First Ministers’ Meeting

March 3, 2016

Canada  stands at the threshold of building our clean growth economy. This transition  will create a strong and diverse economy, create new jobs and improve our quality  of life, as innovations in steam power, electricity and computing have done  before. We will grow our economy while reducing emissions.  We will capitalize on the opportunity of a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy to create good-paying and long-term jobs. We will  do this in partnership with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights,  respect and cooperation.

We will build on the leadership shown and actions  taken by the provinces and territories, as exemplified by the 2015 Quebec  Declaration and Canadian Energy Strategy, by working together and including  federal action.  We will build on the  momentum of the Paris Agreement by developing a concrete plan to achieve Canada's  international commitments through a pan-Canadian framework for clean growth and  climate change.  Together,  we will leverage technology and innovation to seize the opportunity for Canada  to contribute global solutions and become a leader in the  global clean growth economy.

To that end, First Ministers agree to the following:

1. Increase the Level of  Ambition

Recognizing the  Paris Agreement which calls for significant reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit global warming to less than 2˚C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5˚C above preindustrial  levels;

Recognizing that the level of ambition set by the Paris Agreement will require  global emissions to approach zero by the second half of the century and that  all governments, Indigenous peoples, as well as civil society, business and  individual Canadians , should be mobilized in order to face this challenge,  bringing their respective strengths and capabilities to enable Canada to  maximize the economic growth and middle class job opportunities of a cleaner,  more resilient future;

First Ministers commit to:

   
• Implement GHG mitigation policies in  support of meeting or exceeding Canada's 2030 target of a 30% reduction below  2005 levels of emissions, including specific provincial and territorial targets  and objectives;
   
• Increase the  level of ambition of environmental policies over time in order to drive greater  GHG emissions reductions, consistent with the Paris Agreement;
   
• Better coordinate GHG emissions reporting  systems among jurisdictions to accurately  and transparently assess the progress and the impact of our climate actions  towards our respective and collective targets.

2. Promote Clean Economic Growth  to Create Jobs

Recognizing that the cost of  inaction is greater than the cost of action with regard to GHG emissions  mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change;

Recognizing that clean growth which  supports the transition to a climate-resilient and low carbon economy by 2050 is  necessary to ensure the future prosperity of Canada and Canadians;

Recognizing the diversity of  provincial and territorial economies, and the need for fair and flexible  approaches to ensure international competitiveness and a business environment  that enables firms to capitalize on opportunities related to the transition to  a low carbon economy in each jurisdiction;

Recognizing the economic  importance of Canada's energy and resource sectors, and their sustainable  development as Canada transitions to a low carbon economy;

Recognizing that growing our economy and achieving our GHG emissions targets will  require an integrated, economy-wide approach that includes all sectors, creates  jobs and promotes innovation;

Recognizing that investing in clean  technology solutions, especially in areas such as renewable energy, energy  efficiency and cleaner energy production and use, holds great promise for  sustainable economic development and long-term job  creation;

First Ministers commit to:

   
• Ensure deep  reductions in GHG emissions and a competitive economy, provide certainty  to business, and contribute global solutions to a global issue;
   
• Foster and encourage investment in clean  technology solutions for Canada and the world that hold great promise for economic growth and  long-term job creation;
   
• Implement measures grounded in the view that clean growth  and climate change policies are of net economic, environmental and social  benefit to Canadians.

3. Deliver Mitigation Actions

Recognizing that a collaborative approach between provincial, territorial and federal  governments is important to reduce GHG emissions and enable sustainable  economic growth;

Recognizing the important role all  governments have in the global effort to reduce GHG emissions, and that a  number of provinces and territories have already joined or are exploring entry  into regional and international efforts to reduce GHG emissions;

Recognizing that development of new technologies and deployment of existing technologies  and innovations in areas such as cleaner energy production and use, renewable  and alternative energy, energy efficiency and innovative financial instruments will  create new and competitive economic opportunities, domestically and abroad,  that can facilitate the transition to a more resilient, low carbon economy;

Recognizing that carbon pricing  mechanisms are being used by governments in Canada and globally to address  climate change and drive the transition to a low carbon economy;

Recognizing that  provinces and territories have been early leaders in the fight against climate  change and have taken proactive steps, such as adopting carbon pricing  mechanisms, placing caps on emissions, involvement in international  partnerships with other states and regions, closing coal plants, carbon capture  and storage projects, renewable energy production (including hydroelectric  developments) and targets, and investments in energy efficiency;

Recognizing that the federal  government has committed to ensuring that the provinces and territories have the  flexibility to design their own policies to meet emission reductions targets,  including their own carbon pricing mechanisms, supported by federal investments  in infrastructure, specific emission reduction opportunities and clean  technologies;

First Ministers commit to:

