November 21st 2025
Canada is signalling support for an international roadmap to transition off of fossil fuels, a move squarely at odds with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s domestic agenda.
A potential coal, oil and gas transition plan is seen by close observers as a key initiative at this year’s UN climate summit, because two years ago countries agreed for the first time that countries should reduce fossil fuel use. However, that agreement did not outline how a transition should proceed, leading to diplomatic roadblocks over the future of the global energy transition.
At this year’s conference in the rainforest city of Belém — which caught fire Thursday morning forcing delegates to evacuate the venue, wrecking negotiations for the day and requiring 13 people to be treated for smoke inhalation — the Brazilian host has made a fossil fuel transition roadmap a centrepiece of the negotiations.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged countries to agree to a plan at his opening address, and the leader has returned to the summit as it comes to a close to help wrangle disparate parties toward agreement. But that promises to be a tough proposition. Diplomacy experts say there are two major camps: countries that very much want to see an agreed-upon roadmap and countries that are fiercely opposed, with virtually none in the middle.
Canada has been criticized by domestic and international civil society throughout this year’s conference as missing in action. More than 80 countries — including Canadian allies such as Germany and France — are publicly supporting the plan, while countries such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, both major oil producers, remain deeply opposed in negotiating rooms.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin’s office issued a carefully worded statement to Canada’s National Observer Wednesday evening, unveiling for the first time Canada’s public position.
“Canada remains committed to a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels as part of our goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” the statement said. “We support, in principle, the development of a roadmap to guide this transition, while recognizing that the final document is still being shaped through input from participating countries.
“A range of options is still under discussion for a possible fossil fuel transition roadmap, and Canada will not pre-judge these ongoing negotiations with our international partners.”
Supporting, in principle, the development of a roadmap to guide — but not necessarily enforce — a transition contains plenty of potential loopholes and offers Canadian negotiators plenty of room to maneuver.
But the signal is still a welcome and important step, said Catherine Abreu, member of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Board and director of the International Climate Politics Hub.
“I hope Canada can back this constructive move by being equally constructive in discussion about adaptation, finance and just transition in Belem — the full package matters for a successful outcome,” she said.
“It’s critical for Canada to remember that there’s no getting to net-zero by 2050 without delivering on its 2030 and 2035 climate promises,” she said. “And there’s no delivering its climate promises while continuing to expand fossil fuel projects at home.”
Since taking office, Carney has referred two LNG projects (collectively capable of exporting 26 million tonnes of gas annually) to his Major Projects Office for possible fast-tracking; has supported a new gas pipeline; is open to a new oil pipeline; has introduced new subsidies for LNG expansion; and has rolled back the country’s suite of climate policies including the consumer carbon price; the proposed cap on oil and gas emissions; ended the greener homes retrofit program; paused the electric vehicles sales mandate for 2026; and signalled the government will dismantle anti-greenwashing legislation.
Eddy Pérez, former international affairs advisor to former environment and climate change minister Steven Guilbeault, compared Canada’s participation at COP30 to a car suddenly braking on a highway and said that is the perception of Carney’s government other countries have.
“People don't understand the motives and what is driving this change, because the person at the head of this country is a former climate advisor and Canada was making progress,” he said. “People don't understand where that comes from, because everybody was excited to have a climate champion leading this country and that expectation is not resulting in [anything].”
Canada is signalling support for an international roadmap to transition off of fossil fuels, a move squarely at odds with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s domestic agenda.
A potential coal, oil and gas transition plan is seen by close observers as a key initiative at this year’s UN climate summit, because two years ago countries agreed for the first time that countries should reduce fossil fuel use. However, that agreement did not outline how a transition should proceed, leading to diplomatic roadblocks over the future of the global energy transition.
At this year’s conference in the rainforest city of Belém — which caught fire Thursday morning forcing delegates to evacuate the venue, wrecking negotiations for the day and requiring 13 people to be treated for smoke inhalation — the Brazilian host has made a fossil fuel transition roadmap a centrepiece of the negotiations.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged countries to agree to a plan at his opening address, and the leader has returned to the summit as it comes to a close to help wrangle disparate parties toward agreement. But that promises to be a tough proposition. Diplomacy experts say there are two major camps: countries that very much want to see an agreed-upon roadmap and countries that are fiercely opposed, with virtually none in the middle.
Canada has been criticized by domestic and international civil society throughout this year’s conference as missing in action. More than 80 countries — including Canadian allies such as Germany and France — are publicly supporting the plan, while countries such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, both major oil producers, remain deeply opposed in negotiating rooms.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin’s office issued a carefully worded statement to Canada’s National Observer Wednesday evening, unveiling for the first time Canada’s public position.
“Canada remains committed to a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels as part of our goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” the statement said. “We support, in principle, the development of a roadmap to guide this transition, while recognizing that the final document is still being shaped through input from participating countries.
“A range of options is still under discussion for a possible fossil fuel transition roadmap, and Canada will not pre-judge these ongoing negotiations with our international partners.”
Supporting, in principle, the development of a roadmap to guide — but not necessarily enforce — a transition contains plenty of potential loopholes and offers Canadian negotiators plenty of room to maneuver.
But the signal is still a welcome and important step, said Catherine Abreu, member of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Board and director of the International Climate Politics Hub.
“I hope Canada can back this constructive move by being equally constructive in discussion about adaptation, finance and just transition in Belem — the full package matters for a successful outcome,” she said.
“It’s critical for Canada to remember that there’s no getting to net-zero by 2050 without delivering on its 2030 and 2035 climate promises,” she said. “And there’s no delivering its climate promises while continuing to expand fossil fuel projects at home.”
Since taking office, Carney has referred two LNG projects (collectively capable of exporting 26 million tonnes of gas annually) to his Major Projects Office for possible fast-tracking; has supported a new gas pipeline; is open to a new oil pipeline; has introduced new subsidies for LNG expansion; and has rolled back the country’s suite of climate policies including the consumer carbon price; the proposed cap on oil and gas emissions; ended the greener homes retrofit program; paused the electric vehicles sales mandate for 2026; and signalled the government will dismantle anti-greenwashing legislation.
Eddy Pérez, former international affairs advisor to former environment and climate change minister Steven Guilbeault, compared Canada’s participation at COP30 to a car suddenly braking on a highway and said that is the perception of Carney’s government other countries have.
“People don't understand the motives and what is driving this change, because the person at the head of this country is a former climate advisor and Canada was making progress,” he said. “People don't understand where that comes from, because everybody was excited to have a climate champion leading this country and that expectation is not resulting in [anything].”
