Let’s talk carbon removal targets
Carbon removal targets are needed in addition to, and not in place of, emissions reductions targets
Canada can play a major role in fighting climate change, if it commits to doing so.
We have a goal of hitting net-zero emissions by 2050, but just cutting new emissions will not get us there. To make net-zero, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that countries must also actively remove existing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
This is where Canada is a leader: the country is already well set up for a carbon removal industry, and various companies are already leading the way on Canadian soil. But we can’t take our foot off the pedal – the UK’s Net-Zero Strategy sets a carbon removal target of 23 Mt CO₂/year by 2035, while the EU’s 2040 climate target includes 75 Mt CO₂/year of permanent carbon removal. Now, we need to consolidate our role and really make a difference.
To keep up the momentum and make sure we can actually hit net-zero in 2050, Carbon Removal Canada calls on the Government of Canada to commit to a public consultation on putting in a permanent carbon removal target for their 2035 climate plan – in addition to emissions reductions targets.
Why a consultation before a target?
We need a commitment that can lead to a target — and everyone should have a say in that.
A consultation is required to:
- Develop a commitment to setting a 2035 permanent carbon removal target.
- Provide a forum for determining what target is realistic and needed in Canada.
- Create an opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders from Indigenous communities, government, and industry to discuss carbon removal’s role in Canada and its net-zero goals.
Why do we need a permanent carbon removal target?
1. Emissions reduction, adaptation, and carbon removal are three pillars necessary for any credible yet ambitious climate plan.
2. A carbon removal target is a no-cost signal to the sector that our international allies have already begun to adopt.
3. The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act requires increased ambitions, using the best available science. Increasing permanent carbon removal is an IPCC recommended path and is the next step for ambitious climate-conscious countries.
