Adopt 1.5°C emissions targets
Petitioners ask Canada to set 1.5°C‑aligned emissions targets, enact national carbon pricing, curb oil‑sands growth, phase out thermal coal and fund decarbonization. The government responds it commits to net‑zero by 2050 and will strengthen carbon pricing.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would align Canada’s targets with the Paris 1.5°C goal, creating clear national objectives to reduce emissions.
- A national carbon price would provide a consistent economy‑wide incentive to cut emissions and guide investment decisions.
- Phasing out coal, curbing oil‑sands growth and funding a transition would drive decarbonization while supporting low‑carbon jobs.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Ambitious targets and coal/oil restrictions could impose significant economic and transitional costs for workers and communities.
- Energy and resource policy is shared with provinces; federal measures may face political or legal obstacles and require cooperation.
- The petition sets goals but gives few implementation details, timelines or measures to ensure energy security and equitable support.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: THAT, WHEREAS Canada has signed the Paris Agreement; WHEREAS signatories to the Paris Agreement are required "to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels". We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to take bold climate action to ensure that Canada plays its part to avoid runaway climate change and that this action include: 1. Setting ambitious targets to lower Canada's emissions in order for Canada to assist in the international goal of avoiding a 1.5°C global average temperature increase above pre-industrial levels; 2. Implementing a national price on carbon; 3. Arresting the growth in oil sands expansion; 4. Working with the provinces to phase out coal-fired electricity and ending thermal coal exports; and 5. Investing in the transition to a prosperous, decarbonized economy.
Government response
Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable Julie Dabrusin The Government of Canada is committed to net-zero emissions by 2050—an ambitious target enshrined in law through the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which provides a durable framework of accountability and transparency for Canada’s climate action.Canada’s approach to climate change mitigation relies on a coordinated mix of measures that support emissions reductions while strengthening our economy. A price on pollution for large emitters is a central pillar of this plan. Industrial carbon pricing drives investment to reduce emissions and build the competitiveness of Canadian business. It is expected to deliver more emission reductions than any other policy, with negligible impacts on affordability for Canadians. In Budget 2025, the Government of Canada announced the Climate Competitiveness Strategy, which aims to bring together key climate-related measures into a cohesive strategy to boost Canada’s economy and position us as a leader in clean growth and decarbonization. The Climate Competitiveness Strategy is a central pillar of Canada’s economic plan to make Canada the strongest economy in the Group of Seven (G7). The Strategy recognizes that well-functioning industrial carbon markets are a key tool to unlocking investment in major decarbonization projects and is why the Government of Canada is committed to strengthen industrial carbon pricing by setting a post-2030 price trajectory, improving the benchmark and federal backstop, and continuing carbon contracts for difference. The Strategy also provides certainty on other aspects of the regulatory environment and incentivizes the investments needed for Canada to compete in a net-zero economy of the future, including through Investment Tax Credits, supporting Critical Mineral Projects and other projects of national interest. The Strategy will further mobilize private sector investment by moving forward with sustainable finance initiatives such as sustainable investment guidelines (taxonomy). The Government of Canada is committed to bringing down the emissions associated with the production of oil and gas. Environment and Climate Change Canada have finalized enhanced methane regulations for the oil and gas sector, which will deliver near-term climate benefits and health benefits from improved air quality. The recently negotiated Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding will help Canada move forward on industrial carbon pricing, carbon capture and storage, interties, and achieving our joint net-zero electricity goals in ways that reflect regional circumstances and interests. The transition to net zero by 2050 will also require clean, reliable power. The Clean Electricity Regulations aim to reduce emissions to protect the environment and human health from the threat of climate change. Beginning in 2035, the Regulations will set limits on carbon dioxide pollution from almost all electricity generation units that use fossil fuels. The Regulations provide a mix of compliance flexibilities and do not prescribe specific technological solutions. The Government will begin negotiating equivalency agreements with interested jurisdictions who wish to implement tailored approaches that adhere to federal standards and deliver equivalent environmental outcomes. The Government of Canada remains committed to limiting carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generation. Most provinces have already phased out coal power, and Alberta recently completed its phase-out of coal power in 2024, several years in advance of the federal requirements. Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia currently have bilateral equivalency agreements with the federal government pertaining to the federal coal regulations. Furthermore, Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations will limit emissions from the electricity sector to protect the environment and human health from the threat of climate change. The government will work with provinces and territories to advance these goals and ensure that Canada's grid is clean and well equipped to meet growing electricity demands. Additionally, our government is moving forward with implementation of the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. The Act creates the mechanisms necessary for the Government of Canada to effectively support Canadian workers and communities to seize the historic opportunities of the shift to a low-carbon economy, while fostering the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for generations to come. The Act requires that the Government of Canada publish a Sustainable Jobs Action Plan every five years, with the 2026-2030 Action Plan anticipated to be published in early 2026. The Action Plan will outline key measures and milestones that the government is implementing and undertaking to support Canadian workers and communities. Fighting climate change is not only a moral obligation, but an economic imperative. The Government of Canada is taking concrete and credible action to take advantage of the global transition to low-carbon economies in a way that unifies us and builds Canada strong. Response by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Signed by The Honourable Tim Hodgson, P.C., M.P. Canada is at a pivotal moment in history. Climate change and its associated effects – extreme weather events, intense wildfires, and rising sea levels could disrupt many elements of the economy, from food supply chains to financial markets. Faced with global volatility, disrupted trade relationships, and a changing environment, Canada must act decisively. Climate action is not just a moral obligation; it is an economic necessity. We must strengthen Canada’s economy while also doing our part to decarbonize sectors by lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this new global context, our goal is to make Canada an energy superpower, which includes being a leader in clean energy, and a supplier of secure, reliable, and low-carbon conventional energy and natural resources. To achieve this, the Government of Canada has announced the Climate Competitiveness Strategy as part of Budget 2025, outlining significant investments to attract private capital, accelerate innovation, and build a competitive low-carbon economy. This is anchored by our government’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To seize the investment opportunities in clean technologies from this, the government has enacted four of its five Clean Economy Investment Tax-Credits (ITCs), to support taxpayers with eligible clean technology projects and manufacturing. As well, the Clean Electricity ITC legislation has been introduced into parliament. These support major investments in clean energy, clean technology, clean technology manufacturing in critical minerals and net zero value chains, clean hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). Policies such as a strengthened industrial carbon price underpinned by a long-term price trajectory provide the certainty required to attract significant private capital and compete internationally. Our government has announced and will continue to review national building projects and will work to rapidly advance them to build the strongest economy in the G7. This includes clean energy projects that create jobs and prosperity for Canadians while reducing Canada’s emissions to fight climate change. Under the Building Canada Act, projects of national interest will have to follow Canada’s strong environmental standards, uphold Indigenous rights, and create opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to derive economic benefits from major project development. Canada’s rich supply of critical minerals and clean and conventional energy provides a real competitive advantage. Natural Resources Canada is focused on expanding access to global markets. Meeting the world’s growing energy demand requires displacing higher-carbon energy sources. Canadian conventional energy, LNG, and electricity are all produced under rigorous environmental and labour standards and offer a clear value proposition to our partners, enhancing their energy security while increasing the resilience of Canada’s economy. Investments in carbon capture utilization and storage, methane reduction, and clean technologies are bringing more Canadian energy to market while advancing our climate goals and growing Canada’s economy. Our energy future also depends on investing in clean growth solutions and scaling up low-carbon solutions to deepen Canada’s competitive advantage. We are supporting initiatives such as nuclear energy development, electricity grid interties, and investments in fuels such as hydrogen, renewable energy projects, and critical mineral development. These provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable power across provinces and territories. This requires true collaboration, including working closely with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, labour, and industry leaders to deliver results, ensuring national projects reflect regional strengths, respect Indigenous Peoples and the environment, and deliver long-term prosperity. Economic reconciliation will be key to unlocking the best projects, the government supports proactive partnerships including the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Indigenous Equity Initiative. Furthermore, we have doubled and expanded the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program to increase Indigenous communities’ access to capital. A clean electricity grid is the backbone of Canada’s economy and our core competitive advantage. Canada will reduce its carbon intensity to meet the growing demand from global markets for products with low associated greenhouse gas emissions. Our electricity grid, one of the cleanest in the world, guarantees access to clean power businesses around the world are looking for, in a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing to artificial intelligence. It allows us to attract investment, decarbonize heavy industry, and create good-paying jobs. Canada is building a clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system. This work is supported by the Clean Economy ITCs, representing $93 billion in federal incentives