Canada makes small emissions cut in 2023: report [Video]

Hikes to oil production and rebounding air travel put a drag on Canada’s climate progress last year, a report published Thursday by a leading policy institute found, though the country was still able to make a modest cut to its planet-warming emissions.

The new estimates from the Canadian Climate Institute show Canada cut emissions by about 0.8 cent last year compared to 2022, or eight per cent since 2005.

But the report said the country will need to speed up that progress if it hopes to hit its 2030 target to cut emissions by 40 to 45 per cent compared to 2005 levels.

“Sustained policy effort in the electricity sector demonstrate that significant progress is achievable, but other sectors need to follow suit and accelerate their momentum to keep Canada on track,” it said.

Industrial carbon pricing and coal phaseouts were cited as two policies helping to drive the electricity …