Summary Description
- Sets reduction targets of greenhouse gas emissions in animal agriculture.
- TopicThe topic of the legislation or policy covered by the text
- Climate & environmental protection
- SpeciesThe animal, or type of food production, covered by the text
- Farmed animals
- JurisdictionCountry or geographical area where the text applies
- Canada
- Sub-jurisdictionCountry or state where the text applies
- N/A
- Type of ActWhether the act is a law, regulation, or policy, or another type of text
- Policy
- StatusIndicates whether the act is in force or not
- In force
- Legal ValueWhether the text is binding or not
- Non-binding
- Date enactedDate the text was adopted
- 2020
- Date updatedDate when the entry was last updated by the CALF team
- June, 2023
- Official citation
- Nationally Determined Contribution, Canada (2020)
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths
- Includes the repurposing of land as a carbon sink by restoring native vegetation for land where grazing is not required or is unsuitable for horticulture or arable production.
- This includes targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to land use: - Invest over $3bn over 10 years to plant 2bn trees to boost carbon sequestration. - Invest $631 million to restore and conserve wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and agricultural lands, as well as to improve land management practices, and conserve carbon-rich ecosystems. - Commitment to protecting 25% of the land and 25% of the oceans in Canada by 2025 and working towards 30% of each by 2030.
- Agricultural initiatives proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include: - To provide climate action programs for farmers, including the $185 million Agricultural Climate Solutions Program and the $165 million Agricultural Clean Technology Program with an additional $200 million to launch immediate, on-farm climate action, targeting projects that accelerate emission reductions by improving nitrogen management, increasing adoption of cover cropping, and normalising rotational grazing.
- Weaknesses
- Does not provide quantified reduction targets of greenhouse gas emission for the animal agriculture sector. Measures for the animal agricultural sector are only provided for Prince Edward Island, and are not quantifiable. Prince Edward Island only committed to net-zero emissions by 2040 and the measures to achieve such an objective only include actions such as "improvements in nutrient and livestock management in the agricultural sector."
- Furthermore, Canada's NDC does not include:
- Timeframe for peak livestock production.
- Reduction targets of consumption levels of animal source foods.
- Measures to encourage a shift from high-meat diets, towards healthier, more sustainable plant-based diets.
- A food diversification strategy by replacing livestock with foods that simultaneously minimise environmental burdens and maximise public health benefits (i.e.: pulses, grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds).
- Legislation to enforce measures to achieve the targets.