Canada’s commitment to climate change requires an update to auto pollution
Canada is taking action to cut pollution from the transportation sector, which accounts for one-quarter of our overall emissions. By requiring light-duty vehicles (LDV) to be less polluting over time, Canada’s fuel efficiency standards have the potential to cut fuel costs in Canada, and to create good jobs in the automotive sector by encouraging the adoption of cleaner vehicles.
The North American automotive sector is deeply integrated, and a common set of requirements for reducing LDV emissions in Canada and the U.S. has historically provided maximum benefits to Canadians at the lowest cost, while contributing towards the competitiveness of the Canadian auto sector.
“This review confirms that by moving ambitiously with smart fuel-efficiency standards, we can cut pollution and fuel costs for Canadians, and create good jobs in our automotive sector by encouraging the adoption of cleaner vehicles.” Said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Canada’s LDV regulations establish progressively more stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for new on-road light-duty vehicles manufactured or imported for sale into Canada. The initial regulations took effect with model year 2011. The regulations were amended in October 2014 to establish GHG standards for the 2017 to 2025 model years. In 2014, as a part of the amendments to these regulations, Canada committed to conducting a midterm evaluation (MTE) of the regulations.
Both the U.S. and Canada committed to conduct an MTE of their respective regulatory programs, for the 2022 to 2025 model years.
In the last two years, Canada has undertaken a wide range of consultations on the path forward on light-duty vehicles. During these consultations, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) took into account factors such as: Canada’s 2030 and 2050 emissions reductions targets; monetary savings for consumers that result from more fuel efficient vehicles; the competitiveness of the Canadian auto industry within an integrated North American market for vehicle manufacturing and trade; and Canada’s zero-emissions vehicle sales targets.
ECCC’s analysis included a high-level cost-benefit analysis, which compared the new less stringent U.S. standards (1.5% per year for the 2021 through 2025 model years) to an alternative where Canada’s regulations would be amended to restore the original increases in stringency (about 5%) beginning with the 2023 model year.
The analysis indicates that adopting more stringent standards for the 2023 to 2025 model years could result in net benefits of approximately 2.5 billion (2018 Canadian dollars), and would support the attainment of Canada’s ZEV sales targets.
Under Canada’s strengthened climate change plan, released in December 2020, the Government of Canada committed to align Canada’s LDV regulations with the most stringent performance standards in North America post-2025. Going forward, we will work with stakeholders and governments on both sides of the border to establish a clear path forward for these regulations. This year presents an opportunity for Canada to work with the U.S. partners in developing stringent, harmonized Canada-U.S. standards for LDVs while providing the greatest economies of scale and lowest costs for the automotive industry and Canadian consumers.
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