MESSAGE
FROM THE
VICE-CHAIR

 

In 2011, the Minister of the Environment asked the NRT to conduct a comprehensive assessment of provincial/territorial climate change plans and how they will contribute to meeting the federal government’s 2020 target to reduce emissions. The minister stated the NRT was “uniquely positioned” to carry out this charge on his behalf. This report is the result of our work.

As an independent policy advisory agency on sustainable development, the NRT is providing original analysis, assessment, and advice to the Government of Canada and all provincial/territorial governments. This is the first such assessment of all the data and all the trends of government climate change policies to show progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meet our international climate change target.

The NRT believes it is essential that governments and policy makers in this field read what we found and consider our advice to move ahead. Canada will not make the progress it needs without this frank assessment of what we can really expect from climate policies now or soon to be underway. Nor will Canada achieve its climate goals without considering a better way to unify governments in a more coordinated approach with shared understanding that all must contribute.

R.W. Slater, CM, PH.D.
NRT Vice-Chair