Carney government noncommittal about Canada meeting 2030 climate goals

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney would not say Monday whether Canada will meet its climate goals under the Paris agreement by 2030, as his government faces criticism over his emission-reduction plans.

Canada has a legal requirement to achieve net-zero by 2050 after legislating it in 2021. Part of its path to get there is a plan to cut emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 — a commitment set out in the Paris agreement.

But while the government has yet to say whether it will miss its target — or whether it's still trying to achieve it — observers have raised doubts.

A report last year from the federal environment commissioner said Canada was not on track to meet its 2030 target. Jerry DeMarco estimated Canada's emissions had only dropped seven per cent below 2005 levels.