Federal Legislation, Regulation and Policy DepartmentThe Canadian Government continues to move forward on both policies and regulations that address greenhouse gases. In spring of 2007 it released it’s Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions which outline its approach to reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Government feels this framework will lead to mandatory and enforceable reductions in greenhouse gases and other pollutants through a combination of regulated and voluntary reductions.
In March 2008, the Government of Canada released Turning the Corner: An Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution. It outlined the Government’s approach to reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. Among other things, reductions are proposed to be mandated through regulations applied in major industrial sectors, with approximately 80% coverage of emissions from each sector. This has resulted in a set of varying thresholds that trigger regulatory participation depending on the sector. In the case of greenhouse gases, the regulations would set a 2010 implementation date for emission-intensity reduction targets for regulated entities.
Environment Canada has introduced the draft rules for Canada's Offset System for Greenhouse Gas. By moving forward with our Offset System for Greenhouse Gases, Canada has taken an important step towards setting up a carbon market in Canada. The draft guides were released for public comment on June 13, 2009 for a 60 day period.
The comment period closed August 12, 2009.
An updated overview of the Offset System is also available and a draft Protocol Submission Schedule has been released for public comment. The Guide for Protocol Developers as published in August 2008 is also available. Final versions of all three guides are expected to be published in the fall, 2009.
Click here for the Canada's Offset System for Greenhouse Gases website.
Ottawa, ON -- June 30, 2009 -- The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, today delivered closing remarks at the first Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) Roundtable meeting in Washington. The CED represents the first stage in Canada-U.S. collaboration on clean energy and climate change. Click here for the full news report
Ottawa, ON -- June 10, 2009 -- Canada's Environment Minister, Jim Prentice, today announced that the Government is taking an important step towards setting up a carbon market in Canada by moving forward with its Offset System for Greenhouse Gases. Click here for the full news report
Ottawa, ON -- August 9, 2008 -- Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, today launched another important regulatory phase as part of the Government's aggressive Turning the Corner Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gases. Minister Baird released the first of three guides that will lead to creation this fall of Canada's Offset System for Greenhouse Gases.
Canada's Offset System for Greenhouse Gases: Guide for Protocol Developers provides detailed information on how to prepare and complete an Offset System Quantification Protocol. A protocol describes the approach to identify and measure greenhouse gas reductions from eligible projects under Canada's Offset System. Two other guidance documents will be published later in the summer: the Guide for Project Proponents and the Guide for Verification Bodies.
Environment Canada published this draft Notice of the publication of “Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases: Guide for Protocol Developers” in Part I of the Canada Gazette on August 9, 2008 for a 60-day consultation period.
After reviewing the comments received and making any necessary revisions, the final “Guide for Protocol Developers” will be published final in the Canada Gazette, Part I, and will be distributed through Library and Archives. We anticipate this will happen in fall 2008.
Additional program information was published as an overview of the program, including eligibility rules and the process for issuing credits. Turning the Corner: Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases.
ALBERTA is proud to play a large part in the Canadian Offset System protocol development process. Government of Alberta Approved Quantification Protocols comprise 24 out of 40 protocols eligible under the Federal Fast Track process for use in Canada’s Offsets System.
This Fast Track list is based on an independent expert review conducted by Climate Change Central of over 450 protocols worldwide, coordinated in late 2007/early 2008.
The Regulatory Framework for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions sets out the final regulatory framework for industrial greenhouse gas emissions. It includes both an elaboration and strengthening of the April 2007 regulatory framework. This plan includes mandatory reductions for industry, along with additional new measures to address two of Canada's key emitting sectors: oil sands and electricity.
Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases document was released providing an overview of the Offset System. The detailed eligibility requirements and application processes will be set out in a series of guidance documents that will be published later this year.
Canada’s Credit for Early Action Program – Draft document was released March 2008 with the intent to seek feedback on the proposed Credit for Early Action Program, including eligibility rules and the process for allocating credits. Comments were accepted up to May 14, 2008. The Program will provide a one-time allocation of credits in recognition of greenhouse gas reductions achieved by industrial entities that will be subject to the proposed industrial air emissions regulations in 2010. To be recognized, the early action must have been beyond usual business conditions when it was implemented.
The Government of Canada has set a national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, relative to 2006 levels, by 20 per cent by 2020, and by 60 to 70 per cent by 2050. The purpose of the Detailed Emissions and Economic Modelling paper is to provide an analysis undertaken by Environment Canada to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions reductions and economic impacts of federal and provincial measures to meet the first of those commitments.
View March 14, 2008, Technical Briefing
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