   
• Transition to  a low carbon economy by adopting a broad range of domestic measures, including carbon pricing  mechanisms, adapted to each province's and territory's  specific circumstances, in particular the realities of Canada's Indigenous  peoples and Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. The transition also requires that  Canada engage internationally;
   
• Foster investments in clean  technologies to reduce the GHG  emissions associated with the production and consumption of energy, including renewable and alternative energy, energy efficiency and  storage, and other technologies which may include carbon  capture and storage;
   
• Encourage the  sharing of information, expertise and best practices in order to foster a business environment that favours  investments in innovative clean technologies related to climate change;
   
• Work together to enhance carbon sinks, including  in agriculture and forestry, taking into account international best practices  and accounting standards, to recognize their contribution to mitigating GHG  emissions, and toward the establishment of a pan‑Canadian offset protocols  framework and verified carbon credits that can be traded internationally.

4. Increase Action on Adaptation  and Climate Resilience

Recognizing that Canada has already  experienced severe impacts of climate change, including forest fires, droughts,  flooding, coastal erosion, thawing permafrost, invasive species, and the spread  of diseases previously foreign to Canada;

Recognizing that the health and security of populations, as well as the economy,  infrastructure, cultural  heritage and ecosystems are being impacted  by climate change, and that climate risks and  inaction have significant implications for the economic and social development prospects of provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples and Canada as a  whole;

Recognizing that Canada's  northern and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable and disproportionately  affected by the impacts of climate change;

Recognizing the importance  of traditional ecological knowledge in regard to understanding climate impacts  and adaptation measures;

Recognizing that  comprehensive adaptation efforts must  complement ambitious mitigation measures to address unavoidable climate change impacts;

First Ministers commit  to:

   
• Implement strong, complementary adaptation  policies within our respective jurisdictions to address climate risks facing  our populations, infrastructures, economies and ecosystems, in particular in  Canada's northern regions.
   
• Support climate resilient  and green infrastructure, including disaster mitigation;
   
• Strengthen the collaboration between  our governments and Indigenous peoples to support local adaptation efforts.

5. Enhance Cooperation

Recognizing that in the Paris  Agreement, Parties agreed that they should, when taking action to address  climate change, recognize and respect the rights of Indigenous peoples;

Recognizing that, in April 2015, Premiers concluded the Québec Summit on Climate  Change with the Declaration of the Premiers of Canada by which they have agreed  to act together in the fight against climate change;

Recognizing the  leadership of the provinces and territories in developing the Canadian Energy  Strategy, which was released in July 2015 and charts a path for shaping the  sustainable development of Canada's energy future;

Recognizing the  importance of provincial and territorial actions to enable the achievement of  clean growth and climate change objectives and targets;  

Recognizing the commitment  of the federal government to work with the provinces and territories in order  to complement and support their actions without duplicating them, including by  promoting innovation and enabling clean growth across all sectors;

Recognizing that  Canada cooperates with the United States and Mexico on energy and the  environment, including through a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on  Climate Change and Energy Collaboration;

Recognizing the importance of  public education, participation and access to information to increase climate  change awareness and literacy;

First Ministers commit  to:

   
• Strengthen the collaboration between  our governments and Indigenous peoples on mitigation and adaptation actions, based  on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership;
   
• Strengthen pan-Canadian  intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on clean growth and climate  change, including through mechanisms such as the Canadian Council of Ministers  of the Environment, Ministers of Finance, Ministers of Innovation and Economic  Development, and Energy Ministers, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples;
   
• Implement a  collaborative, science-based approach to inform Canada's future targets that  will increase in stringency as required by the Paris Agreement;
   
• Enable the  participation of provinces and territories in cooperative activities related to  their jurisdictions with the United States and Mexico on energy and climate  change mitigation and adaptation;
   
• Facilitate cooperation  to strengthen public communication and participation on climate change, improve  public climate literacy, promote the actions taken by governments to reduce  GHG emissions, and support international engagement.

Taking  Action

   
• In order to achieve these commitments, First Ministers agree to work  together to develop a pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate  change, and implement it by early 2017.   It will build on measures that the provinces and territories have taken,  be supported by broad engagement with Indigenous peoples and all Canadians, and  be informed by science and evidence.  It  will inform the development and submission of Canada's Nationally Determined  Contribution and its long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy  under the Paris Agreement as Canada's plan to  achieve our international commitments.  Specific  actions include:
     
     
         
  1. Early actions by the Government of Canada:
            
            
                
     1. Supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation through investments  in green infrastructure, public transit infrastructure and energy efficient  social infrastructure;
                   
                   
                
     2. Investing in GHG emission reductions by working together on how best to  lever federal investments in the Low Carbon Economy Fund to realize incremental  reductions;
                   
                   
                
     3. Fulfilling Canada's commitment to Mission Innovation, made in Paris in  December 2015, by doubling government investment in clean energy research and  development over the next five years, and spurring private sector investment in  clean technology;
                   
                   
                
