Canada’s Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Framework is a Welcome Step Forward, but Not Enough to Meet Climate Goals

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the Government of Canada's proposed regulatory cap on oil and gas sector emissions, arguing that while the framework is a positive step, its current targets are insufficient to meet national 2030 climate goals.

• The Government of Canada's proposed emissions cap-and-trade system for the upstream oil and gas sector aims to mandate emissions reductions by 2030 and progressively lower the cap toward net-zero by 2050, which would stop the sector's currently projected emissions increase by 2030.
• The proposed emissions reduction target of 16-20% relative to 2005 levels (or 35-38% relative to 2019) is considered too lenient, as it falls short of the 31% reduction in the Emissions Reduction Plan and the broader economy-wide goal of 40-45% reduction by 2030.
• The framework includes compliance flexibilities such as carbon offsets and payments into a decarbonization fund, which the IISD argues are ineffective for reducing overall emissions or do not equate to actual emissions reductions.
• To meet 2030 climate targets, the IISD recommends that the federal government strengthen the 2030 emissions reduction target to as close to 40% below 2005 levels as possible and minimize the use of offsets and decarbonization fund investments.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2023). Canada’s Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Framework is a Welcome Step Forward, but Not Enough to Meet Climate Goals. https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canadas-oil-gas-emissions-cap-framework

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Canada’s Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Framework is a Welcome Step Forward, but Not Enough to Meet Climate Goals. 2023. https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canadas-oil-gas-emissions-cap-framework.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Canada’s Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Framework is a Welcome Step Forward, but Not Enough to Meet Climate Goals |date=7 December 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canadas-oil-gas-emissions-cap-framework |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2023canadas, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Canada’s Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Framework is a Welcome Step Forward, but Not Enough to Meet Climate Goals}}, publisher = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canadas-oil-gas-emissions-cap-framework}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }