Canada's Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Canada’s government is taking action to stem climate change. On October 6, Canada’s federal cabinet formally approved a $500-million, five-year

plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan will achieve about one-third of Canada’s greenhouse gas emission reductions called for in the Kyoto climate change treaty. Under the plan, the federal government will buy up to 20% of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar, as well as provide incentives for purchases of renewable energy and a nationwide tripling of ethanol production. These actions are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 megatonnes (72 megatons) by the year 2010. The federal government hopes to convince provincial governments to make similar commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and thus achieve Canada’s entire 200-megatonne (220-megaton) reductions as called for by the Kyoto treaty.