     4. Advancing the electrification of vehicle transportation, in  collaboration with provinces and territories;
                   
                   
                
     5. Fostering dialogue and development of regional plans for clean  electricity transmission; and
                   
                   
                
     6. Investing in clean energy solutions to help get Indigenous, remote and northern  communities off diesel.
                   
                   
            
            
         
  2. Working together to build on provincial and territorial actions by  identifying measures that governments could take to reduce emissions and grow  the economy in the longer term:
            
            
                
     1. First Ministers direct that reports be  developed by working groups to identify options for action in four areas: clean technology,  innovation and jobs; carbon pricing mechanisms; specific mitigation  opportunities; and adaptation and climate resilience.  Each working group will assess impacts on  economic and environmental outcomes.  The  reports will be provided to the ministerial tables charged with overseeing  their work, as outlined below, by September 2016.  Ministers will review these reports and  provide their recommendations to First Ministers by October 2016, and make the  working group reports public.
                   
                   
                
     2. Working groups will be established in these four areas to prepare the  reports.  The working groups will be led  by federal and provincial or territorial co-chairs, and will be composed of  members from  federal, provincial and  territorial governments. Each of the groups will include Indigenous peoples in  their work. The working groups will be encouraged to commission expert analysis  and reports as necessary to support their work, and engage stakeholders.  
                   
                   
                
     3. The Working Group on Clean  Technology, Innovation and Jobs will provide a report with options on how  to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and drive innovation across all  sectors to transition to a low-carbon economy, leveraging regional strengths.  This working group will consider a range of policy tools to bring new and  emerging technology and innovations to market, sustain a competitive economy,  reduce GHG emissions, encourage growth and investment, and increase exports of  clean technologies, services and expertise.   Their work will be overseen by Ministers of Innovation and Economic  Development, who will receive their report.
                   
                   
                
     4. The Working Group on Carbon  Pricing Mechanisms will provide a  report with options on the role of carbon pricing mechanisms  in meeting Canada's emissions reduction targets, including different design options  taking into consideration existing and planned provincial and territorial  systems. It will consider various elements of carbon pricing  policy, including coverage, comparability and stringency, as well as market  transactions related to mitigation technologies and international trends in  carbon pricing and markets.  It will  consider the effectiveness of various carbon pricing mechanisms to contribute  to the certainty of emission reductions and their efficiency at achieving this  objective at the lowest possible cost, and take account of particular  challenges, such as those facing northern and remote communities.  It  will also address issues that are particularly important to industry and  investors, such as predictability, and approaches to address interprovincial  and international competitiveness, including carbon leakage. Their work will be  jointly overseen by Ministers of Finance and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the  Environment, who will both receive their report.
                   
                   
                
     5. The Working Group on Specific  Mitigation Opportunities will provide a report with options on how to  promote clean growth and achieve a range of ambitious reductions in key  sectors, including large industrial emitters, transportation, electricity generation  and transmission, built environment, agriculture and forestry, and government  operations as well as individual energy conservation actions. The working group  will also look at approaches to internationally transferred mitigation  outcomes, in the context of the Paris Agreement. The working group, supported  by technical sub-groups, will consider various emissions reduction  opportunities, taking into consideration existing and planned policies.  Their work will be overseen by the Canadian  Council of Ministers of the Environment, who will receive their report.
                   
                   
                
     6. The Working Group on Adaptation  and Climate Resilience will provide a report with options on a  comprehensive approach to adapt to the impacts of climate change, support  affected communities and build greater climate resilience. This working group  will identify specific priorities in support of approaches to climate change  adaptation, including disaster mitigation and conservation, and will consider a  range of policy tools to foster research, innovation and investments in  resilient infrastructure; integrate information, expertise and best practices  from Indigenous peoples; and support the development of jurisdictional  policies.  This work will be overseen by  the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, who will receive their  report.
                   
                   
            
            
         
  3. Working together on Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technology and  Innovation:
            
            
                
     1. Federal, provincial and territorial Energy Ministers will collaborate on  specific actions being undertaken through the Canadian Energy Strategy,  including energy conservation and efficiency, clean energy technology and  innovation and delivering energy to people and global markets, in order to  contribute to the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change.
                   
                   
                
     2. The Government of Canada will advance the harmonization of energy  efficiency standards and development of innovative approaches across Canada and  with North American partners.
                   
                   
            
            
         
  4. Engage Indigenous peoples in the development of the  pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change
            
            
                
     1. The working group process will be complemented by a broader engagement  process with Indigenous peoples.
                   
                   
            
            
         
  5. Engage the public in the development of the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and  climate change
            
            
                
     1. The public, including youth, will be engaged using online tools in  particular to solicit input and to increase climate change awareness and  literacy.
                   
                   
            
            
         
  6. First Ministers will meet in fall 2016 to finalize the pan-Canadian  framework on clean growth and climate change, and review progress on the  Canadian Energy Strategy.