Canada’s 2017 Nationally Determined Contribution Submission to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change.

This document lays down the Nationally Determined Contribution submitted by Canada under the Paris Agreement. Canada recognizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and considers addressing climate change as an opportunity to transition to a strong, diverse and competitive low-carbon economy. Canada’s action to address climate change will be guided by the collective long-term goal agreed in Paris to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit that increase to below 1.5 degrees. To contribute to the achievement of the Paris Agreement, Canada is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
The Government of Canada is committed to taking strong action, with significant investments in a low-carbon economy, green infrastructure, and clean technology. To help achieve the goals and actions outlined in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the programmes and policies put in place will be monitored, results will be measured, and performance will be reported on domestically in a way that is transparent and open to external, independent review.
To reduce emissions from industrial sectors, Canada is developing regulations to achieve a reduction of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, including offshore activities. Other actions include: protecting and enhancing carbon sinks including in forests, wetlands and agricultural lands; identifying opportunities to generate renewable fuel from waste; and demonstrating leadership by reducing emissions from government operations and scaling up the procurement of clean energy and technologies. The Framework also includes support for clean technology and innovation that promote clean growth.
The document outlines an approach to accounting in the land use, land-use change and forestry sector. Canada will use the IPCC production approach to account for harvested wood products and will exclude the impacts of natural disturbances and focus on anthropogenic emissions and removals.