M-204 Commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should enact legislation to establish a legal regime, mirroring the law enacted in 2008 by the United Kingdom and measures taken by Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, to ensure that binding measures are in place to ensure greater transparency and accountability for sound decision-making in delivering on Canada’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including: (a) prescribing legally binding reduction targets for greenhouse gases for 2030 and 2050 consistent with commitments under the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted and ratified by Canada, and targets committed to in the Paris Climate Agreement; (b) prescribing a duty to take measures to reduce or mitigate risks or impacts from climate change; (c) establishing an independent Climate Advisory Committee of experts, appointed by the Governor in Council for a five-year term, mandated to (i) advise the government on measures to meet the targets based on scientifically, technologically and economically sound analysis, including by consulting with other orders of government, experts and the public, (ii) advise the government on measures, including best practices to reduce or mitigate risks or impacts from climate change, (iii) undertake audits, based on progress indicators, of the actions taken by the government to deliver on the prescribed greenhouse gas reduction targets and duties to reduce risks, (iv) submit to Parliament annual progress reports outlining the advice provided, the actions taken, and progress in achieving the prescribed reduction targets and mitigation measures; (d) requiring the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Climate Advisory Committee, to set binding five-year term carbon budgets which would specify the maximum amount of greenhouse gas emissions permissible in Canada during each budgetary period in order to map the course towards the 2030 and 2050 reduction targets; and (e) imposing a duty on the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to table in both Houses of Parliament annual reports on the government’s climate action and carbon account in relation to the carbon budget for that term, and to publicly respond to the Climate Advisory Committee's annual reports within three months of receipt.