Canada and the United Kingdom announce a global alliance on coal phase-out

London, United Kingdom – October 11, 2017 – Following a successful meeting between Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, and the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Claire Perry, the Ministers issued the following joint statement:

“Today, we announce that Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.) will champion a global alliance on the transition from unabated coal-fired electricity at next month’s United Nations climate change meetings in Bonn, Germany. From cleaner air, to public health, to sustainability, the benefits of moving towards low or non-emitting sources of power are clear.

“Both the U.K. and Canada have already committed to an accelerated phase out of unabated coal-fired electricity as part of our domestic energy policies to reduce greenhouse gases and grow our economies. Phasing unabated coal power out of the energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of our communities, and benefit generations to come. We are doing our part, but we recognize the need to accelerate the international transition from burning coal to using cleaner power sources. By working together to deliver cleaner energy, we will improve public health and advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

“At COP23 in Bonn we openly invite others who share our ambition to join us.”

Quick facts

• In November 2016, Canada announced an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired electricity by 2030, and last month the U.K. announced their commitment to phase-out coal by 2025.
• On September 18, 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister May announced a new partnership on clean growth and climate change.
• This new partnership reaffirms the close relationship the two countries share when it comes to tackling the world’s most pressing issues.
• Both Canada and the U.K. are committed to creating a cleaner, more innovative economy that reduces emissions and protects our environment, while creating well-paying jobs for their citizens.
• Canada’s electricity generation mix is already one of the cleanest in the world, with over 80% of our electricity coming from renewable or non-emitting sources. Canada strives to have 90% of electricity from non-emitting sources by 2030.
• Coal-fired electricity is responsible for close to three quarters of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Canada's electricity sector and over 8 percent of Canada's total GHG emissions.
• Coal-fired electricity units are among the largest sources of air pollution in Canada, including sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, and mercury pollutants, which cause significant health and environmental impacts.

Contacts

Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473
marie-pascale.desrosiers@canada.ca

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca