Adopt national climate plan
Petitioners ask Canada to adopt an ambitious plan to meet Paris 1.5°C by tightening targets, instituting a carbon price, halting oil‑sands growth and phasing out coal. The government responds it is committed to net‑zero.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would align Canada with the Paris 1.5°C objective by tightening national emissions targets and policies, increasing the chance of limiting warming.
- A national carbon price and coal phase-out provide clear signals that can accelerate emissions cuts and incentivize low‑carbon investment.
- Investing in a transition to a decarbonized economy could create opportunities for clean industries and support communities shifting away from fossil fuels.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Stricter targets, carbon pricing and coal phase‑outs may impose higher costs on consumers and firms, raising affordability concerns.
- Halting oil‑sands growth could harm workers and regional economies without clear transition supports; the petition’s measures may not fully address local impacts.
- Some may prefer alternative approaches—provincial flexibility or technology‑focused strategies—over federal mandates and immediate production limits.
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 effects – such as extreme weather events, intense wildfires, and rising sea levels – pose risks to many elements of the economy, from supply chains to financial markets. Faced with global volatility, disrupted trade relationships, and a changing environment, Canada must act decisively. We must strengthen the economy while also doing our part to decarbonize in line with our Paris Agreement targets and commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In a new global context, our strategy is to make Canada an energy superpower, by being a leader in clean energy, as well as a supplier of secure, reliable, and low-carbon conventional energy and natural resources. The Government of Canada announced the Climate Competitiveness Strategy in Budget 2025, outlining significant investments to attract private capital, accelerate innovation, and build a competitive low-carbon economy. To seize opportunities in clean technology, the government has enacted four of its five Clean Economy Investment Tax-Credits (ITCs), to support taxpayers with eligible clean technology projects and manufacturing. The fifth ITC, for clean electricity, 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 advance nation-building projects to help build the strongest economy in the G7. This includes clean energy projects that create jobs and prosperity for Canadians while reducing Canada’s emissions. Under the Building Canada Act, projects of national interest will follow Canada’s strong environmental standards, uphold Indigenous rights, and create opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to derive economic benefits from major project development. Our energy future also depends on investing in clean 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, as well as renewable energy projects, and critical mineral development. These ensure Canada has 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. Canada’s oil sands are the fourth-largest proven oil reserve in the world and will remain an important part of the Canadian economy and global energy security, even in some net-zero scenarios. Innovation is critical to reducing the environmental footprint of their development. This is being supported through funding for research and development of new and improved oil sands technologies, and by providing scientific information and advice to government policymakers and regulators. Coal power remains a high-emitting source of carbon pollution and air pollutants in Canada and the Government of Canada has regulations in place to phase out unabated coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. Provinces may seek an equivalency agreement on the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations if they put in place their own rules to achieve equivalent emissions outcomes. Canada’s coal production has decreased by 31% over the past decade, with thermal coal accounting for three quarters of the decline. A clean electricity grid is the backbone of Canada’s economy and our core competitive advantage. Approximately 80 percent of our electricity already comes from non-emitting sources such as hydroelectricity, wind, solar, and nuclear power. Our electricity grid, one of the cleanest in the world, provides access to clean power that 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. As demand for electricity grows, building a better-connected, modernized, clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system will be critical to competitiveness, energy security and meeting our climate objectives. The federal government will continue to work with provinces and territories, Indigenous partners and industry stakeholders to support our electricity systems, including through ITCs along with targeted funding programs, and strategic financing. Moreover, over the last decade, the Government of Canada has invested in the work of federal labs, as well as a wide range of business, utilities, Indigenous communities, and other organizations that are working to develop novel and innovative clean energy technologies, scale up and integrate existing technologies, and support the clean energy ecosystem by sharing information and knowledge. For example, the Energy Innovation Program (EIP) led by Natural Resources Canada advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada maintain a competitive, reliable, and affordable energy system while transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) is a $4.5-billion program designed to support the deployment of grid modernization, energy storage, and renewable energy technologies in every region of Canada. Underpinning these efforts is the need for a strong and resilient workforce. To ensure we are ready for the low-carbon economy, and broader economic shifts, the Government is investing in skills, training, and workforce development. In February 2026, the Government of Canada released Building a Prosperous Future for Workers and Communities: Canada’s 2026–2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan, in accordance with the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. This Action Plan outlines how the federal government is fostering the creation of sustainable jobs over the next five years, with a focus on supporting good jobs and ensuring workers are prepared for the economic changes ahead. Organized around three pillars—Build Canada Strong, Empower Workers, and Protect Industries—the Action Plan highlights major projects, new worker supports, and national industrial strategies that will help create high quality jobs and position Canada for a resilient, low-carbon future. 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. 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. Since the launch of the CCS, the Government of Canada published the Enhanced Methane Regulations which are designed to protect the environment and human health from the threat of climate change by significantly reducing this potent greenhouse gas. The Regulations also support innovation, leading to increased adoption of new technologies like continuous monitoring systems to monitor methane releases. Moving forward, the Government will work with interested jurisdictions to negotiate equivalency agreements as appropriate. 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, including through 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). In addition, the Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) provided support towards Canada’s shift to innovative net-zero technologies and attracted large-scale investments to support Canada’s climate goals. Since its launch, the initiative has committed close to $5 billion in investments. 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. More recently, on September 5, 2025, the Government announced a $5 billion investment through the new Strategic Response Fund (SRF), to support firms impacted by U.S. tariffs and strengthen Canada’s industrial resilience. The SRF also supports large-scale research and development and innovation projects in key sectors including, among others, clean technologies. Underpinning the Government’s climate efforts is the need for a strong and resilient workforce. To ensure readiness for the low-carbon economy, and broader economic shifts, the Government is investing in skills, training, and workforce development. In February 2026, the Government of Canada released Building a Prosperous Future for Workers and Communities: Canada’s 2026–2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan, in accordance with the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. This Action Plan outlines how the federal government is fostering the creation of sustainable jobs, with a focus on supporting good jobs and ensuring workers are prepared for the economic changes ahead. Organized around three pillars—Build Canada Strong, Empower Workers, and Protect Industries—the Action Plan highlights major projects, new worker supports, and national industrial strategies that will help create high quality jobs and position Canada for a resilient, low-carbon future. The Government cannot reach its climate commitments without cooperation. Through strengthened partnerships with provinces and territories, including through tools like the Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation, coupled with the right investments, 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.