by 2034-35. We have built a strong starting point, as approximately 80 percent of our electricity already comes from non-emitting sources such as hydroelectricity, wind, solar, and nuclear power. At the same time, Canada’s commitment to climate action and forest health remains unchanged. Canada is committed to its net-zero by 2050 target and will continue supporting sustainable forestry through measures such as the GHG Offset Credit System and investments in forestry innovation. Our government is moving forward with implementation of the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. As Canada works to become an energy superpower and a secure supplier of sustainable natural resources, this legislation will support the creation of sustainable jobs, strengthen industries and communities in every region across Canada, and support a workforce with the skills, training, and tools to benefit from these new job opportunities. The Act requires that the Government of Canada publish a Sustainable Jobs Action Plan every five years, with the 2026-2030 Action Plan anticipated to be published in early 2026. The Action Plan will outline key measures and milestones that the government is implementing and undertaking to support Canadian workers and communities. Response by the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Signed by The Honourable Mélanie Joly The Government of Canada is committed to tackling the global climate crisis while building a strong, resilient economy that benefits Canadians across the country. The Government of Canada is pursuing a number of opportunities to help ensure that Canada remains firmly on track to meet our climate targets and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 while making our industries more competitive. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is key to the new Climate Competitiveness Strategy (CCS) – this Government’s plan to create the conditions for the investment needed to build an affordable net-zero future in which Canadian businesses are well-positioned to compete and succeed in the global economy. The CCS includes a more effective industrial carbon pricing system that drives investment and reduces emissions by establishing a multi-decade industrial carbon price trajectory that targets net-zero by 2050. It will also include improving the application of the carbon pricing benchmark to ensure that all provincial-territorial industrial pricing systems are harmonized across the country, thus providing a common, strong price signal. Changes will focus on ensuring industrial pricing systems maximize impact, to reduce emissions and advance the transition to low carbon technologies, while protecting industry against competitiveness and carbon leakage impacts. As a complement to strengthened industrial carbon pricing, the CCS will provide clarity on greenhouse gas regulations, including through the Clean Electricity Regulations which will reduce emissions and ensure that Canada’s grid is clean as electricity demand grows. This government will also finalize enhanced methane regulations for the oil and gas sector and landfills, working with provinces and territories to negotiate equivalency agreements as appropriate. To support the implementation of the CCS, the Government will develop and communicate new metrics to show how companies and households are reducing their carbon footprint, how the clean economy is growing, and how exports are tracking to achieve world-leading emissions intensity. The Government of Canada is committed to becoming an energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. This will require the creation of an industrial strategy that will make Canada more globally competitive, while fighting climate change. To support these policy aims, the government launched the Major Projects Office to serve as a single point of contact to get nation-building projects built faster while upholding Canada’s world leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples. The first projects referred to the new Major Projects Office include LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat, British Columbia and the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Bowmanville, Ontario – both of which will provide low or lower carbon energy solutions to support Canadian and global clean energy needs. Since 2016, the Government of Canada has invested over $160 billion to drive investments in clean tech and decarbonisation, which includes a $93 billion suite of clean technology investment tax credits to attract investments in clean electricity, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and clean technology to attract investments in critical minerals, nuclear energy equipment, energy storage, and zero emissions vehicles (ZEV). Further, the $15 billion Canada Growth Fund supports projects that: reduce emissions; accelerate the deployment of key clean technologies and scale up companies; and strengthen key critical supply chains. Our government is moving forward with implementation of the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. As Canada works to become an energy superpower and a secure supplier of sustainable natural resources, this legislation will support the creation of sustainable jobs, strengthen industries and communities in every region across Canada, and support a workforce with the skills, training, and tools to benefit from these new job opportunities.?The Act requires that the Government of Canada publish a Sustainable Jobs Action Plan every five years, with the 2026-2030 Action Plan anticipated to be published in early 2026. The Action Plan will outline key measures and milestones that the government is implementing and undertaking to support Canadian workers and communities. Through continued collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, engagement, partnerships, strategic policies, and thoughtful investments in clean technology businesses, large-scale decarbonization and workers across the country, the Government of Canada will continue to advance its commitments to decarbonize and grow a resilient and prosperous economy, in which no worker or region has been left behind.