Societal Responses

• Renewable Energy Case Studies Map | Read about this map

The ultimate goal is to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so that, as illustrated in the green curve in Figure 1, the increase in the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere will be stabilized.

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Figure 1. Greenhouse Gas Scenarios

The legally-binding Kyoto Protocol commits the industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on an average of 5.2% below their 1990 levels by the period 2008 to 2012. The reduction target for Canada is 6% below its 1990 level, which, as shown in Figure 2, equates to approximately a 26% reduction by 2010 according to the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emission projection.

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Figure 2. Canada's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target for the Kyoto Protocol (Mt: millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent)

To meet Canada's commitment, the federal government has announced an Action Plan on Climate Change. Through a large set of measures, this Plan is expected to bring Canada to one-third of meeting its emission reduction goal. The Government will invest up to $500 million on measures to reduce GHG emissions. Combined with the $625 million for climate change-related activities for the next five years that was announced in Budget 2000, this investment results in a commitment of $1.1 billion to reduce GHG emissions in Canada. This builds on the $850 million the Government of Canada has spent on climate change since 1995. Governments at all levels, industry, communities, schools and non-governmental organizations are all involved in the actions.

While the initiatives are wide ranging, the main strategies are to reduce emissions by improving energy efficiency, using alternative fuels, promoting technology innovation, and enhancing natural carbon sinks. Increasing public awareness of climate change is a primary means to achieve the former two goals. A more comprehensive account of actions is provided under the heading of "Actions" on the Government of Canada Climate Change Web site, as well as the Climate Change 2000 Backgrounder developed by the National Climate Change Process.

This Module

The purpose of this module is to represent Canada's efforts in addressing climate change, in a geographical context. The first phase includes only one map, Renewable Energy Case Studies. This map represents the efforts that Canada is making in promoting the development and use of renewable energy sources. The map also showcases how a geographical context may help understand the actions for addressing climate change.