U.S., Canada announce bold new agreement to protect climate, Arctic

Environment America

WASHINGTON, DC  – President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today a issued a wide-ranging joint agreement to reduce global warming pollution; advance clean energy and cleaner cars, trucks, and buses; and protect the Arctic.
 
Among the many provisions in the agreement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to aligned greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. They announced new measures to limit methane pollution from oil and gas operations by 40 to 45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025, a target that must include limits on existing operations if it is to be met. And on the Arctic, they reiterated national goals of protecting at least 17 percent of land areas and 10 percent of marine areas by 2020, and pledged to to take into account climate science and emergency response plans when determining future oil and gas development.
 
Environment America’s Executive Director Margie Alt issued the following statement:
 
“This is an ambitious and visionary agreement that will help slow the climate crisis, advance clean energy, and protect the treasured Arctic region, where global warming is already having an acute effect. We especially welcome a historic new commitment from President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau to limit methane pollution and secure a safe future for our children.
 
“Today’s agreement sets a new bar for conserving and protecting the fragile Arctic, one we believe is high enough to ban future oil and gas development. As President Obama prepares to release the next draft of his five-year plan for oil and gas drilling, we urge him to meet the bar he boldly set today.”