Global News

[ad_1] OTTAWA: Canada will miss its 2030 target for cutting carbon emissions unless it quickly steps up efforts, concluded an audit released Tuesday by the environment commissioner. Ottawa has set a target of slashing total carbon emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. But the audit found it is likely to reach only a 34 percent CO2 reduction. This leaves a gap of six percent to 11 percent. Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco in his report laid the blame for the projected shortfall on delayed climate measures such as a cap on oil and gas sector emissions and new clean fuel regulations. Those delays were due to the covid-19 pandemic and longer than expected consultations with stakeholders, according to the government. "We found that the measures most critical for reducing emissions had not been identified or prioritized," DeMarco said in the report. Ottawa has spent billions of dollars rolling out more than 10 climate plans since 1990 and all so fa