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Annex: Modelling and analysis of A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy

Annex: Modelling and Analysis of A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy  [PDF - 269 KB]

Context

At the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) meeting in Paris in December 2015, Canada pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below the 2005 level by 2030, which means a drop from 730 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq.) in 2005 to 511 Mt by 2030. At the time of COP21, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions were projected to grow to 815 Mt by 2030.Footnote 1  In other words, in 2015, Canada’s emissions were projected to increase 12% above 2005 levels by 2030 whereas Canada’s target required a 30% decrease.

The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (Pan-Canadian Framework) was adopted on December 9, 2016, as Canada’s plan to take ambitious action to fight climate change and drive economic growth. The Pan-Canadian Framework included more than 50 concrete actions covering all sectors of the Canadian economy.

Over the past five years, an intensive national effort has advanced these measures. In 2019, Canada submitted its Fourth Biennial Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Accounting for all federal, provincial and territorial measures announced up to September 2019, the report projected Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 would be 588 Mt, 227 Mt lower than the 815 Mt projected before the adoption of the Pan-Canadian Framework.

Building on the foundation established by the Pan-Canadian Framework, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy focuses on a series of new and strengthened federal climate actions to ensure Canada not only meets, but also exceeds its 2030 Paris Agreement target. The analysis presented in this Annex examines the effects of the measures in the plan on Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and the economy.

2020 Reference Case

The analysis starts with an updated reference case for the projected emissions in 2030 called the “2020 Reference Case”. Included in the 2020 Reference Case are all policies and measures funded, legislated and implemented by federal, provincial, and territorial governments as of September 2020. It does not include all of the measures accounted for in the Fourth Biennial report because it does not include initiatives that had been announced by September 2020 but that had not yet been funded, legislated, or implemented. For example, the Clean Fuel Standard or post-2025 light-duty vehicle (LDV) regulations are not included in the 2020 Reference Case.

The 2020 Reference Case projections update the 2019 Reference Case published in the Fourth Biennial Report. The update includes a number of revisions in the historical data, macroeconomic assumptions and policy changes. The most important updates are listed below:

Total Canadian greenhouse gas emissions in the 2020 Reference Case, in the absence of additional actions, are projected to be 637 Mt CO2 eq. in 2020 and 674 Mt in 2030; or 612 and 657 respectively when taking into account the accounting contribution from Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). Table 1 provides a sector-by-sector tabulation of projected emissions.

Table 1: 2020 Reference case emission projections by economic sector from 2005 to 2030 (Mt CO2 eq) (including LULUCF accounting contribution)
Sector Historical Projected Change 2005
to 2030
2005 2010 2015 2018 2020 2030
Oil and gas 158 159 191 193 177 194 36
Electricity 119 96 81 64 38 21 -98
Transportation 161 168 172 186 155 178 17
Heavy industry 87 75 79 78 65 82 -5
Buildings 86 82 86 92 90 82 -5
Agriculture 72 68 71 73 73 77 5
Waste and others 46 42 41 42 39 41 -5
LULUCFFootnote 2  n.a. 11 -8 -13 -25 -17 -17
Total (excl. LULUCF) 730 691 720 729 637 674 -56
Total (incl. LULUCF) 730 702 712 716 612 657 -73

Note: Numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding. Historical emissions data comes from Canada’s National Inventory Report (NIR) 2020.

Key elements of the plan for A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy

The 2020 Reference Case serves as a baseline for the assessment in this Annex of the impacts of all currently announced initiatives. This includes federal, provincial and territorial climate actions up to and including the plan for A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Specifically, this analysis estimates Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions based on the proposed changes in carbon pricing, the Clean Fuel Standard, complementary sectoral measures, and nature based solutions.

Carbon pricing

Carbon pricing is a critical element of meeting Canada’s climate target. Carbon pricing was introduced in 2019 at $20 per tonne and increases by $10 per tonne per year until 2022 when it will reach $50 per tonne. The new plan proposes increases to the carbon price from 2022 to 2030 of $15/tonne per year.

