Sian Crampsie
Canada’s environment ministry says that the country will phase out coal-fired generation by 2030 as part of its wider plans to tackle climate change.
In a statement, the government said that it would accelerate the timelines in existing regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to close coal-fired power plants. It has also announced plans to put a price on carbon to help reduce emissions.
Four of Canada’s ten provinces operate coal-fired power plants, which combined account for around ten per cent of the country’s total carbon dioxide emissions. The goal of the policy is to ensure that 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity comes from sustainable sources by 2030 – up from 80 per cent today.
Under the plan, coal-fired power plants will have to meet a stringent emission performance standard of 420 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh.
“Taking traditional coal power out of our energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of Canadians, and benefit generations for years to come,” said environment minister Catherine McKenna in a news release. “It sends a clear signal to the world that Canada is a great place to invest in clean energy.”
