Canada – Page 5 – Resilient LLP (formerly DeMarco Allan LLP)

ECCC Releases Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies Assessment Framework and Guidelines

26 July 2023 No Comments By DT Vollmer

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change on Monday announced the release of the Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies Government of Canada Self‑Review Assessment Framework (the Assessment Framework) and the Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies Government of Canada Guidelines (the Guidelines). The Assessment Framework and Guidelines were jointly developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Department of Finance Canada and are intended to support Canada’s 2009 commitment alongside other G20 countries to phase out and rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies over the medium-term while providing targeted support for the poorest. The Assessment Framework also builds on Canada’s commitment under the Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition (the Glasgow Statement) in 2021 at COP 26 in Glasgow, to end new direct public support for international unabated fossil fuel, except in limited and clearly defined circumstances that are consistent with the 1.5°C warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement. This bulletin briefly summarizes key information and criteria provided in the Assessment Framework and Guidelines. Assessment Framework. ECCC noted that the Assessment Framework is the “first transparently published methodology worldwide” and that it will be used to determine which tax and non-tax measures constitute an “inefficient fossil fuel subsidy”. The Assessment Framework defines “measures” as including: (i) expenditure programs (i.e., grants, contributions, transfers); (ii) intramural research and development; (iii) tariff and duty reliefs; and (iv) tax expenditures that support fossil fuel consumption or that can be claimed by the fossil fuel sector and that represent alternatives to expenditure programs (i.e., tax credits, accelerated capital cost allowances, flow-through shares), and utilizes the World Trade Organization’s definition of “subsidy” as set out in Article 1.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The international carbon markets provisions of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will have an…

Federal Government Releases 2023 Budget Long on Clean Economy Investment

28 March 2023 No Comments By DT Vollmer

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland today released Budget 2023: A Made-in-Canada Plan (Budget 2023). Resilient’s bulletin outlines key climate, energy, and Indigenous highlights from Budget 2023. Clean Electricity, Clean Economy Budget 2023 introduces “Canada’s Plan for a Clean Economy” (the Clean Economy Plan) with the following priorities: electrification; clean energy; clean manufacturing; emissions reduction; critical minerals; infrastructure; electric vehicles and batteries; and major projects. The Clean Economy Plan is centred on three tiers of federal financial incentives: (i) an anchor regime of clear and predictable investment tax credits; (ii) low-cost strategic financing; and (iii) targeted investments and programming to respond to the unique needs of sectors or projects of national economic significance. Clean Electricity. Budget 2023 notes that Canada’s electricity demand is expected to double by 2050 and will require electricity capacity to increase by 2.2 to 3.4 times compared to current levels and proposes the following new funding and investments to support clean electricity in Canada: Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) will invest at least $10B through its Clean Power priority area, and at least $10B through its Green Infrastructure priority area, at least $20B to support the building of major clean electricity and clean growth infrastructure projects; $3B over 13 years to Natural Resources Canada to: Recapitalize funding for the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program to support critical regional priorities and Indigenous-led projects, and add transmission projects to the program’s eligibility; Renew the Smart Grid program to continue to support electricity grid innovation; and Create new investments in science-based activities to help capitalize on Canada’s offshore wind potential, particularly off the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. funding to advance the Atlantic Loop and support ongoing negotiations with provinces and utilities to identify a clear path to deliver the project by 2030. Clean Economy. Budget 2023 proposes the following new funding and support for…

ECCC Publishes Refrigeration Offset Protocol; Key Updates on Other Protocols

28 February 2023 No Comments By DT Vollmer

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has published the Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Systems, Version 1.0 protocol (the Refrigeration Protocol). ECCC also published a new version of the Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction, Version 1.1 protocol which was first published on June 8, 2022. The Refrigeration Protocol supports Canada’s commitments to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, wherein developed countries agreed to gradually phase down HFCs starting in 2019 to 15% of calculated baseline levels by 2036. This bulletin briefly summarizes the Refrigeration Protocol and provides important updates on protocol development under Canada’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Offset Credit System. The Refrigeration Protocol Eligible projects under the Refrigeration Protocol may register in Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System if the following conditions are met: Location. The project must be located in a province or territory in Canada. Additionality. GHG emission reductions generated by the project must not already be incentivized by carbon pricing and must not occur as a result of federal, provincial or territorial regulations or where a project proponent is required to retrofit or replace a pre-existing refrigeration system or its refrigerant. Baseline conditions. The system used in the baseline scenario must be either a stand-alone medium- or low-temperature refrigeration system, centralized refrigeration system, condensing unit, chiller, commercial air conditioning system or a heat pump. Pre-existing refrigeration systems must be operating for a minimum of three years prior to the project start date. Eligible project activities. The proponent can retrofit a pre-existing refrigeration system to use an eligible refrigerant, install a new refrigeration system containing an eligible refrigerant, and if applicable, destroy HFCs contained in refrigerant taken out of a pre-existing refrigeration system. Eligible refrigerant. The refrigerant used in the project scenario must have a global warming potential (GWP) lower than values provided…

Canada Announces Publication of Final Clean Fuel Regulations

30 June 2022 No Comments By DT Vollmer

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change has announced the publication of the final Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) to replace the federal Renewable Fuels Regulation (RFR). The final CFR was approved by Cabinet on June 20, which will now also be the date that early crediting commences. The official version of the CFR will be published in Canada Gazette Part II on July 6. The federal government intends for the CFR to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 26.6 million tCO2e by 2030. An unofficial version of the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement has also been released. This bulletin briefly highlights key details and recent changes to the CFR, which repeal and replace the RFR while retaining the minimum volumetric requirements of at least 5% low CI fuel content in gasoline and 2% low CI fuel content in diesel fuel and light fuel oil. Compliance requirements. The CFR will require gasoline and diesel primary suppliers (producers and importers) to reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of the gasoline and diesel they produce in, and import into, Canada from 2016 CI levels by 3.5 gCO2e/MJ in 2023, increasing at a rate of 1.5 gCO2e/MJ to 14 gCO2e/MJ in 2030 (up from 12 gCO2e/MJ in prior iterations). The annual CI reduction requirements that primary suppliers must meet for the gasoline and diesel fuels they supply to Canada is the difference between a baseline CI value and a CI limit for gasoline and diesel. Compliance requirements under the CFR will come into effect on July 1, 2023, with the first compliance review in December 2023. Credit market. The CFR will also establish a credit market providing for three main categories of credit-creating action: Actions that reduce the CI of the fossil fuel throughout its lifecycle through GHG reduction projects (e.g., carbon capture and storage); Supplying low-carbon…

Canada Officially Launches GHG Offset Credit System

8 June 2022 No Comments By DT Vollmer

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) today announced the launch of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, with the publication of the final regulations in Canada Gazette II. As part of the announcement, ECCC also announced that municipalities and other landfill operators will now be able to generate offset credits under the finalized Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction protocol (see our earlier bulletins here and here) for recovering landfill gas from their operations and either destroying it or repurposing it into energy with technologies such as flares, boilers, turbines, and engines. ECCC is currently developing the following federal offset protocols: Reducing GHG Emissions from Refrigeration Systems; Improved Forest Management; Enhanced Soil Organic Carbon; and Livestock Feed Management. ECCC has also indicated that over the summer it will begin development of a Direct Air Carbon Capture and Sequestration protocol, after which it will start work on the following new protocols: Improved Forest Management on Public Lands; Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Sequestration; Livestock Manure Management; and Anerobic Digestion. ECCC also announced that it is looking for interested individuals to provide input as external technical experts and assist with the development of the Direct Air Carbon Capture and Sequestration protocol. Interested individuals are invited to visit the GHG Offset Credit System website for more information on how to submit their candidacy packages by July 31, 2022. For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com.