Carbon pollution pricing proceeds can support a range of activities that reduce energy use and deploy new technologies, which help individuals and businesses save money and reduce carbon pollution. How proceeds are used differs somewhat across jurisdictions. In some provinces and territories, the provincial or territorial government decides how to invest the proceeds. In Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, proceeds from the federal fuel charge currently support individuals and households through the Climate Action Incentive, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations through programs like the Climate Action Incentive Fund. Proceeds from the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) for industry will support projects by industrial facilities to cut emissions and use new cleaner technologies and processes.

For illustrative purposes, the modelling assumes consistent carbon pricing systems for all provinces and territories apart from Quebec. Quebec is assumed to maintain its current cap-and-trade carbon pricing regime. In direct pricing systems, the carbon price is assumed to rise $15 per year post-2022 until 2030 where it reaches $170/tonne, and applies to all emissions covered under a fuel charge. Large emitters are assumed to be covered under an OBPS-type system with a 2% tightening in stringency every year post-2022. Beginning in 2025, output-based standards for electricity generation decline to reflect new investments in the sector that are consistent with the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Complementary sectoral measures

Complementary policies and investments work in concert with carbon pollution pricing to reduce emissions across the economy. These complementary measures serve various functions. Some create incentives for reductions from sources not covered by carbon pricing, while others make carbon pricing more effective, and create incentives for innovation and clean growth. Many of the funding programs are designed to reduce the costs of investing in fuel switching or energy efficiency retrofits that reduce emissions and exposure to carbon pricing and other regulatory requirements. Energy efficiency standards, building standards and retrofits, and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policies all help Canadians use less energy and make cleaner choices that can save them money, including by reducing their exposure to carbon prices. Investments in clean technology and innovation help accelerate the development of the next generation of technologies and ideas that will further improve efficiencies and lower emissions in the future.

Some of the specific sectoral measures in the plan modeled for this analysis include:

Clean Fuel Standard

In the context of the continued increase to the carbon price, the scope of the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) has been narrowed to cover only liquid fossil fuels, like gasoline, diesel and oil, which are mainly used in the transportation sector. This is a progression in the design of the CFS from its initial discussion in 2016, when it was proposed that the new measure will cover liquid, gaseous and solid fuels. The CFS will require fuel companies to reduce the carbon intensity of their products. That means cutting down the amount of greenhouse gases produced when fuels like gasoline, diesel, propane or kerosene are produced, transported and burned to run vehicles, furnaces and machinery. The modelling of the CFS reflects the requirements in the forthcoming draft CFS regulations, which require that liquid fossil-based fuel suppliers reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels used in Canada from 2016 carbon intensity levels by 2.4 grams of CO2eq./MJ in 2022, increasing to a 12 grams of CO2eq./MJ reduction in 2030, an improvement of about 13% by 2030.

LULUCF, nature-based solutions, and agriculture measures

According to the 2020 Reference Case projections, LULUCF accounting will contribute 17 Mt towards the 2030 target. Sequestration of greenhouse gases from nature-based solutions (NBS) and a target to reduce emissions from the use of fertilizers in the agriculture sector will reduce emissions by approximately a further 10 Mt for a total of 27 Mt of reductions.

Assessing the impact of the plan for A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy

Modeling approach

To assess the emissions and economic impact of the plan, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) used its unique suite of models that support the Government’s policy development process in the areas of air quality and climate change mitigation. These models support evidence-based analysis and policy decisions regarding the energy sector and its impact on the economy and the environment. The modeling capacity is robust and has been peer reviewed domestically and internationally.

The modeling analysis of the impact of the plan was undertaken using two ECCC models:

Modeling results

Sectoral and economy-wide measures are expected to reduce Canada’s emissions by 144 Mt by 2030, relative to 674 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 under the 2020 Reference Case.

