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Canada sets out to enshrine 2050 net zero emissions goal in law

(Climate Home News, 20 Nov 2020) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has presented a bill to commit Canada to cut its emissions to net zero by 2050 and set five-year targets to meet the goal.

The bill, called the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, follows an election pledged by Trudeau to set the country on a path to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The act, which was introduced to parliament on Thursday, establishes a legally binding process to set five-year emission reduction targets from 2030 and develop a credible plan to meet each commitment. If passed, future governments would have to report regularly on progress towards meeting the goals.

However, the bill does not set out how the government is planning to reduce emissions in the short term nor does it propose a new 2030 target.

Trudeau told reporters on Thursday: “During the last election, our government promised to legally bind Canada to its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. This morning we delivered on that promise.”

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Climate Home News, 20 Nov 2020: Canada sets out to enshrine 2050 net zero emissions goal in law