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The document contends that Canada's oil and gas industry, bolstered by windfall profits, should fund its own decarbonization rather than relying on public subsidies. It highlights that current government supports, such as those for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), often fail to yield meaningful emissions reductions and may even enable increased production. The author argues that public funds would be more effectively spent on proven low-carbon technologies like renewable energy and grid electrification to meet Canada's 2030 climate targets and ensure long-term energy security.

The author contends that reducing food loss and waste is a non-contentious solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, yet it remains under-adopted by governments. While some countries have set targets aligned with SDG 12.3, only 38 nations have included food loss and waste in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The text highlights that agriculture drives 70% of terrestrial biodiversity loss and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, with rotting food in landfills serving as the third largest cause of methane emissions.

This briefing outlines the progress of the Regional Assessment conducted by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The assessment aims to identify knowledge gaps and uncertainties in decisions impacted by global environmental change (GEC) to better target science and capacity-building efforts for Member Countries.

The IAI is conducting a Regional Assessment to better understand how global environmental change (GEC) affects the decisions of its member Parties. Through surveys and subregional listening sessions held in 2022, the IAI identified 'climate action' as the most important current national priority for 14 Parties. Key barriers to using scientific information include a lack of intersectoral collaboration and a lack of science available for non-technical audiences. The assessment has grouped member countries by shared priorities and identified specific regional focuses, such as water security in the Southern Cone and biodiversity in the Andean subregion. Next steps include a deep analysis of collected data and a review of national policy documents, with results to be communicated at CoP-31.

As of September 30, 2022, the IAI had received 38% of its approved contributions for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Total expenditures for the July-September period were $314,865, which is 10% lower than the budgeted $350,000. While salaries remained within budget, travel and training costs exceeded projections by 12.4% due to high ticket prices. Other categories, including equipment, operational costs, and dissemination, were under budget due to postponed purchases and improved resource management.

One year after COP26, progress on climate pledges is described as "mixed at best," with some advancements in renewable energy and net-zero targets countered by a resurgence in fossil fuel reliance due to the Russia-Ukraine war. While 24 countries updated their emissions targets and renewable capacity reached new heights, global fossil fuel subsidies nearly doubled in 2021. Financial commitments remain unmet, with developed nations still $17 billion short of the $100 billion annual goal for 2020. Efforts to curb methane and deforestation have seen expanded participation, but accountability for city-level net-zero pledges remains low due to a lack of reported emissions data.

The author uses recent heatwaves and wildfires in Europe to illustrate how climate change exacerbates air pollution and health issues. The text details a feedback loop where petrochemical production leads to plastic pollution, which in turn releases methane and ethylene, harms soil carbon absorption, and disrupts marine food production. It concludes by highlighting the need for holistic legislation, citing the European Union's decarbonization strategy, a proposed UN global treaty on plastic waste, and updates to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

This report, prepared by the IAI Directorate for the Executive Council's fifty-fourth meeting, outlines the primary achievements and activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research from 1 July 2022 to 11 October 2022. It details progress in science communication, capacity building, and strategic partnerships aimed at addressing global environmental change in the Americas.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports progress on science and capacity building between July and October 2022. Key activities include the 'Climate and Health Responder Course for Latin America', the publication of a compendium on climate impacts in LAC, and the expansion of the STeP fellowship program to 45 fellows across 8 countries. The IAI also coordinated participation in the UNGA77 Science Summit and the SRI2022 congress, while establishing a Steering Committee for a Center for Science Diplomacy.

Projected emissions for the analysed major economies under current policies (36.2-41.8 GtCO2e by 2030) remain far above the 43% reduction from 2019 levels required by the Paris Agreement. While average per capita emissions are projected to decrease slightly from 9.6 tCO2e in 2015 to approximately 8.8-8.9 tCO2e by 2030, significant disparities exist, with emissions per capita expected to more than double in Türkiye and Viet Nam while halving in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Only eleven countries are currently on track to meet their latest NDC targets, with Brazil and Indonesia moving off track due to increased land-use emission projections.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other groups propose eight priority amendments to Bill S-5 to modernize CEPA. Key recommendations include establishing the right to a healthy environment as a duty, mandating public disclosure of toxic substances in consumer products, setting strict timelines for chemical risk assessments, and limiting the use of Confidential Business Information (CBI) exceptions to increase transparency regarding environmental and health risks.