The LULUCF accounting contribution, plus the expected impact of the proposed nature-based solutions and the measures in the plan to reduce emissions from fertilizer use in agriculture combined are expected to reduce emissions by a further 27 Mt. Combined, these reductions arrive at approximately 503 Mt in 2030, or about 8 Mt below Canada’s 2030 target. This represents about a 31% reduction below Canada’s 2005 emissions.

Table 2 below illustrates the expected emission reductions of the measures included in the plan in 2030, and Table 3 shows emission reductions by sector from 2005 levels.

Table 2: Expected emission reductions of the plan in 2030
Measure Projected emissions in 2030 (MT)
2020 reference case 674
Sectoral measures, post-2022 carbon price and CFS (liquid only) 144
LULUCF accounting contribution 17
Nature-based solutions and agriculture measures 10
Total projected emissions from the plan 503
Canada’s 2030 target 511
Table 3: Expected emission reductions of the plan in 2030 by sector
Sector Historical Projected Change 2005
to 2030
2005 2010 2015 2018 2020 2030
Oil and gas 158 159 191 193 177 138 -20
Electricity 119 96 81 64 38 11 -108
Transportation 161 168 172 186 155 151 -10
Heavy industry 87 75 79 78 65 61 -26
Buildings 86 82 86 92 90 65 -21
Agriculture 72 68 71 73 73 74 2
Waste and others 46 42 41 42 39 31 -15
LULUCF, NBS and agriculture measures n.a. 11 -8 -13 -25 -27 -27
Total (incl. LULUCF) 730 702 712 716 612 503 -227

Note: Numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding. Historical emissions data comes from NIR 2020.

The ECCC modelling projects that the measures in the plan will to lead to a very small reduction in annual real GDP growth of about 0.05%, an amount that is considerably less than the average annual revision to GDP year-over-year.

The projected impact on GDP is likely overestimated, as it does not account either for the potential to help avoid the costs of unabated climate change, or for the opportunity that clean innovation spurred by these measures will have in helping Canadian companies create jobs and compete successfully in the global shift to cleaner growth (see the section Economic Opportunities and Environmental Policies below).

Sensitivity analysis

In light of the uncertainty regarding some of the key underlying drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, the emission projections for the 2020 Reference Case should be considered as one estimate within a range of plausible outcomes. The sensitivity analysis focuses on an uncertainty in world energy prices. Table 4 shows the different assumptions used in the development of the sensitivity scenarios and Table 5 presents the emission outcomes for the alternative cases.

Table 4: Oil and gas price assumptions
Assumptions Low prices Reference High prices
2030 West Texas intermediate oil price (2018 US$/bbl) 36 70 114
2030 Henry Hub natural gas price (2018 US$/mmBtu) 2.24 3.44 4.40
Table 5: 2030 Greenhouse gas emissions in sensitivity scenarios for the 2020 reference case
Reference case scenario Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 (Mt) Difference from reference case
Mt %
High world oil prices 707 33 5%
Reference case 674 0 0%
Low world oil prices 648 -26 -4%
Sensitivity range 648 to 707 -26 to 33 -4% to 5%

This suggests that the uncertainty around the reductions arising from the plan could be in the order of 4-5% in either direction.

Economic opportunities and environmental policies

The model likely underestimates emission reductions because it does not capture the full range of innovative technologies that are in the early stages of the commercialization process, nor does it reflect the likely improvements in technology performance or cost reductions. Moreover, these projections do not fully account for the reality that Canada is just starting along the innovation curves associated with some of the most promising decarbonization technologies, such as ZEVs, industrial electrification, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and hydrogen. Investments in clean technology and innovation will accelerate the development of the next generation of technologies. As Canada and the rest of the world continues to invest in these and other areas, innovation will accelerate and costs will decline, as we have witnessed with renewable energy. Over the longer-term, these technologies will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also enhance Canadians’ quality of life, help Canadian companies create jobs and allow them to compete successfully in the global transition to net-zero emissions.

