Bill C-484

1st Session, 41st Parliament,

60-61-62 Elizabeth II, 2011-2012-2013

house of commons of canada

BILL C-484

An Act Respecting the Amendment of the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations

Whereas anthropogenic climate change — namely, the human-induced destabilization and warming of the global climate — is caused by the unregulated and wasteful emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, combined with deforestation and other land use changes that increase atmos-pheric carbon, and, as the greatest threat facing humanity, demands a proportionate response;

Whereas Canada is committed to avoiding an increase of 2.0 degrees Celsius in average global temperature, which would cause major climatic disruption and loss of life, and that commitment requires that the growth in global greenhouse gas emissions be arrested by 2015 and then reversed, with an overall 80% reduction — and 90% reduction in developed countries — by 2050;

Whereas, although Canada ratified a legally binding treaty, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and thus committed to a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2012, the Government of Canada subsequently abandoned all efforts to meet that treaty’s obligations in 2006 and, at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, Canada further weakened its commitment, to 2.5% above 1990 levels by 2020;

Whereas Environment Canada’s 2012 Progress Report of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy acknowledges that Canada will not come close to meeting even the weak, scientifically unjustifiable greenhouse gas reduction commitment made in Copenhagen;

Whereas it is well understood that emissions from coal-fired electric power plants are one of the most dangerous sources of greenhouse gases globally;

Whereas alternatives to coal-fired generation of electricity are available and cost effective, especially within a framework of demand-side management;

And whereas it is morally indefensible that Canada should criticize any other, less wealthy country for burning coal to provide electricity if Canada is unwilling to urgently phase out coal-generated electricity in Canada;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. The Governor in Council must, within 120 days after the coming into force of this Act, make the following amendments to the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations:

(ii) in any other case, December 31, 2025, and

(b) for a unit referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition “commissioning date”, 18 months after the applicable date described in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii).

3. (1) A responsible person for a new unit or an old unit must not, on average, emit with an intensity of more than 375 tonnes CO₂ emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in the unit for each GWh of electricity produced by the unit during a calendar year.