Canada Country Study

The energy rich country of Canada has seen greenhouse gas emissions soar since 1990. Despite agreeing to a 6% reduction in emission by 2008-2012 in the Kyoto Protocol, Canada’s growing economy and burgeoning oil and gas sector have led emissions to rise to 27% over 1990 levels. Under a business-as-usual scenario, Canada’s emissions would reach more than double 1990 levels by the year 2050. Domestic disagreement over how to manage emissions without damaging the growing economy has led to ongoing uncertainty over short-term and long-term emissions policy. Placing Canada on a path to carbon-neutral growth will require a substantial shift towards energy efficiency and higher automotive fuel efficiency as well as control of emissions from the growing development in the oil sands region of Alberta.