The model also likely overestimated economic costs as it does not account either for the potential to help avoid the costs of unabated climate change or for the full supply-chain benefits from commercializing the clean innovations spurred by the measures in the plan. The model does not account for any health benefits from reduced criteria air contaminants.

Climate change carries with it significant economic impacts that are not captured in standard economic models. These models are likely to overestimate negative economic impacts, as they do not capture the full range of long-term benefits from climate action. For example, the significant benefits from the avoided costs of climate change as natural disasters and extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity. Catastrophic losses due to these events have increased dramatically over the last decade.

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers suggested in 2014 that each decade of delayed climate mitigation effort leads to a 40% increase in net mitigation costs. The report further suggests that the economic impacts of increasing temperatures would lead to significant and permanent global GDP losses. Research by the Bank of Canada finds that climate change could cost the world nearly a quarter of GDP by 2100, and Sir Nicholas Stern calculates that the cost of inaction to climate change is equivalent to a 5% average reduction in GDP per capita.

Moreover, the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices released a new report on December 3, 2020, “Tip of the iceberg: navigating the known and unknown costs of climate change for Canada.” The report highlights that the combined losses per weather-related disaster have also ballooned—rising from an average of $8.3 million per event in the 1970s to an average of $112 million between 2010–2019, including public and private costs. This change represents a staggering 1,250% increase.

As well, the models do not capture the full range of future economic opportunities arising from the global transition to a clean and net-zero economy. Addressing climate change is critical for the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the Canadian economy. In particular, taking action now to provide certainty to industry on regulations and carbon pricing will enable the investments needed to support the low-carbon economy of the future.

There is considerable evidence that shows that greenhouse gas policies can reduce emissions with positive economic impacts. For example, research on the British Columbia carbon tax provides evidence that a revenue-neutral carbon tax shows a small but statistically significant annual increase in employment. Similarly, a study by Dechezlepretre et al (2019) shows that environmental regulations tend to improve environmental performance while not weakening economic performance. The United Kingdom (UK) Commission on Climate Change reports that UK carbon budgets have had little or no negative impact on business competitiveness and carbon leakage, and that evidence shows that climate change policies increase the competitiveness of the UK in the long term by encouraging greater innovation and efficiency. Similar results emerge from studies at the European level.

Climate policy packages have been shown to have positive effects on the economy. The The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report “Investing in Climate, Investing in Growth” shows how a climate-compatible policy package can increase long-run GDP by up to 2.8% on average across the G20 in 2050 relative to a continuation of current policies. If the positive impacts of avoiding climate damage are considered, the net effect on GDP in 2050 rises to nearly 5%. The Report of the High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices chaired by Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and the former Chief Economist at the World Bank Nicholas Stern also emphasizes the need to consider co-benefits such as effect on local air pollution, agricultural productivity, positive spillovers on technological change and long-term development benefits.

All of this evidence highlights the need to move beyond thinking of trading off economic and environmental objectives and accept that they are mutually reinforcing.

Conclusion

The analysis outlined above projects that A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, combined with the various measures from the Pan-Canadian Framework already in place, will lead to reduced emissions in 2030 that will allow Canada to exceed its 2030 Paris Agreement target.

These projections are somewhat conservative as they do not fully account for the accelerating pace of innovation associated with some of the most promising decarbonization technologies, such as ZEVs, industrial electrification, CCUS, and clean hydrogen. As Canada and the rest of the world continue to invest in these and other areas, innovation will accelerate and costs will decline. Moreover, the incoming United States Administration promises to implement a similar, wide-ranging set of measures. This will further drive technology development while largely eliminating the competitiveness risks of Canada acting alone.

Finally, this analysis does not consider what potentially new or strengthened provincial and territorial climate policies could contribute. Many provinces have committed to deep greenhouse gas reduction targets – for both 2030 and 2050 – but not all have announced a complete set of measures to reach these targets. Additional provincial and territorial measures will build on the impacts of the proposed federal measures, leading to further emission reductions.

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