Canada: New Climate Law a Step in the Right Direction – HRW

Government Should Address Remaining Accountability Gaps

(Ottawa) – New climate legislation adopted by the Canadian parliament on June 29, 2021 will increase transparency and accountability for the Canadian government’s efforts to meet its climate change commitments, Human Rights Watch said today.

Parliament passed Bill C-12, which requires the government to set reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions, in the final days before parliament breaks for the summer, after months of negotiations and delay. The bill is expected to receive royal assent soon and become law.

“Canada has missed every past emissions target it has set and remains the only G7 country whose emissions have risen since it signed the Paris Agreement,” said Rachel LaFortune, environment researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Bill C-12 could be key to breaking this abysmal track record and ensuring that Canada meets its human rights obligations to reduce emissions and protect against serious harms from climate change.”

Read More: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/06/29/canada-new-climate-law-step-right-direction