Biodiversity Climate change Peatlands

WCS Canada Comment: Net-Zero Advisory Body Engagement Questionnaire

Harris, L., Goodday, V. & Tanguay, L.

Access

---

WCS Canada's responses to the Net-Zero Advisory Body Engagement Questionnaire, covering excess emissions, net-zero energy systems and provincial and territorial contributions.

Key points

• The first priority for Canada to achieve net-zero and meet climate change targets is to further reduce industrial emissions at source. Following this, the priority should be to protect existing high-integrity, carbon-rich forest and peatland ecosystems across the country.
• A national carbon budget must be based on comprehensive, accurate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals estimates including carbon stocks and GHG emissions and removals for all ecosystems across Canada, particularly peatlands and forests.
• Certain policy approaches for addressing excess emissions pose significant risks, related especially to peatlands but also to forests and other carbon-rich and biodiverse ecosystems. A vital criterion for assessing excess emissions options is whether the option supports broader sustainability, including ecological and human health and well-being.
• Canada should adopt a clear, binding commitment to prioritize the protection of carbon-rich ecosystems to support continued long-term carbon sequestration and to avoid emissions from globally important land carbon stores.

Recommended citation

Harris, L., Goodday, V. & Tanguay, L. (2024). WCS Canada Comment: Net-Zero Advisory Body Engagement Questionnaire. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]. https://wcscanada.org/resources/wcs-canada-responses-to-the-net-zero-advisory-body-engagement-questionnaire/