planned on January 1, 2010.

The Government has also announced proposed regulations to reduce air pollution by limiting the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in certain consumer and commercial products. VOCs are precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of both particulate matter and ground-level ozone, two of the main ingredients of smog.

The challenge to reduce greenhouse gases an absolute 20% from 2006 levels by 2020 is great. It requires action by the federal government, provinces, municipalities, industry, and everyday Canadians. The Government of Canada strongly believes in the ingenuity and the willingness of Canadians to tackle the challenge of climate change, while continuing to grow our economy.  Canadians are ready to face the challenge and win.