The Canadian Climate Institute advocates for a mandatory emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, noting that emissions in this sector grew by nearly 20% between 2005 and 2019. The author argues that current policies are insufficient and that failure to act risks creating 'stranded' high-carbon assets that will increase costs for taxpayers. To be effective, the proposed cap must focus on absolute emission reductions rather than just emission intensity, limit the use of carbon offsets, and not replace the urgent need to reduce methane emissions. Additionally, the policy should utilize market-based instruments like carbon pricing to maintain competitiveness and prevent carbon leakage to other jurisdictions.

The Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body advocate for a federal emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, noting that emissions in this sector rose by nearly 20% between 2005 and 2019. They argue that a cap is necessary because current policies are insufficient and that failure to act risks 'locking-in' emissions through high-carbon projects. The authors propose three design priorities: ensuring absolute emissions reductions rather than just intensity improvements, maintaining a focus on low-cost methane reductions, and using market-based instruments to prevent emissions 'leakage' to other jurisdictions.

The document asserts that Canada's reliance on oil, gas, and coal leaves it vulnerable to global market volatility and geopolitical shocks, despite being a major producer. It argues that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels and can provide long-term price stability because they do not require input fuels. The brief highlights Canada's existing hydroelectric capacity as a key asset for balancing variable renewables and suggests that electrifying transport and heating will further reduce exposure to fossil fuel price spikes. It concludes that prioritizing investments in flexible, integrated electricity grids and energy efficiency is essential for achieving a non-emitting electricity grid by 2035 and ensuring affordable energy security.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) urges the Government of Canada to adopt a 'planetary health' framework in its federal budget, arguing that climate change is the most significant global health threat of the 21st century. Key recommendations include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 140% below 2005 levels by 2030, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies by 2023, and redirecting public finance from Export Development Canada (EDC) away from fossil fuels. CAPE also advocates for a 'wellbeing economy' that defines success beyond GDP, increased funding for the National Adaptation Strategy, and an additional $200 million for the Chemicals Management Plan to protect vulnerable populations from toxic pollution.

The report details how the global production of nitrogen fertilizers has grown nearly ninefold since 1961, creating a systemic dependency on fossil gas. It argues that the agrochemical industry is collaborating with oil and gas companies to 'launder' fossil fuels through the promotion of blue hydrogen and blue ammonia paired with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The document asserts that these technologies are technically and economically infeasible for most uses and serve as a distraction to delay the phaseout of fossil fuels and industrial agriculture. It further highlights the environmental impacts of these chemicals, including the crossing of planetary boundaries related to nitrogen and phosphorus flows and chemical pollution.

The report identifies a 'carbon-pricing certainty gap' that inhibits private investment in Canada's industrial decarbonization. It proposes three primary recommendations: introducing carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) to guarantee the carbon-price schedule, preventing carbon-credit oversupply through strengthened federal benchmarks and public registries, and offering policy-contingent loans via the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The authors suggest that a successful CCfD program could accelerate up to 40 Mt of emissions reductions by 2030 with limited contingent liabilities for the government.

The document examines how healthy soils in agriculture and natural ecosystems (forests, wetlands, and grasslands) can act as carbon sinks. It highlights regenerative agriculture practices, the importance of protecting peatlands and native prairies, and the role of Indigenous knowledge. However, it warns that soil sequestration cannot replace the need for greenhouse gas emission cuts and faces challenges such as measurement standardization and the risk of displacing food production.

The report analyzes the IRA's transportation incentives, including tax credits for new and used EVs, commercial vehicle credits, and charging infrastructure support. Through three modeling scenarios (Low, Moderate, High), it estimates that the IRA can increase passenger EV sales shares to 34% (Moderate) or 39% (High) by 2030 compared to a 29% business-as-usual baseline. It highlights that while commercial and light-duty truck adoption will see significant boosts, passenger EV adoption may be limited in the near term by stringent eligibility requirements regarding North American assembly and sourcing from 'entities of concern'. The authors argue that the IRA is a foundational step but insufficient alone to meet 1.5°C climate goals, recommending complementary EPA tailpipe standards, state-level clean vehicle mandates, and strategic electric grid investments.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that no global indicator is currently on track to meet the 2030 goals of halting forest loss and degradation or restoring 350 million hectares of forest landscape. While global deforestation rates declined by 6.3% in 2021 compared to the 2018-2020 baseline, this falls short of the 10% annual reduction required. Tropical Asia is the only region on track to halt deforestation by 2030, while Tropical Latin America and Africa remain off track. The report also notes that while 130.9 million hectares of tree cover were gained between 2000 and 2020, these were offset by 231.4 million hectares of loss, resulting in a net global loss of 100.5 million hectares.