Government of Canada supports climate and clean air initiatives that will help developing countries reduce methane emissions

Glasgow:  Clean air is vital to our health, a prosperous economy and a thriving environment. The Government of Canada is committed to reducing short-lived climate pollutants, an important group of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollutants that warm the climate and contribute to significant air quality issues, such as smog. Short-lived climate pollutants include black carbon, methane, ground-level ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons. Because they last for a short time in the atmosphere compared to GHGs such as carbon dioxide, reducing them can have valuable near-term benefits in the fight against climate change while also protecting human health.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced today that the Government of Canada will invest $10 million over five years towards the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Trust Fund. This was announced at the Climate and Clean Air Ministerial, conveyed by the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Kwaku Afriyie, where members committed to step up ambition and action to address climate and air issues, with a special focus on reducing methane emissions.

Canada’s contribution will provide critical long-term support to advance the mandate of the CCAC. A key part of the Coalition’s work is outlined in the new 2030 Strategy, which members endorsed at the meeting. The Coalition’s work integrates national climate and clean air strategies to reduce the emissions of short-lived climate pollutants across key sectors.

During the meeting, Minister Guilbeault and CCAC members expressed their support for the Global Methane Pledge that was endorsed by world leaders, including Prime Minister Trudeau, last week at COP26. Ministers welcomed the CCAC’s leadership in supporting the implementation of the goals of the Pledge. In addition, the ministers formally launched the CCAC Methane Flagship, which will strategically focus the Coalition’s activities for one year on methane to deliver on the Global Methane Pledge.

The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with the Coalition and its members. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants is a critical part of a comprehensive plan to address climate change and implement the Paris Agreement.