U.S.-Canada Pact a “Source of Hope” against Climate Change – EDF President Fred Krupp

“Today’s announcement of a joint climate strategy between the U.S. and Canada moves the world a step closer to a future safe from climate change.

“The historic agreement addresses one of the most serious aspects of our climate crisis – methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of today’s warming, and the U.S. and Canada are the second and fourth largest emitters of oil and gas methane respectively. Today, Canada is pledging to reduce its oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent over the next decade, matching an earlier U.S. commitment, and regulating new and existing oil and facilities. At the same time, the U.S. is committing for the first time to rapidly addressing methane emissions from existing oil-and gas facilities. Together, the new commitments demonstrate that these leaders recognize the urgent need for action to limit methane pollution. 

“In the U.S., EPA will soon finalize the first national scale limits on methane pollution from new oil and gas sources. Today’s commitment to limit methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources goes much further, addressing the single largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. Cost-effective solutions are readily available, and are already being deployed in some states. I look forward to the day when national limits on methane from existing oil and gas sources are fully implemented. That will be the ultimate measure of progress. For today, the issue is generating the global momentum it deserves. That means we can make enormous strides toward reducing levels of this potent greenhouse gas, helping to protect our planet and its people. I would like to thank President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau for their leadership in tackling this critical problem.

“President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau also affirmed their commitment to securing agreement this year in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to cap carbon pollution from international aviation. Action by ICAO is one of the world’s top priorities on climate this year, and their leadership will be critical to getting the job done. A well-designed market based measure would prevent an estimated eight billion tons of carbon pollution in the first twenty years — pollution that lies outside national boundaries, and thus outside the Paris Agreement.  Even greater reductions are possible if ICAO agrees a process to ratchet that cap down in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of holding warming to well below 2 degrees and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. 

“Today’s announced climate strategy also included a number of other important steps to reduce climate pollution. President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau committed to strengthening greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for our semis, delivery trucks and buses — working together to finalize a second phase of aligned standards; they also addressed accelerating the clean energy economy. The U.S. has already seen remarkable success in these areas. We are on track to complete updated truck standards this year that will further reduce climate pollution and oil use while saving truck drivers, shippers and American families a great deal of money. We are also spurring innovation, accelerating renewables, and strengthening our energy system, which will allow more abundant, clean energy to power our economy without threatening our health and safety.

“The two leaders committed to support timely implementation of the historic Paris Agreement, including on the key issue of carbon markets, where they agreed to work together and in close communication with subnational governments to ensure environmental integrity and clear accounting to avoid ‘double-counting’ of emissions reductions. They also affirmed their commitment to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through an amendment to the extraordinarily successful Montreal Protocol, and said they would create a new, ambitious conservation goal for both land and marine wildlife in the Arctic. These are all important steps we must take to protect planet Earth from climate change.  

“Today’s announcement demonstrates continued international cooperation and determination to address climate change. The U.S. and China announced a breakthrough climate agreement in November, 2014. Last year,195 countries approved an historic climate agreement in Paris. The U.S. finalized the Clean Power Plan to put the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. And China committed to a national cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions beginning next year. Around the world, citizen and their leaders are calling for cleaner energy, healthier air, and more steps to protect us all from the dangers of climate change. Today’s U.S.-Canada agreement is another welcome example of that international momentum.

“Climate change is a clear and present danger to every human being on the planet. We’re in the race of our lives, and today’s agreement puts more spring in our step. It is a source of hope for all of us.” 

                    - Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund